To-Do List for a Do-Nothing Congress

You may have heard or read about this Congress being compared to the do-nothing Congress of 1948. Then, as now, we have seen a Republican led Congress that has failed to serve the American people.

Wonder Why? USA Today has the answer:

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has found it more important to fritter away scarce time on an obsessive quest to repeal the estate tax and on blatant pandering to social conservatives with proposed constitutional amendments on flag-burning and gay marriage.

What's more, they've put together a handy To-Do List, which includes addressing the real issues of the day:

• Immigration

A bipartisan majority backs tightening border security and dealing humanely with the nearly 12 million immigrants here illegally. Yet House Republicans are blocking any compromise with the Senate.

• Ethics

It's inexcusable that in one of the worst years in memory for congressional corruption and money-related scandals, Congress still hasn't tightened rules governing the incestuous relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers.

• The War in Iraq

The mission of many of the 133,000 U.S. troops in Iraq is shifting from fighting insurgents to trying to avert all-out civil war...Yet Congress left Washington trading hoary sound bites rather than engaging in the serious debate warranted by the new situation on the ground.

• The Bush Administration's Abuse of Power

The Supreme Court slapped down the Bush administration's plans to try detainees before special military commissions; it's up to Congress to construct a process consistent with the Constitution and U.S. values.

• The Minimum Wage

GOP leaders finally offered to back a long overdue minimum wage increase, but only if Democrats agreed to link it to estate tax relief for a handful of the nation's richest families. Fortunately, this cynical coupling failed in the Senate at the end of last week. When Congress returns, it should give America's poorest workers a raise and forget about giving its wealthiest heirs a fat tax break.

• Budget Bills

Will this Congress measure up? Will it do anything to rein in the $300 billion federal deficit, or will it continue irresponsible spending increases and tax cuts?

Comments (4) «

They left out the GOP's #1 priority for the next two years: "reforming" Social Security even though the public rejected that idea out of hand just a year ago.

Vote Republican and expect them to work hard on their agenda not the American people's top concerns.

1

SandyH on August 7, 2006 at 02:40 PM

Global warming, the crisis in the middle east, terrorism, high enery costs and a congress of sound bites and kickbacks are all symptoms of a world powered by a controlled source of fossil fuel. When will a leader herald the goal of alternative energy? For goodness sake, we put a man on the moon because of President Kennedy's faith in America. New sources Now! ps. clean coal and safe nuclear are oxymorons. Put out the challenge. Solutions will follow.

2

mateo on August 7, 2006 at 07:12 PM

Yeah - and the people who want the minimum wage kept at the current level are:

Judd Gregg (R- NH) worth between $3,000,000 and $10,000,000

Johnny Isakson (R-GA) worth between $7,500,000 and $25,000,000

Lamar Alexander (R- TN) worth between $12,000,000 and $43,000,000

Gordon Smith (R-OR) (stock holding alone worth $10,000,000 - $50,000,000)

Don't you just love them!

3

Gail on August 7, 2006 at 07:28 PM

The regressive republicans are FAILURES.

4

pee-wee on August 11, 2006 at 08:40 PM

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