Congress to make history -- but for the wrong reason

[TomCADem]

Source: NBC

By passing just 196 bills into law so far, [the 112th Congress (2011-2012)] it is in the running to become the least productive Congress since the 1940s.

In fact, that amount is 710 fewer public laws than was produced by the 80th Congress (from 1947-48), which first earned the moniker "Do-Nothing" Congress.

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The 104th Congress (1995-1996) currently holds the record low for passing the fewest pieces of legislation since 1947 -- just 333 bills were passed into law during that two-year span.

To avoid earning the distinction as the least productive Congress since 1947, 138 bills must move through the House and Senate before the end of this Congress next month.

Read more: http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/28/15518240-congress-to-make-history-but-for-the-wrong-reason?lite

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Can we also chalk up Speaker Boehner as the worst Speaker in the history of Congress. He floated the idea of being open to some tax increases, but has since been whipped into shape by Grover Norquist who is acting as a proxy for millions in corporate SuperPAC money. Now, Boehner is once again willing to let taxes increase on 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses in order to protect the top 2 percent.

On the Senate side, you have Republicans breaking new records in the use of the filibuster. It is not both parties' fault. It is the fault of Republicans who have pretty much delegated any leadership to unelected interests like Grover Norquist and the corporations and billionaires that he represents.

[woo me with science]

1. What a moronic way to even suggest that Congress should be assessed.

So now the value of a Congress is dependent on how many bills it passes, rather than what is in those bills?

Good grief. This sounds like the calls for a destructive Grand Bargain "in order to accomplish something."

[TomCADem]

2. What? A Fiscal Cliff Bill Is Just One Bill.

Whether or not the fiscal cliff is addressed is going to do nothing to alleviate this Congress's distinction as the least productive Congress in history. I am not sure I get your math, since you would still need to pass over 130 other other bills to move beyond the current last place holder, so what is the relevance of the passage or failure of some grand bargain to this metric?

[woo me with science]

3. I don't care if a Congress is "productive."

I care that they are doing the right things.

Counting bills is nonsense.

[TomCADem]

4. Not sure how you can defend this Congress despite its low production

There are numerous issues facing our Nation. The economy, immigration, climate change, etc. Yet, the House Republicans have not engaged in serious effort to address these issues. Instead, they have largely engaged in symbolic acts designed to appeal to their base. This Congress has held routine matter such as the appointment of agency heads, including the Consumer Protection Agency, and has stonewalled on matters such as an increase in the debt ceiling. So, how you can defend this Congress and suggest that it is productive despite the historically low levels of productivity is amazing.

In other words, there are many matters that need to be addressed that should not devolve into a partisan fight such as an increase in the debt ceiling or the appointment of judges who have no actual opposition to their appointment.

So, I disagree. It is not a coincidence that the public's low opinion of this Congress, as well as the failure of a no-brainer bill like extending tax cuts to 98 percent of Americans, are happening during the same period that this Congress is setting the record for inactivity. If you want to argue that there is no relationship, you are free to hold that opinion, but it is no accident that this Congress is both doing very little and doingh very little right.

[librechik]

5. Moochers, lying around living off the government teat and doing nothing to justify

their entitlement.