Fans of Indiana Jones and National Treasure may dream of one day finding immense wealth buried under their feet. However, in today’s world, not only is it unlikely to find such a treasure, it is also unlikely that the finder will get to keep it. Nations of the world have property laws for archaeological finds, and one such a nation is the United Kingdom. While the finders of wealth may get compensated for their finds in the UK, the treasure itself is often sold off to museums. A good example of the treasure laws that the United Kingdom uses is that of the Staffordshire Hoard. The Staffordshire Hoard is a unique find from a time that scientists do not know much about; even though it is important to study such a find, it should also be a source of pride for the local people and local museums.

I apologize for not posting last week. I had to wait for Congress to enough to report on. This covers March 4 to March 13.

The House is back after a break for President's Day week. A very slow week, with only eight votes cast, four of them party line. Two months into 2020, and Rep. Steil has yet to cast a single vote against the interests of the Republican Party and its corporate backers.

Another fairly slow week for Congress, with only 16 votes taken. Eleven of them were party line, and Rep. Steil voted with the Republicans every time again this week. That brings us to six straight weeks of Bryan not thinking for himself.

A relatively busy week for Congress this week, with 20 votes. 17 were party line, and Steil continued his record of non-thinking, voting with the Republican caucus every time this week.

The phrase “separation of church and state” is one of the most commonly used yet least understood political sayings in all of modern vernacular. Many Christians claim this separation as the unrelenting law that took prayer from public schools, tore down crosses from public parks and seeks to removed America from being “one nation under God”. Others see it as an open minded and helpful gesture that ensures equality for a nation of immigrants that is a melting pot of global cultures. For both good and bad the term “separation of church and state” has been touted in more wrong ways that correct ways.

Another fairly slow week in Congress, with only 12 votes this week, two of them procedural and five of them non-partisan. Steil missed three votes on Wednesday. Of the party line votes he did participate in, he was 100% with the Republicans this week. Meaning that Steil has spent all of January always answering at his party’s call and never thinking for himself at all.

Here we go, the first Steil Watch of 2020. had to wait until there were enough votes to cover.

The politics of doing nothing

My grandpa quit smoking in 2002, after smoking cigarettes since he was 13 years old back in the early 60s. A time when doctors were the spokespeople helping tobacco companies sell their products.

My road to having two healthy, feisty daughters came with a few unexpected turns.