There’s Less to This Congress Than Meets the Blind Eye

[Tx4obama]

There’s Less to This Congress Than Meets the Blind Eye

Lawmakers and aides pouring back into the Capitol this week may be tempted to glance at their desk calendars, smack their foreheads and exclaim, “Where did the time go?”

And then, with even more bewilderment, they might wonder, “What have we been doing all year?”

The July Fourth recess is traditionally considered halftime in the legislative year. In fact, it’s a bit later than that. The Senate’s had roll call votes during 17 weeks so far in 2013 and plans only 16 more weeks in session before the second Friday in December. The House has had votes in 18 weeks but expects just 14 more workweeks before that same Dec. 13 target adjournment.

The message for the laborers in the First Session of the 113th Congress is unmistakable: The time is slipping away without much to show for it. And if past is prologue, as has been the case in previous eras, we may have already seen the best this outfit has to offer.

-snip-

http://blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/theres-less-to-this-congress-than-meets-the-blind-eye/

Related...

Obama Has Signed 15 Bills Into Law In First 6 Months Of Second Term

President Barack Obama has signed just 15 bills into law thus far while battling congressional deadlock, according to Roll Call.

Before the Fourth of July congressional recess last year, Obama had signed 23 bills in the year with the smallest legislative output since World War II. During his first six months in office in 2009, the president signed 40 measures while working with a Democratic Congress, according to Roll Call.

Former presidents who worked with a Congress controlled partly by the opposing party passed far more legislation in the first six months of their terms, according to Roll Call.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/obama-has-signed-15-bills-into-law-in?ref=fpb

[msongs]

1. harry truman knew how to talk about republicans instead of appeasing them - the "do nothing

congress"

[SamKnause]

2. Congress

Instead of passing new laws, I would be pleased if they would enforce the existing laws and stop weakening the laws already on the books.

Dysfunctional, inept and corrupt to the bone.

How is that insider trading working out for all the Congress critters and their staff ??????????????????

Shout out to the Supreme Court; Have you married any corporations yet ??? You do know corporations are people ?

I am sick of the entire charade.

126 working days for the 2013 schedule.

Corporations and Wall Street dictate all policies in the U.S.

They are above the law !!!!!!

[Igel]

3. But Congress doesn't do enforcement.

However, the problem with the OP is it needs historical perspective. If you start a new term of Congress you don't expect many bills for a while. They have to go to committee to be vetted, debated, amended, discussed.

The Texas legislature may be extreme in this, but it met in the spring and for a few months all that happened were pro forma measures in the main bodies and lots of things referred to committees. Then after the midway point all the committees upchucked all their bills and measures for debate by the full chambers.

You expect far more legislative action in the second half than in the first half.