U.S. Issues Worst Congress Ever?

**banyon** · 08-19-2012, 07:24 AM

Analysis: Congress Is Least Productive In Decades
By Brian NaylorAugust 15, 2012

http://www.wbur.org/npr/158887971/an...ive-in-decades

An analysis by USA Today says this Congress may be the least productive since the end of World War II. Sixty-one bills became law so far this year, 90 bills last year. So it's not surprising that Congress' approval rating is 10 percent.

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

Just 10 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, according to a new Gallup poll. And this next story is not likely to raise that number. According to one analysis, this Congress is on a pace to be the least productive in recent memory.

NPR's Brian Naylor reports.

BRIAN NAYLOR, BYLINE: The analysis was conducted by USA Today. Looking at records of the House Clerk's Office, they found 3,914 bills have been introduced by lawmakers this year, but just 61 of them have become law. In 2011, Congress passed 90 laws. That's much less than the previous record for futility in the mid-1990s.

In contrast, the Congress of 1947 and '48, which President Harry Truman famously ran against as the Do-Nothing Congress, passed over 900 laws; among them, the Marshall Plan that financed the rebuilding of Europe after World War II.

Congressional scholar Norman Ornstein, of the American Enterprise Institute, says this Congress has done nothing nearly as significant.

NORMAN ORNSTEIN: We don't have anything comparable to a Marshall Plan here. And what we have instead is a debt limit debacle, a failure of the supercommittee, an inability to pass a farm bill in the midst of the worst drought since the Great Depression, a failure to tackle in any way a looming fiscal cliff that could send the country back down into a recession, and passage of a bunch of commemorative bills naming post offices.

NAYLOR: A spokesman for the House says Republicans there have approved more than 30 bills that are now languishing in the Democratic-controlled Senate. But many are measures that stood no chance of ever being approved, like repealing the health care law.

Lawmakers will be returning to Washington next month, and they'll most likely reconvene after the election for a lame duck session. And unless they act, steep budget cuts will automatically take effect, while the Bush tax cuts will expire - the so-called fiscal cliff. But it's unclear whether lawmakers, faced with all that, will suddenly find the keys to productivity.

Brian Naylor, NPR News, Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.

KILLER_CLOWN · 08-19-2012, 11:07 AM

Have you seen the bills they've tried to pass? doing nothing is actually a net positive these days.

**banyon** · 08-19-2012, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

Have you seen the bills they've tried to pass? doing nothing is actually a net positive these days.

I know that's the bumper sticker theme, but really?

In the middle of the worst drought in decades? Just let the fiscal cliff throw us into another recession or Depression?

Even if you were a Tea Party republican, you'd want bills cutting taxes and regulations I would think.

And the passing 33 bills to repeal Obamacare thing is pretty lame.

KILLER_CLOWN · 08-19-2012, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banyon

I know that's the bumper sticker theme, but really?

In the middle of the worst drought in decades? Just let the fiscal cliff throw us into another recession or Depression?

Even if you were a Tea Party republican, you'd want bills cutting taxes and regulations I would think.

And the passing 33 bills to repeal Obamacare thing is pretty lame.

Obamacare needs to be repealed, do something else. I have zero faith we will cut spending until we're completely bankrupt.

SNR · 08-19-2012, 11:41 AM

Direckshun · 08-19-2012, 11:12 AM

I posted a thread recording this exact phenomenon.

Some self-described small government folks will come in here declaring this as a positive thing because the less Congress does, the better.

What they fail to recognize is that an inactive government is not the same thing as a small one.

Bo's Pelini · 08-19-2012, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I posted a thread recording this exact phenomenon.

Some self-described small government folks will come in here declaring this as a positive thing because the less Congress does, the better.

What they fail to recognize is that an inactive government is not the same thing as a small one.

Where's the budget?

**banyon** · 08-19-2012, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Where's the budget?

Good point. Add that to the list.

**patteeu** · 08-20-2012, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I posted a thread recording this exact phenomenon.

Some self-described small government folks will come in here declaring this as a positive thing because the less Congress does, the better.

What they fail to recognize is that an inactive government is not the same thing as a small one.

An inactive government is better than an active government that's doing the wrong thing. I give the current Congress high scores for refusing to rubber stamp the Reid/Obama agenda.

ChiTown · 08-20-2012, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

An inactive government is better than an active government that's doing the wrong thing. I give the current Congress high scores for refusing to rubber stamp the Reid/Obama agenda.

THIS x Eleventy Billion

RINGLEADER · 08-19-2012, 12:12 PM

"Worst Congress Ever?"

"Analysis: Congress Is Least Productive In Decades"

These two statements, to me, appear to be contradictory.

Direckshun · 08-19-2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I posted a thread recording this exact phenomenon.

Some self-described small government folks will come in here declaring this as a positive thing because the less Congress does, the better.

What they fail to recognize is that an inactive government is not the same thing as a small one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RINGLEADER

"Worst Congress Ever?"

"Analysis: Congress Is Least Productive In Decades"

These two statements, to me, appear to be contradictory.

And, scene.

Brock · 08-19-2012, 01:35 PM

Yeah, I wish we could go back to when they were passing stupid laws by the bucketload. "Productive", my ass.

Bo's Pelini · 08-19-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

Yeah, I wish we could go back to when they were passing stupid laws by the bucketload. "Productive", my ass.

I agree we should be repealing more laws but we aren't. I guess Dick does have a point.

**Rain Man** · 08-19-2012, 04:20 PM

I am begging people to vote out every incumbent in the next election. Begging.

08-19-2012, 07:24 AM	Topic Starter
banyon Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dodge City, Kansas Casino cash: $76625	Worst Congress Ever? Analysis: Congress Is Least Productive In Decades By Brian NaylorAugust 15, 2012 http://www.wbur.org/npr/158887971/an...ive-in-decades An analysis by USA Today says this Congress may be the least productive since the end of World War II. Sixty-one bills became law so far this year, 90 bills last year. So it's not surprising that Congress' approval rating is 10 percent. MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: Just 10 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, according to a new Gallup poll. And this next story is not likely to raise that number. According to one analysis, this Congress is on a pace to be the least productive in recent memory. NPR's Brian Naylor reports. BRIAN NAYLOR, BYLINE: The analysis was conducted by USA Today. Looking at records of the House Clerk's Office, they found 3,914 bills have been introduced by lawmakers this year, but just 61 of them have become law. In 2011, Congress passed 90 laws. That's much less than the previous record for futility in the mid-1990s. In contrast, the Congress of 1947 and '48, which President Harry Truman famously ran against as the Do-Nothing Congress, passed over 900 laws; among them, the Marshall Plan that financed the rebuilding of Europe after World War II. Congressional scholar Norman Ornstein, of the American Enterprise Institute, says this Congress has done nothing nearly as significant. NORMAN ORNSTEIN: We don't have anything comparable to a Marshall Plan here. And what we have instead is a debt limit debacle, a failure of the supercommittee, an inability to pass a farm bill in the midst of the worst drought since the Great Depression, a failure to tackle in any way a looming fiscal cliff that could send the country back down into a recession, and passage of a bunch of commemorative bills naming post offices. NAYLOR: A spokesman for the House says Republicans there have approved more than 30 bills that are now languishing in the Democratic-controlled Senate. But many are measures that stood no chance of ever being approved, like repealing the health care law. Lawmakers will be returning to Washington next month, and they'll most likely reconvene after the election for a lame duck session. And unless they act, steep budget cuts will automatically take effect, while the Bush tax cuts will expire - the so-called fiscal cliff. But it's unclear whether lawmakers, faced with all that, will suddenly find the keys to productivity. Brian Naylor, NPR News, Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.
Posts: 32,045

08-19-2012, 11:07 AM	#2
KILLER_CLOWN Be HEALED!!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Fascist State Casino cash: $11109354	Have you seen the bills they've tried to pass? doing nothing is actually a net positive these days. __________________ "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father ... And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." "If the people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 19,768

08-19-2012, 11:41 AM	#5
SNR You're all I have left, Copper Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Where the hell is SNR Casino cash: $4528237	Q
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08-19-2012, 11:12 AM	#6
Direckshun Black for Palestine Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $1166845	I posted a thread recording this exact phenomenon. Some self-described small government folks will come in here declaring this as a positive thing because the less Congress does, the better. What they fail to recognize is that an inactive government is not the same thing as a small one. __________________
Posts: 37,534

08-19-2012, 12:12 PM	#11
RINGLEADER RING****ER Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Confusion, USA Casino cash: $283881	"Worst Congress Ever?" "Analysis: Congress Is Least Productive In Decades" These two statements, to me, appear to be contradictory.
Posts: 20,850

08-19-2012, 01:35 PM	#13
Brock Do it. Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $142558	Yeah, I wish we could go back to when they were passing stupid laws by the bucketload. "Productive", my ass.
Posts: 40,407

08-19-2012, 04:20 PM	#15
Rain Man Welcome, Eric Fisher & Friends Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: 1.61 KM high city Casino cash: $62677182	I am begging people to vote out every incumbent in the next election. Begging. __________________ Onward Fisher, Onward Fisher, block right through that line. Block the ball clear down the field, a touchdown sure this time. Onward Fisher, Onward Fisher, fight on for her fame. Fight, fellows, fight, fight, fight, we'll win this game.
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