Congress Leaves Town: Why Come Back At All?

Congress limped out of town on Friday. Largely due to the intransience of Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-NV), not much was accomplished in the first eight months of this year. In fact, Senator Reid has made into an art form not allowing any kind of democracy to work. Legislative process, forget it. I find the tactic both dangerous and distasteful. He is shameless and does the country of great disservice.

In any event, The House and Senate are scheduled to be out of session for a five-week August recess, returning Sept. 8. I am not sure how August got 5 weeks but then again it is Washington. One thing is also certain is the country cannot be damaged any further with Congress gone except the President is still on the loose but not doing much constructive. The relevance of Mr. Obama continues to track his dismal performance.  

After coming back from the “recess” and I do not say vacation because our elected officials do work hard, but neither chamber is expected to hang around long before recessing for the November elections.

Not to be accused of any thing that could be viewed as responsible, Senate Majority Leader Reid already has indicated the Senate has an adjournment target date of September 23, or in session for a total of about two weeks. Cannot even make it to October.

The House is not any better with a target adjournment date is Sept. 19. Well, why not leave, nothing really to do? The Senate almost never takes up House passed bills. The House has passed 7 appropriations bills; the Senate has not even had a vote on one, nary a single floor vote. None, I mean what are those guys doing?

About the only thing left for this pitiful Congress is to reach an agreement to fund the government beyond the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.  Call it a day and then let the country vote.