Frustrated House still waiting for Senate action on 420 bills

[babylonsister]

Frustrated House still waiting for Senate action on 420 bills
By Russell Berman - 10/05/10 04:28 PM ET


The House ran another legislative lap around the Senate in September, widening the gap in the number of bills the chambers have passed this Congress to more than 400.

With only a lame-duck session remaining, the House since January 2009 has passed 420 bills that have sat on the Senate shelf, according to an updated list provided to The Hill.

The gulf in productivity has led to an escalation in tensions between the chambers, culminating in a veritable staring contest last month over the expiring George W. Bush-era tax cuts.

House Democratic leaders have frequently griped at the disparity, and the caucus chairman, Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), told The Hill last week that the slow pace of legislating in the Senate, where bills can be held up by the filibuster and other rules, “infuriates” members of the House.

Rank-and-file House Democrats said the lack of Senate action on legislation they had cast tough votes on had left them twisting in the wind before an increasingly agitated electorate. At the top of the list was the June 2009 cap-and-trade energy and climate bill, which passed the House by a slim margin but never made it to the Senate floor.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/122681-frustrated-house-still-waiting-for-senate-action-on-420-approved-bills

[gratuitous]

1. But god forbid the Democrats make an issue out of this

Because the Republicans might monkey wrench the process even more. Let's play nice Democrats, and hope that the Republicans will be inspired by our example of forbearance and agree to govern in the best interests of the country. Hey, look what I just bought on eBay: The deed to the Brooklyn Bridge!

[Warren Stupidity]

4. +infinity

[Obamanaut]

2. One third of the senate is up for grabs. Lame duck the incumbents

out and maybe the new people will do some work.

But no, once again it will be vote for 'the name you know', and then it will be business as usual. Or non-business might be more accurate

[Xithras]

3. We should abolish the Senate.

It serves no functional purpose in our government any longer. Its original purpose was to represent the wills of the state legislatures at a federal level, and that purpose was eliminated by the 17th Amendment.