Giving ‘Do Nothing Congress’ new meaning

[ProSense]

Steve Benen: Giving ‘Do Nothing Congress’ new meaning

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When it comes to legislative action, 2009 and 2010 were an unusually busy period, with the Senate taking up some of the most consequential legislation in the generation. Maybe, the thinking goes, such an intense period of policymaking activity will inevitably be followed by a more relaxed schedule.

But the institution has gone from frantically busy to catatonic. One is tempted to hold a mirror to the Senate’s nose, just to make sure it’s still breathing.

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We’re not, by the way, talking about pro-forma sessions, intended to prevent presidential recess appointments. This is just the norm of the Senate most of the time, even when during the course of its usual schedule.

Of course, senators could be doing something, at least in theory. The Democratic majority doesn’t bring bills to the floor, because they know Republicans will filibuster them (and even if they passed, the GOP-led House would never consider them). Dems could bring nominees to the floor, but Republicans won’t allow that, either. Dems could work on a budget, but they not only know the House won’t cooperate, but also know even trying would become fodder for attack ads.

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The 112th United States Congress just ended its fifth month. What does it have to show after five months:

Major legislation

Enacted

• April 15, 2011: 2011 United States federal budget (as Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011), Pub.L. 112-10

Proposed(in alphabetical order)

• No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, H.R. 3
  
  
• Protect Life Act, H.R. 358
  
  
• Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, H.R. 2
  
  
• FY 2011 Further Continuing Appropriations (through March 18), H.J.Res. 44

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. K&R

:kick:

[GSLevel9]

2. Not exactly true...

The freshly minted Pubs are doing precisely what the dolts who elected them requested of them. They're blocking every Dem movement...