All these scandals are eating away precious time from the congressional calendar:

[DetlefK]

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/heres-how-trumps-comey-firing-could-create-major-problems-for-congressional-republicans/

Meanwhile, the confirmation hearing and vote for the new FBI director will be a media circus, one that will distract Republicans and leave them with less time to pass their healthcare overhaul and rewrite the tax code. Lawmakers only have a few months left this year to move forward with several ambitious pieces of legislation, given their lengthy summer break in August and part of September, plus regular recesses and holidays. One controversial issue or nomination can clog up the Senate floor for days if not weeks, and Democrats have already shown they are willing to use procedural delays to slow the GOP agenda. More time spent debating a new FBI nominee and the possibility of an independent probe means less time for what GOP lawmakers have promised their constituents they’d accomplish, from jobs to healthcare.

And the closer we get to the 2018 election year, the more the legislative wheels will grind to a halt. That’s why there’s so much urgency to pass new laws this spring and summer, and prove Republicans can govern, before they shift into full-time campaign mode. It’s bad news for Republicans up for re-election next year if they can’t demonstrate any tangible wins, despite their unified party control of Washington. Meanwhile, the drip, drip, drip of Russia-related allegations, which Comey’s firing just dramatically amplified, will only continue to inflame Democratic voters eager to send a message in 2018.




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Only so much can be discussed at a time. While the Senate is busy with scandal after scandal after scandal, there's not much time for the Republicans to actually pass something.

The Senate-Republicans will offer their version of Trumpcare maybe in fall 2017. Then reconciliation... Then a second vote in the House... If they make any real progress on the Obamacare-repeal by end of this year, they are lucky.

If they have more than a general layout for a tax-reform by fall 2017, they are lucky.

And in fall 2017 there's the next shutdown-threat. Trump already telegraphed it.

And the big, beautiful wall?

What about jobs?

What happens in case of a natural disater, e.g. a hurricane hitting Miami?

And as the US is obsessed with extremely long campaign-seasons, it can be reasonably expected that more precious time is diverted away from legislative work and towards campaigning starting in spring 2018.

[still_one]

1. That is our only hope until 2018