The vote schedule on the nomination of Jim Nussle to the position of Director, OMB is somewhat clarified at this point:

Today, the Democratic leadership in Congress released their long-awaited compromise lobbying and ethics bill - The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (text of the legislation). The bill is 107 pages long, but already there has been some criticism of changes to the bill, particularly the earmark disclosure sections (see Mark Tapscott's reaction and the Porkbusters blog for a sampling). Two Senators, Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Jim DeMint (R-SC) - whose amendment to the bill earlier this year on earmark disclosure greatly strengthen the bill - have also posted disappointing reactions. At first glance it does appear the final version of the bill is not as strong (i.e. transparent) as the original and it is unclear why those changes were adopted at this point in the debate. DeMint has announced he will offer an amendment during final consideration of the bill to "restore real earmark reform." It's yet to be seen whether that amendment will be adopted of if this version is the best the House and Senate will be able to do this year.

I am of the view that continuing resolutions do not define success. I would just suggest that both sides are losers when that is the case....The president is not able to move his agenda and priorities forward under a continuing resolution. Congress is not able to work its will and exercise its authority of power of the purse under Article I in a continuing resolution. I don't believe anyone wins. -- OMB Director-nominee Jim Nussle, before the Senate Budget Committee, July 26, 2007 To view the Nussle Senate Budget Committee confirmation hearing yesterday, click here.

A recent poll finds that 18-29 year-olds want a bigger government with more services. The Democracy Corps poll was conducted May 29 - June 19 and included 1017 18-29 year-old respondents. Generally speaking, would you rather have a bigger government providing more services or a smaller government that provides fewer services? Bigger government, strongly .................... 40 Bigger government, not so strongly........... 28 Smaller government, not so strongly......... 12 Smaller government, strongly................... 16 (Don't know/refused) ................................ 4