Stormy but highly productive 111th Congress adjourns

[ProSense]

Stormy but highly productive 111th Congress adjourns

By David A. Fahrenthold, Philip Rucker and Felicia Sonmez

The House and Senate adjourned for the year on Wednesday evening, closing a two-year term that holds the odd distinction of being both historically busy and epically unpopular.

A Congress that was dominated by Democrats passed more landmark legislation than any since the era of Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society."

Congress approved an $814 billion economic stimulus, a massive health-care overhaul, and new regulations on Wall Street trading and consumer credit cards. The list grew longer during this month's frenetic lame-duck session: tax cuts, a nuclear arms treaty and a repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military.

But the 111th Congress will also be remembered for endless filibuster threats, volcanic town hall meetings, and the rise of the tea party. All were symbols of a dissatisfaction that peaked on Nov. 2, with a Republican rout in the midterm elections.

"This is the most dysfunctional political environment that I have ever seen. But then you have to juxtapose that with one of, at least, the three most productive Congresses" since 1900, said Norman Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

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[Hawkeye-X]

1. I hope we get to see the final crash and burn of the Rethuglicans on the 112th

and a massive shift to the left, forcing Obama to make a choice.

Wikileaks will be a major part of this event.

That is why people are calling it the Apocalypse - 2012 as the "end of the Mayan calendar"

Hey, it's just a theory. I can just toss it out.

[jaxx]

2. Wikileaks a major part?

That's a stretch.