McClatchy: When it comes to solving big issues, Congress often comes up short

[babylonsister]

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/17264974.htm

When it comes to solving big issues, Congress often comes up short
By James Rosen
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - Recent history provides a loud cautionary note to President Bush and a bipartisan group of senators pushing significant immigration revisions:

Buyer beware.

From tobacco regulation to health care, the legislative landscape is littered with grand ideas that shattered upon colliding with political reality.

"Right now it will be very difficult to get any big legislation like immigration through Congress because the parties are so hostile to each other," said Ron Haskins, a Brookings Institution analyst and author of a book on welfare restructuring.

snip//

Presidential leadership might be the most important ingredient.

"Congress often is very reluctant to act without the president, no matter which party has the majority," Haskins said.

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[WCGreen]

1. That's pretty much reality speaking...