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Congress Ends Least-Productive Year In Modern History

January 16, 2012 by  

Congress Ends Least-Productive Year In Modern History

Congress officially ended its least-productive year on record after passing 80 bills, the fewest recorded since they began keeping year-end records in 1947, The Washington Times reported.

An analysis offered by the Times found that Congress set a record for legislative futility by accomplishing less in 2011 than any other year. This study took into account the lawmakers time spent in debate, the number of conference reports that were produced and the instance of voting on the floor of the House and Senate.

The newspaper reported that the Senate’s record was weakest by a significant margin, according to the futility index, and the House had its 10th-worst session since records have been taken.

“Absent unified party control with a bolstered Senate majority, I think it’s just very hard to get things done, particularly in a period when revenues aren’t growing and the decisions are how to cut, and how to cut in the long term,” Sarah Binder, a professor at George Washington University, told the Times. “Congress just isn’t very good at solving long-term problems.”

The Los Angeles Times reported that both Democrats and Republicans have placed the blame on the other party’s ineptitude, and lawmakers from both sides have targeted payroll tax extension as the first issue for 2012.

Filed Under: Conservative Politics, Liberty News, Other News
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  • http://www.sonicaeroinfiniti@sonicworlsdemocracy.org D(NV)STEPHEN.A.R.CLINTON

    hi mr president republican congress,
    good evening america , the seige is on around the world sir, nigeria cant help provide the adequate security needed to shield the proper forum for equity and justice, like wise syria, and iraq, royal republican , guest of honour , distinguished panel of jury , i want mr president nigeria summond on this issues,………… thank you sir.

  • http://www.foundersrevolution.net Patriot1776

    I LOVE a deadlocked Congress! seriously, why would we want Congress to be able to do any more damage than it has already done? Go home….leave us alone. I have a State government that is bad enough. Like I really need two governments telling me what is good for me and two governments taxing me etc. etc. I don’t care to have this central monster legislating from Mordor on the Potomac any longer. Go Home!! ;)

  • Raggs

    The least productive congress with a NON-productive ( Anti-productive )so-called prez… I don’t even know why this is being discussed, to me its as plain as the nose on my face…

    • APN

      Yep! I agree! Only a FOOL couldn’t understand just WHAT the problem is in America. It’s called progressive/marxist stupidity!

      • SMILEE

        I think its just too many “APN’s”

      • APN

        Yep! Logic and common sense is a dangerous thing to a progressive.

  • JimH

    Congress isn’t as good at solving long term problems as they are at CREATING long term problems. Keep them bogged down, please.

  • s c

    Professor Binder, your comment was not very accurate. You said that “Congress just isn’t very good at solving long-term problems.” Of course, PLND didn’t suggest the tint of your politics, but I’d say that you should have expanded your comment.
    In at least ONE respect, it was a God-send that Congress had such a bad year. Taken individually, those 80 bills that did get ‘passed’ represented some of the most immoral, the most hateful and the most ANTI-AMERICAN legislation passed in America’s history.
    Conservatives don’t have to be reminded of the unAmerican and treasonous ‘bills’ that did manage to be passed. Utopians, on the other hand, can’t pass enough irrational and unconstitutional crap fast enough to make them happy.
    A lesson that the vast majority of Congress-types NEVER learn is the FACT that getting legislation passed is NOT the same as making America better or safer or more moral. I am very grateful that this half-assed Congress didn’t pass more than 80 bills.
    Thank God we still have enough people in Congress to recognize ^*#+ for what it is. Out main task now is to reverse the damage done by those who see themselves as above the law and not in any way accountable to mere MORTALS [we, who sent you filthy SOBs to Washington].

    • Smilee

      OH come on sc, its a pretty safe bet you do not even know what’s in any of these bills and if you do you probably do not really understand what they are about. I think this article gives creditability to Obama’s claim this is a do nothing congress.

      • s c

        s, how can you look down on your fellow traitors in Congress? You helped elect some of those worthless SOBs, and now YOU think you’re good enough to hold your nose high and see them as inferior? Hypocrisy is absolutely the name of your religion, infidel.
        Once again, my LOW opinion of all utopians is fully justified, comrade. And yes, you have my permission (and that of all other conservatives) to stick it.

      • APN

        Well Smilee, neither does any of the FOOLS in Washington. Remember, only a progressive FOOL, like NP, could suggest that we need to pass a bill into law so we could then “see” what was in the bill…………..i.e.; BRILLIANT!!! WOW, what intelligent leadership we have in AMERICA!

        I find it remarkably telling that GOD gave us TEN simple commandments concerning life and our fellow man BUT we need 4,000,000+ lawyers, 10,000,000+ lobbyist, 14,000,000+ consultants, 20,000,000 progressive Union THUGS, 535 FOOLS in congress, plus the anointed one in the WH, just to tell us simpletons how to live.

        Throw every darn bill passed into law over the last 100 years in the sewer, where it belongs, and then re-institute a constitutional form of government!

        We need to take the 80 bills passed this year and stick them up their arses.

      • SMILEE

        What you so damm angry about????

      • APN

        It’s simple! No longer will tolerate simple minded FOOLS telling what to do, what to think and how to live.

      • s c

        s, conservatives are justifiably ‘angry’ when we’re expected to ignore or support incompetence, arrogance, greed, theft, selective enforcement of American LAWS, incredibly LOW standards for political icons and followers who are even more useless than the SOBs they elect.
        WHY the flying *-_= are YOU happier than a dung beetle on top of a scat mountain?

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