As I See It
Another do-nothing Congress
What a year it has been for the United States Congress. 2023 began with such promise, like the one from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who vowed never to quit, then promptly did. That led to a three-week paralysis of our system of government, with Republican infighting finally leading to the election of a new Speaker. Couple that with a very divided Congress, and it is no wonder that Congress didn’t get much done this year. Despite all the pressing problems facing our country, those we elected to Congress are on track to be one of the most unproductive in modern history. As 2023 comes to a close, and with our lawmakers home for the holidays, it appears this Congressional session will come to an end with less than a couple dozen laws actually passed by Congress. The final tally? Just 20 bills have passed both chambers and been signed into law. They must have been sweeping pieces of legislation, right? Hardly. The majority were uncontroversial bills that passed by unanimous consent, or with little opposition. That includes votes to rename Veterans Affairs Clinics, and another to mint a coin that honors the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps. The other votes were to keep the government funded and raise the debt ceiling. Congratulations Congress. You’ve done what we didn’t think possible. You managed to accomplish even less this year than last year.
Walden
December 26, 2023 at 5:48 pm
Interest take on things. Here is mine:
In a rare demonstration of democracy, voters gave control of the House by a slight margin to Republicans. A corrupt Pelosi, rather than become Minority Leader, promptly quit in a tantrum and turned over the position to Jeffries (only then allowing Jeffries to become the first black minority leader). Biden and Jeffries then pledged to work with the Republican majority, but instead fought all efforts by Republicans by implementing various administrative rules which, although obviously, contrary to what voters want, will take years to unwind through the courts. Biden and Jeffries only deliver a further fractured country.
Digress to Shaw, who delivers “here is what we want you to believe today.”