Exhausted By Epic Inaction, Congress Takes a Vacation

The U.S. Congress is on vacation until after Labor Day, but given its lack of accomplishments, it could have been in recess for the preceding year. Of course, Congress typically spends three days a week in DC even when it’s in session, spending the other four back home collecting campaign funds for the next election, a practice euphemistically called “meeting with constituents.”

But summer recess isn’t all stump speeches and visits to examine vital NATO defenses on the Riviera. Congress will still be hard at work tweeting about the highlights of rubber chicken luncheons at the Rotary Club. We hope our legislators don’t over-exert their Twitter fingers this month. They’ll have just a few days in September to decide on the nation budget, the debt limit, and tax reform, and to keep the White House from crashing the health care system or stumbling into trade war or a military crisis.

Congress Is On Vacation. Like It Was All Year Long.

After a grueling five-day schedule of naming post office buildings, Congress kicked the budget can down the road and sneaked out of DC in the dark of night last Thursday. Those who aren’t investigating NATO defenses at Munich’s Oktoberfest are in their home jurisdictions, shaking down constituents for votes and campaign cash. They’ll return after November’s election smoke clears and they know who’s a survivor and who has a few weeks to find a job as a lobbyist or investment banker.

 More:

“Peace Out! House Cancels Work Until After Election Day,” Sahil Kapur, TPM Livewire

 “Senate Approves Spending Bill and Syria Measure, Heads for Exits,” Michael Catalini and Sarah Mimms, National Journal

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Congress Is 0n Vacation. Like It Was All Year Long.

The 113th Congress is taking a five-week recess after the exhausting labor of not passing hundreds of bills, and is among the least productive in history. Of course, Congress only spends three days a week in DC even when it is in session, spending the other four back home collecting campaign funds for the next election, a practice euphemistically called “meeting with constituents.” They’ll be back September 8th for a dozen workdays, then adjourn until after the election in November.

This Congress was so ineffective that even the protesters didn’t bother to show up.

 More:

“Congress jets to five-week recess,” Peter Sullivan, The Hill

“Congress Off for the Exits, but Few Cheer,” Jonathan Weisman and Ashley Parker, New York Times

“Congress continues its streak of passing few significant laws,” Drew DeSilver, Pew Research Center

“As Congress Breaks, Inaction Remains Most Notable Action,” David Welna, NPR

 “From Now Till Election, Congress to Make Itself Scarce,” Caitlin Huey-Burns, Real Clear Politics

“Jon Stewart blasts Congress for taking unearned vacation,” Joanna Rothkopf, Salon

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Short link: http://wp.me/p6sb6-jCw

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Congress Is 0n Vacation. Like It Is All Year Long.

The 113th Congress is taking a five-week recess after the exhausting labor of passing 22 bills in eight months, the smallest number in history. Of course, Congress only spends three days a week in DC even when it’s in session, spending the other four back home collecting campaign funds for the next election, a practice euphemistically called “meeting with constituents.”