Name one thing that Congress has done in the past year that stands out

September 21, 2006

OK, one more post about the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. There’s plenty of data on Congress’ stunning unpopularity — the institution’s approval rating is down to just 25% — but I was even more impressed with some of the more obscure details.

Two-thirds said Congress had accomplished less than it typically did in a two-year session; most said they could not name a single major piece of legislation that cleared this Congress.

This isn’t an example of the uninformed electorate overlooking an impressive list of legislative accomplishments; this is an example of the public getting it exactly right — Congress hasn’t done much of anything.

Specifically, the poll asked respondents to “think about the things Congress has done during the past year.” It then asked if there is “any one thing that Congress has done in the past year that stands out in your mind.”

If you’re wondering how you’d respond to that question, you’re not alone.

Here’s the list of answers from people who participated in the NYT/CBS poll:

– Taxes 1%
– Prescription drugs 1%
– Stem cell research 1%
– Hurricane Katrina relief 1%
– Patriot Act 2%
– War 3%
– Legislation in general 4%
– Immigration reform 4%
– Nothing 68%

What’s amusing to me is that some of the items on this list of stand-out congressional actions point to things Congress didn’t do.

Frankly, had I answered the poll, I would have been hard pressed to name something myself, and I watch Congress pretty closely. Perhaps the high point of the year came when lawmakers passed a measure on stem-cell research with strong bi-partisan support — which, of course, quickly became the president’s first (and, so far, only) veto.

This Congress has put in fewer days of work than any in 60 years, and, despite having one party controlling every branch, no one can point to any actual accomplishments. It’s kind of … what’s the word … pathetic. Then again, considering the GOP agenda, perhaps Republicans’ inability to govern may be a blessing in disguise.

Am I missing something? Has this Congress done anything noteworthy?

I think they have a perfect 100% success rate at collecting their paychecks, but that’s about it.

  • They have just tripped over their own feet. That’s actually good. If they had not been so full of themselves and allowed some suggestions from the Dems, they might not be so disrespected this year. But the one thing they did? What about banning flag burning? Of course, that is a violation of the Bill of Rights, but when has such a problem ever stopped them before?

  • Besides Bush saved Congress a lot of time with his signing statements and recess appointments.

    Don’t ya hate it when you think of a new snark right after you hit post?

  • Given the values, specific goals and leadership of the party in power, and given the propensity of all too many Democrats to acquiesce to Republicans’ power, I’m kind of glad this session of Congress did not accomplish much of anything.

  • Act like idiots.
    Earmark like there was no tomorrow.
    Lie.
    Pontificate on topice they know nothing about.

    Oh wait you are thinking about actual legislative achievements ones that future generations are either going to notice, care about, talk about that are positive. ……. Then the answer is no, they haven’t done much.

  • Well according to Jim “yippee-yie-ay” Dobson, Congress sat on their hands the past two years, and didn’t ram the very upappetizing “Focus-on-the-Family” social morality agenda down the People’s throats.

    I would consider this particular round of “sitting-on-hands” to be of great benefit to these United States….

  • 1. Watch Bush wipe his butt on the Bill of Rights.
    2. Bugger up Medicare.
    3. Watch Cheney wipe his butt on the Bill of Rights.
    4. They did scuttle the SC nomination of that idiot whatsherface.

  • SAFETEA-LU, the transportation reauthorization bill. It’s bread and butter legislation, a core function of any legislature, but it is a very big loaf of bread and a lot of butter.

    Of course, it was two years overdue and contains the bridge to nowhere, but it does intensify the focus on safety issues on roads, rail, etc. Not great, not horrible, but significant. It will do some good.

  • I am a blog whore and keep up with politics on a daily basis….
    I am very hard pressed to think of ANYTHING they have done

    but I do know everything that the Repubs threw out there to create partisan divide in an election year (flag burning, immigration, & stem cell research) has failed a miserable death……

  • Pension reform. Not an especially good thing, but they did do it and it will have a significant (mostly negative) impact on many people’s lives. Didn’t the bankruptcy bill also pass in this Congress? Or was that the previous one?

  • Hey we forgot Bankruptcy reform or money lenders windfall. That was a good one. And what about cutting student aid and raising the interest rates on student loans? That was another good one. And there was cancelling the debt ceiling so they can keep the printing presses going full time. These guys have done a heck of a job.

  • Conservatives don’t believe in government, so when they’re in power, doing nothing is the point. Or am I showing my age?

  • They passed themselves a pay raise, didn’t they? So they’re taking good care of their most important constituents.

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