Do Nothing Congress
Congressional Republicans decided that the best thing for them to do approaching a pivotal election was to hunker down, and hope that nobody paid attention. They tried to play it safe, but ended up losing both the Senate and the House.
On 12/8/06, Congress went home after being in session fewer days than any other Congress in our history. Lawmakers could have dealt with critical issues such as illegal immigration, lobbying, Social Security and health care reforms. Instead, this Republican controlled Congress spent a lot of time arguing about gay marriage, flag burning and went into emergency session to pass a bill aimed at saving Terri Schiavo.
Members of Congress worked only 103 days this past year, which is not even half as many days as a full-time worker. Three hundred and seventy-four bills were signed into law, but over a quarter of them were bills to rename federal buildings, like a post office named for actress Ava Gardner. Congressional Republicans were willing to placate their conservative base, but totally unwilling to deal with the tough issues or even debate them.
Congress did make it harder to declare bankruptcy. They increased penalties for indecency in broadcasting to insure no more wardrobe malfunctions. They authorized a 700-mile fence along the border with Mexico, but didn't fund it.
In the past nine years, a Republican controlled Congress gave itself annual pay raises eight time, which totaled almost $35,000, but failed to raise the federal minimum wage. During that time, the cost of living soared, and working families suffered.
Democrats, who will be running Congress next year were able to block a ninth pay increase until the minimum wage is raised. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have raised their minimum wages out of disgust with the do nothing Congress.
On 12/8/06, Congress went home after being in session fewer days than any other Congress in our history. Lawmakers could have dealt with critical issues such as illegal immigration, lobbying, Social Security and health care reforms. Instead, this Republican controlled Congress spent a lot of time arguing about gay marriage, flag burning and went into emergency session to pass a bill aimed at saving Terri Schiavo.
Members of Congress worked only 103 days this past year, which is not even half as many days as a full-time worker. Three hundred and seventy-four bills were signed into law, but over a quarter of them were bills to rename federal buildings, like a post office named for actress Ava Gardner. Congressional Republicans were willing to placate their conservative base, but totally unwilling to deal with the tough issues or even debate them.
Congress did make it harder to declare bankruptcy. They increased penalties for indecency in broadcasting to insure no more wardrobe malfunctions. They authorized a 700-mile fence along the border with Mexico, but didn't fund it.
In the past nine years, a Republican controlled Congress gave itself annual pay raises eight time, which totaled almost $35,000, but failed to raise the federal minimum wage. During that time, the cost of living soared, and working families suffered.
Democrats, who will be running Congress next year were able to block a ninth pay increase until the minimum wage is raised. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have raised their minimum wages out of disgust with the do nothing Congress.
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