NPR
At the present pace, this Congress will pass fewer bills than any of its predecessors for the past 40 years. The Columbus Dispatch this week asked members of the Ohio delegation what that's like. For most of them, it's just plain frustrating, even if you're in the party that seems more dedicated to doing nothing.
Republican Congressman Mike Turner, for one, tells the hometown press he almost never tries to have a solitary measure become law -- not as a standalone.
“We look for bills that are what people call ‘must-pass’ bills,’ ” he said, noting that this way was used to introduce legislation into an FAA reauthorization bill urging the Federal Aviation Administration to consider the Dayton region as a site for unmanned aerial vehicle airspace.
The bills he can’t attach to larger bills tend to struggle, Turner admits.
“Because less bills are being passed, and some of my bills can’t be attached to a larger bill, good ideas flounder,” he said.
Some of those floundering good ideas might help the country if they got a chance. As Steve wrote this morning, nearly half the public believes that Republicans are deliberately hamstringing efforts at an economic recovery. On the flip side, at least that suggests the public believes Congress could help the economy, if only it would.
After the jump, Ezra Klein's chart of cloture votes -- read: filibustering -- in the Senate.
(H/t @olevia)
By way of our pal Ezra:
Ezra Klein
The rise of the filibuster.
Leave a Comment:
How nice to see our split Congress do what it needs to do...just one question for the Republican led House: where are the jobs bill? Nearly every bill passed has to do with abortion or easing restrictions...where are the jobs that the GOP promised in their 2010 wave?
And if I may say so myself: first. XD
You said a mouthful Joe.... They got all the tax breaks and profits are up 81% for big business and still no jobs.
that's fewer bills, not less bills, Republican idiot!
He probably also says (like some children I've heard) "How much bills have we passed?"
In all fairness, many of the bills that have passed the Rape-Public-CON house have been qualitatively less useful than their historic predecessors...
Jobs, jobs jobs!
;-)
wasn't it just a few short years ago that the GOP argued for "up or down votes"? my how big the clown shoe has gotten now that it is on the other foot.
Just a reminder that modern Republicans never argue in good faith. If they insist that bills deserve an up-or-down vote, or that they're concerned about the deficit, or that they believe reconciliation is some kind of underhanded scheme, it's always BS. Figure out the answer you want, work backward to cherry-pick some kind of justification for it, and don't worry about whether it's the exact opposite of what you argued last time, because no one but Democrats will ever call you on it, and the media will claim "both sides do it" if they mention it at all.
My favorite part of this post is your repetition of 'floundering' with no comment on your part. Almost spit out my iced coffee.
Face it, our congress, led by the right, have dismissed the interests of the majority of people, because the right has been co-opted by the rich, and the idealogs, that prefer destroying America, rather than have a centrist president get programs, and policies, passed, that would help the whole country.
Apparently the Republican congress does not believe in karma.
They worship Mammon.
But..But...But...It's only because the brave right wing has stood up to Obamanomics and worked so hard at doing nothing that we have acheived what little growth we have thus far. If only the House were given free reign to do even less, we could make more progress!
And if they disbanded entirely...The sky's the limit.
Reminds me of a sci-fi short story I read years ago, "It Was Nothing -- Really" by Theodore Sturgeon (collected in The Nail and the Oracle: Volume XI: The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon).
An inventor notices that paper, e.g. towels, most often seems to tear anywhere but at the perforation. Realizing that perforations are formed by removing some of the perforated material, the inventor reasons that the strongest possible material would therefore be... nothing! Unlike the Congressional example, in the story hilarity ensues...
link to Amazon listing for The Nail and the Oracle
Tell this to a wingnut and the (stupid) response will be: "Good, that means they're not spending money." Seriously, that's what they say.
If it wasn't for wrong and obnoxious, Republicans would have no characteristics.
Ok now that is funny, the wrong and obnoxious part, the other part is just the sad, sad truth.
The Republicans are already talking about extending the Bush tax cuts and are going to vote on them by August. This is political theater for use in the elections. Republicans are also gearing up for another debt ceiling fight. These are diversions from what the voters want to hear about, jobs and the unfairness of the tax and political system, because the Republicans cannot win on those issues. Obama and the Dems should be turning up the heat on Republicans for doing nothing on those issues so that Republicans cannot divert attention from those issues. The Dems need to make it politically unpopular for Congress to go off on an extended summer vacation to campaign while the rest of the country continues to struggle. By November, voters would have even more reason to be disgusted with Congress and that anger could be translated into votes in many districts that are not safe for Republicans.
Yes, Democrats should be getting in front, not catching up from behind. They should be inoculating against lies, not waiting for them and then crying the Republicans are lying.
But we both know what the Democrats are going to do.
I agree with Bill Maher who said that it is time for progressive to get off their behinds and elect hard core representatives that will pull the Dem party and the country to the left. These people should be just as uncompromising as the Tea Party and Republicans. It is ridiculous to think that the country is polarized. We have a radical right wing Republican party and a moderate right of center Dem party that is incapable of taking a stand on issues. That is not polarization but rather, it is the tail wagging the dog.
Worse than diversions... as we've already seen, e.g. from the last time they threatened to refuse to raise the debt ceiling, this kind of "action" can cause real, measurable, demonstrable harm.
Why do the Rape-Public-CONs hate America?
GOP = General Opposition Party = wasteful, bullying, mendacious, crybabies!
Hey Bonehead, WHERE ARE THE J-O-B-S, you & your party promised would materialize if you had control of Congress?!? Maybe the public should make you people unemployed come November?
I can't be the only one pondering whether the government of the people, by and for said people that our forefathers formed and bled for in numerous wars has morphed into the abysmal money pit of today. Any conservative member that possibly shows signs of compromising...the only way a two party government can support the people they represent...is immediately censured or black listed in their next election. Has Democracy failed?
Democracy was on crutches during the Reagan years.
With Clinton, Democracy started walking with a cane but was purposely tripped on the stairs by Gingrich and gang.
During the Bush years, Democracy was paralyzed and forced into a wheelchair.
Once the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Citizens United, Democracy went into a coma.
Sadly, during Obama's term, Democracy remains in a coma, is now on life support, and being held hostage for a large ransom.
Yes.
(/Magic 8 ball)
That's why the GOP is enabling their corporate masters to usher US back to feudalism - where the corporate overLords rule over US serfs - United States Inc.!
Now why would Republicans want to sabotage the economy? Mitch McConnell explains: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-A09a_gHJc
The following is a response to my published Newsvine article codeming Republicans bogus arguments.
Gailieon
The United States needs a powerful and technologically advanced military. These days more than ever. Whether you are a proponnent or antagonist of the military surely you can understand why America needs a military that can meet any threat. America has cultivated some valuable friendships but along with that goes the enemies that accrue and are envious of and bitter with the success of America. Making the U.S. military a demon is a disservice to the country and it citizens.
My rebuttal:
I believe Gaileoin is making a sincere argument. I would like to make a rebuttal argument of just how much defense is enough. Other countries also face these same threats. The US military is larger than the militaries of the next nine countries combined, inclusive of Russia and China.
Our defensive expenditure is primarily spent on projecting our military might off-shore. The argument as I understand it is; we must support our overseas interests. Those interests are oil and business conglomerates. The reality is this; we are protecting all conglomerates' properties no matter the country of origin, as the global businesses' interests are inextricably combined with those of United States conglomerates. That in essence makes us the world policemen for global corporate interests.
The cost is primarily borne by the US taxpayers. Corporations pay US taxes also, but their benefits from our global police force far outweigh their contributions in support of it. The burden of the American taxpayer is also out-sized when it comes to paying for pharmaceutical research.
President Obama is asking that we spend some of our tax money on American infrastructure that would benefit these overburdened citizens. The Republicans in congress refuse them this needed help for their personal political gain. That is unpatriotic on its face, and a monumental tragedy for our country. There are moderate Republicans that have been drummed out of this GOP. I honestly don't know how these Republicans in congress can sleep at night!
"nearly half the public believes that Republicans are deliberately hamstringing efforts at an economic recovery." - AMEN. At least the public is finally understanding that the GOP is at fault for our gridlock. The general public takes time to grasp concepts like this.. but now that they have.. it spells trouble for them and Romney in November.
And, sadly, I'd be willing to bet that most of that portion of the public are Democrats. And that most of the remaining portion of the public are Rape-Public-CONs quoting their hero, Dick Cheney, "Yeah, so?"
Succinctly said Casere. Imagine Romney eking out a win with obscene amounts of ca$h, democracy as we've known it disappears. Henceforth The Supreme Court makes all the decisions. Obama wins, nothing changes, it is a nightmare waiting to happen. The only thing that might make a difference is an Obama super landslide, which is nothing but wishful thinking. Too many still believe in divided government, which used to work. I've lived a long time & have never seen the like of what is coming out of this particular time. It is so very sad. What on earth would our Founders think?
I just graphed Congressional pay over this Number of Bills Passed chart, and it looks like Congress worked an awful lot harder when we paid them less.
You can find a history of Congressional Pay (by years) at Wikipedia.
Makes sense to me... from my observation, the poor do seem to work harder than the rich!
;-)
Where is a nice clean Republican jobs bill that only deals with creating jobs and not promoting their social agenda? Every jobs bill proposed by the Republicans has riders and amendments that were sure to have the bill fail in the Senate and or be vetoed by the President. What have the Republicans done to promote any one's civil rights. They have done nothing. Most of the Republican's civil rights bills are focused upon taking someones civil rights away. All of the Republican's health care bills revolve around limiting abortion or shutting down Planned Parenthood or limiting contraception. These bills get the government's regulatory and police powers more involved in our lives and not less. Why does anyone vote Republican??? Save the Republican Party. Vote all of the do nothing refusing to compromise Republicans out of office.
Hee hee! Thanks, Michelle, I needed a good laugh today. Of course every Rape-Public-CON "jobs bill" is designed to fail in one way or another! If any of them passed and worked (pardon the pun), it might interfere with their number one goal: making sure that President Obama serves only one term...
The JOB ACtS funding was already alloted with funds long ago. If Romney passes a bill like this he will do it. But he isn't President yet. But since the Republicans alway do nothing they are just playing cat and mouse waiting game.Every Grass roots that's for this job will Ill be glad to sign it. I already asked the White house if there's a Petition for this. It may have passed me by.
If swon has this petition to sign for this bill give it to those Republicans I will sign it. In the meantime, Last year they were invited to the White House and the Repulicans replied " WE have some place else to to to and we can't come" Reminds me when the POTUS wanted to come to the NASCAR races and vice versa. They nicked him. I thought this was a Democracy??? is it or isn't it?
The Republicans are violating non workers, soldiers, teachers and firefighters; They are violating our Human Rights as a right to happiness and pursuit to the American dream.
I would love to be a bug on the wall in the Middle EAst and count how many Republican soldiers are over there. They must be at JP Morgans' or Wall Street. Tell me something.
If a Jobs Bill were to pass and the economy were to improve, it would make Obama look good. can't have that happen. Oh, no, no, no.
So, let the country and the people die then blame Obama.
What part of this do you not understand, People? Congress is run by Bullies=GOP
Obamanomics??? Obamacare? The plan to get us out of this craphole that the GOP put us in is the same one Clinton used. Invest in infrastructure...create jobs.... I say repeal Johnson Care...for someone who doesn't want Govt. Run Healthcare...they sure suck off the Teet of Medicare. Keeping money in the hands of the "Job Creators" is a crock. They got alll the tax cuts and ain't created nothing close to a job. And for the record...The Great Depression was originally called the "Republican Depression" up until the 1940's. Failed Policies hurting Americans and Dems take the blame. People are no longer buying into that GOP B.S.