House of Representatives to work overtime for a change

The days of the pathetically lazy 109th Congress are long gone.  And although the Democrats have failed in their pledge to end the war, they have at least decided to work overtime to pass spending bills in order to fund the federal government:

House members hoping to spend quality time with their families duringthe holiday season got some bad news this week: they may be inWashington days before both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

In an e-mail sent by a House Democrat and obtained by The Hill, the newHouse schedule calls for votes potentially through Nov. 17, theSaturday before Thanksgiving. The lower chamber will then reconvene onDec. 4, with leadership hoping that Dec. 11 will be the last week ofthe session.

It's about time.  These people get free health care and more days off than the average American worker.  Surely they can handle working a few days overtime.

Comments

[George]

Todd,
What makes me furious about the failures of this Congress are that the Democrats never force the Republicans to really fillibuster.

It's all just and handshake agreement. What is that. Why dont they ever force them to carry thru with the fillibuster? Make them sit there for a week. I dont get it.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

The Republicans would then accuse Democrats of wasting taxpayer time trying to push something through. I know that kind of logic is absurd, because it would be the REPUBLICANS blocking it. But the media wouldn't report it that way. So much for the liberal media bias.

[George]

Do you really believe that? Dont you think that if Republicans had to stand up and justify their positions for a week at a time, they'd say some totally ridiculous crap, which is generally the basis for their war policy. Then they'd be plastered all over the news, exposed as the fear loving, war mongers that they are.

And Dems can simply respond to allegations of wasting time with this: Every day this fillibuster continues we will cut a day off our next month long vacation.

On top of that the Congress' approval is at like 4. So it's not going much lower. 0 is the limit. Clearly, they have support in doing something like this.

I do not understand at all.

[crshedd]

total agreement, george. if any party wants to filibuster, let us watch them read the phone book on cspan. if that party does not occupy the floor, then it is just a 'threat of a filibuster'.

i just came from drudge and they have a link that sez the democrats are going to have a shorter work week. of course, it links to nothing. probably won't be there long.

[RJ]

Crshedd, I searched on Google and found the article for you. You may have to cut and Paste it into the address block. RJ.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/27/washington/27cong.html

[George]

Thanks for the article, RJ. I'm very concerned about Congress.

First, there is no reason to go home because of a "big election year". The congressional districts are mostly gerrymandered enough to guarantee incumbent victory anyway. As for the Senate, there are like 10 real races in 2008, not 100.

Furthermore, in these times, votes can be won by taking action in congress, not by going home to raise money. Just look at Dodd's recent bounce after he took a stand on the telecom bill!

This Congress is out to lunch. If this country was being murdered by Republicans, the Dems should be arrested as accomplices.

[crshedd]

thanx for the link, rj.

it looks like the democrats are letting us down again. they probably think, '...well, what are progressives going to do? vote republican? we will still get their votes.'

news flash, there are other progressives running in primaries and third party candidates in general elections. i am starting to look at them much closer. maybe they will at least try to accomplish something they are elected to do.

[Dr. Troy Camplin]

No! They work far, far, far too much. They shouldn't be allowed to even be in Washington more than 100 days out of the year. And they should all be forced to have outside jobs.