New Year's Resolutions

New year, now what? Four days into 2014, I'd like to take a moment to politely ask the men and women of Congress make 2014 a year of legislation and policy. I'd hope that Congress's new year's resolution would be to do something, anything really.

What could they do, and what should they do? Well, lots of things, but since I doubt Congress will come up with its own "to do" list in 2014, I'm going to make one for them. Below are my new year's resolutions for Congress.

1. Immigration reform. This really shouldn't be that hard since a bipartisan bill has already been passed by the Senate and is just waiting around to be debated by the House, which last year had more useful things to do like symbolically repeal Obamacare 40 times.  However, 2014 started auspiciously for immigration reform as an unlikely ally endorsed change. Perhaps John Boehner's new year's resolution was not to be the Tea Party's lapdog.

2. An energy policy. This should come from the president, but Congress can spur him to act as well. The president should begin by approving the Keystone Pipeline and establishing regulations for safe fracking so that we can exploit the bounty of natural gas upon which we are floating. Simultaneously we should be upping our standards for efficiency and cleanliness and encouraging research into more sustainable alternatives. In addition to exploring sustainable alternative energy sources, we need to develop technologies to harness them, such as high-capacity batteries, and technologies that can make the dirty energy sources we use cleaner.

3. I was mildly encouraged by the budget that was passed last month, not because it was at all substantive, but because it existed. The political implications were more important than the budget itself,  and I remain optimistic that it can be used as a springboard to reasonable and cooperative governance. A more thoughtful budget that encourages spending on infrastructure and education while making necessary adjustments to entitlement spending and cutting out inefficient military spending would be a great start.

This is ambitious, and I doubt the federal government - including the president - will commit to my new year's resolutions. But I think this is achievable, and I think that immigration reform and a budget could become realities. I don't want to get too excited, but a new year means new resolutions. Let's hope our government resolves to govern.