THe 113th Congress, the second consecutive Congress to be a split Congress of a Republican majority in the US House of Representatives, and a Democratic majority in the US Senate, the only two times that a split Congress has been of this such division in American history, is on its way to becoming the least productive since World War II, surpassing the dismal record of the previous 112th Congress in 2011-2012!
A reminder that the other “split” Congresses were of a Republican Senate and Democratic House, and a lot more was accomplished under that scenario in 1911-1913, 1931-1933, and 1981-1987!
But this 113th Congress is setting a record for obstructionism never seen in American history!
The GOP is preventing action on the following:
The rebuilding of America’s infrastructure, badly in need of repair.
Accessible and affordable health care for all Americans
Getting off dependence on foreign oil by having a clean energy agenda
Promotion of the protection of women’s health
Responsible gun regulations to prevent future Sandy Hooks
Immigration Reform
Air and water pollution regulations
Strengthening of voting rights and civil rights for all Americans
Wall Street and banking reforms to prevent future “crashes”
A new farm bill, including food stamp protection for the poorest among us
Student loan interest reform
Confidence in Congress is at an all time low of TEN percent! The Republicans have abused the filibuster weapon in the US Senate, and the Tea Party Movement in the House of Representatives has hijacked even the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, who is powerless in the assault on cooperation and crossing of the aisle so essential for anything to get done in Congress!
Only 15 legislative items have become law in the past six months, lower than the 23 which became law in the first six months of the 112th Congress!
Those who believe that divided and split government is good for democracy are learning the hard way that it is the prescription for statemate, gridlock, and total paralysis, and that the answer is to kick out the Republican House majority and elect a Democratic majority in both houses, ideally with a filibuster proof Senate of 60 Democrats!
Sadly, neither of these ideas are realistically tenable, so the halting of effective government is likely to continue, undermining the future of America!
Well Professor, the less they do the less damage to the middle class they can do.
Let’s concentrate on the 2014 elections to replace them with the more moderate Republicans, like those who did an end run around the extreme, reactionary right in Arizona, and moderate Democrats so the real issues can start to be addressed for the country.
I agree with Engineer of Knowledge. Everything you listed to be done costs large sums of money. We already have trillions of dollars of debt and really shouldn’t add to it. You probably want higher taxes. Well, the most fortunate already hardly end up with half their money after all the various taxes, which leaves two taxing options: tax the rich more and destroy incentive to work extremely hard (in turn we’d basically be Ireland, the poorest country in Western Europe) or tax the middle class. The average household income in the US is a little over $50,000 per year; this leaves very little money to give Uncle Sam when mortgage, children, food, etc. is accounted for. We need to vote moderates (or at least close to it) that aren’t all bent out of shape about minor things that cost major money. We need to fix our debt (if it weren’t for our currency being used commonly around the world, the dollar would likely collapse. Don’t take its power for grated!), rebuild incentive (people will WANT to work harder, which is phenomenal for the economy), and stop trying to fund projects that we can’t afford. There’s a reason obamacare was delayed until past elections – so that the cost of it wouldn’t be felt yet and democrats could get reelected!