Has the House And Senate been doing anything?

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

According to this article they have. It's a couple of weeks old but it has some interesting facts.

Quote:

By Michael Teitelbaum

To most Americans, they don’t look very busy. In fact, recent polls put their job performance rating at close to an all-time low.

But the reality — at least in the House — is that federal lawmakers have held more votes on legislation and other matters in the first six months of this year than they did during the entire 2006 session of the Republican-controlled 109th Congress. That was when GOP leaders decided to defer action to the 110th Congress, now controlled by Democrats, on most of the 2006 spending measures.

The House has held 600 roll call votes and six quorum calls so far this year, which puts the chamber well on its way to surpassing the 867 votes and 18 quorum calls Republicans held in 1995 after they assumed control of the House for the first time in 40 years.

Drew Hammill, spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the reason for the high vote totals is simple: Democrats “are delivering on our promises” to be in session more this year.

But there’s another reason: Republicans are trying to slow things down by offering more amendments that require votes.

The Senate, meanwhile, has held about 240 votes this year. That number, combined with the House figure, puts Congress on track to break the all-time record for combined voting — 1,480 — set in 1995 when Republicans controlled both chambers.

Source

**Wolf** · Soldier Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 1

It's an interesting set of statistics, but I am afraid that all people will care about is that the Democrats can't get their agenda passed -- either in the Senate, or through the White House.

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Well, it's not from a lack of trying, despite what they say.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

What about the old saying, "what have you done for me lately?" Yes, they are trying, but it appears that they know that these measures will not pass and that is wasting time. It is giving the appearance that they are trying.

I mean people are still bitching about thye Iraqis going on break when nothing has been accomplished, but yet the Congress has accomp-lished very little and they will go on break. What do they need a break from? They lost a little sleep a couple of weeks ago and that is about it.

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

R

Quote:

epublicans are trying to slow things down by offering more amendments that require votes.

That's is part of the problem. The Republicans are acting like spoiled brats.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Politics as usual, IMO