The United State’s Congress stopped worrying about foreign fighters, aggressive governments toppling the republic and civil war 142 years ago*, so why is it so hard for them to get legislation passed when democrats have the majority and no one is shooting at them?
Of the 6 legislative initiatives for the first 100 hours of the 110th US Congress, only 1 reached the President’s desk (minimum wage). That means that their own benchmark report card has them batting 1 for 6 (technically there are 8 distinct pieces of legislation that address 6 initiatives that were supposed to be passed in 6 days). The electorate has rated the Congress with a 24% approval rating (Gallup). The President (whose approval rating is at 29% - Gallup) vetoed the first Iraq surrender bill (HR1591). Congress hasn’t passed its own Big Oil bill**. As Mr. Taranto has pointed out on numerous occasions, corruption is still a problem. Promised bi-partisanship went out the window in the first 100 seconds. The US Congress is working overtime on defeating our military in Iraq. In the approximately 2300 hours*** since the 110th Congress convened, they have passed a total of three pieces of legislation. I’d call that unsatisfactory performance.
* Calculated based on the American Revolution in 1775-1783, the “Burning of Washington” in 1814 and the end of the unpleasantness in the American Civil War from 1861-1865.
** HR 6 passed the house but the Senate removed Title I of the bill, effectively re-instating $32 billion dollars in tax relief for Oil Companies. Now it’s stuck in committee. Remember “school house rock?” Committee is where “Bill” goes to die.
*** Based on 85 hour work week associated with the 100 hours of those first 6 days.
From a report Prepared by the Offices of Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-FL), and Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA):
Democrats: 0 for 6 in '07 (Good articles from WASHPOST, WASHTIMES, LATIMES, ETC)
From The Harvard Salient
Madame Speaker's 100-hour Failure
From Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100-Hour_Plan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/110th_United_States_Congress
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