Food containers in the House became more environmentally friendly last week - again - as paper containers have started to take the place of their stryofoam counterparts.

We've seen this all before, of course. In my introduction to Science Left Behind I noted that the last time Democrats had the House locked down their big green move was replacing plastic utensils with corn-based alternatives that broke easily and melted in soup. And the containers had to be shipped on emissions-belching trucks to deep Virginia where they could be composted, all for far higher cost.

When Democrats lost the House again in the 2010 election (utensils couldn't save them, it seems) the recommendation from the outgoing Democrat in charge, Robert Brady of Pennsylvania, was to undo that policy. He didn't want to do it because it would look bad for him and enrage Nancy Pelosi. So incoming cafeteria manager Rep. Dan Lungren did it, and sure enough Nancy Pelosi told her base he was giving Congress cancer.

But progress marches on. Eventually Nancy Pelosi's district will have to start accepting vaccines, agricultural science, and natural gas, and the House is getting rid of styrofoam again. In cups.

They are probably ready in a way they were not 10 years ago but what will it cost this time? CAO does not tell anyone the costs for things in advance, it will only come out after the fact, but spokesman Dan Weiser said, "Food prices are not going to go up.”

Which means costs will go up, but just for we taxpayers, not Congress.

Chief Administrative Officer Ed Cassidy, formerly a senior leadership aide for Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, didn't want to fight over spoons again so is he giving this one to Democrats, even though they both know it is probably neither cheaper nor better for the environment.