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The Capitol is back to its former glory. But Congress is as useless as ever. The Capitol is back to its former glory. But Congress is as useless as ever.
(35 minutes later)
The smell of fresh paint greeted lawmakers reacquainting themselves with their workplace after their seven-week break.The smell of fresh paint greeted lawmakers reacquainting themselves with their workplace after their seven-week break.
The scaffolding was coming down, revealing a gleaming dome and, underneath it, restored friezes, oil paintings and statues. The Capitol has been returned to its former glory.The scaffolding was coming down, revealing a gleaming dome and, underneath it, restored friezes, oil paintings and statues. The Capitol has been returned to its former glory.
If only they could do the same to Congress.If only they could do the same to Congress.
After their seven-week recess, which included both party conventions and was the longest break since at least 1960, the people’s representatives in the House are back for just four weeks before recessing again until the election – and there has been talk of cutting those four weeks of work to three or even two. After their seven-week recess, which included both party conventions and was the longest break since at least 1960, the people’s representatives in the House are back for just four weeks before recessing again until the election — and there has been talk of cutting those four weeks of work to three or even two.
They might as well go home, because the House to-do list could end up looking something like this: Impeach the IRS commissioner. Punish the Democrats. Sue the Saudis.They might as well go home, because the House to-do list could end up looking something like this: Impeach the IRS commissioner. Punish the Democrats. Sue the Saudis.
This is how Donald Trump happened.This is how Donald Trump happened.
Americans are worried and angry about the big issues: stagnant wages, immigration, trade deals, health care, entitlement programs, the tax code, the Zika virus, tainted drinking water. Yet the best Congress can do for the moment is to keep the government running on autopilot for a few more months, and even this isn’t guaranteed.Americans are worried and angry about the big issues: stagnant wages, immigration, trade deals, health care, entitlement programs, the tax code, the Zika virus, tainted drinking water. Yet the best Congress can do for the moment is to keep the government running on autopilot for a few more months, and even this isn’t guaranteed.
With three weeks to go in the fiscal year, Congress hasn’t enacted one of the 12 annual appropriations bills (the House has passed six). While leaders struggle to pass a temporary “continuing resolution,” Republicans fight among themselves about how long it should last, and hardliners threaten to derail it by adding language banning Syrian refugees. With three weeks to go in the fiscal year, Congress has enacted not one of the 12 annual appropriations bills (the House has passed six). While leaders struggle to pass a temporary “continuing resolution,” Republicans fight among themselves about how long it should last and hard-liners threaten to derail it by adding language banning Syrian refugees.
As Republicans sat down for their caucus meeting Wednesday morning, the conversation wandered: this member’s new grandchild, that member’s engagement, various anecdotes and talking points. GOP leaders held a news conference after the meeting at which they voiced enthusiastic support for… a new soapbox that had appeared over the recess to help shorter members of the caucus be seen behind the lectern. As Republicans sat down for their caucus meeting Wednesday morning, the conversation wandered — this member’s new grandchild, that member’s engagement, various anecdotes and talking points. GOP leaders held a news conference after the meeting, at which they voiced enthusiastic support for . . . a new soapbox that had appeared over the recess to help shorter members of the caucus be seen behind the lectern.
“You could put three people on that thing,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said upon entering the room and spying the new piece of furniture.“You could put three people on that thing,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said upon entering the room and spying the new piece of furniture.
“Gee, whiz!” exclaimed Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kansas), trying it out. “There’s room for all of you on the box,” she told the assembled reporters. “Gee whiz!” exclaimed Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), trying it out. “There’s room for all of you on the box,” she told the assembled reporters.
With so little happening, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy tried to create the illusion of activity, asserting that in this Congress “a total of 219 bills have been enacted into law. That’s an increase over the 25 year average.” With so little happening, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy tried to create the illusion of activity, asserting that in this Congress “a total of 219 bills have been enacted into law. That’s an increase over the 25-year average.”
Actually, average number of bills enacted into law in previous Congresses going back to 1991 is 435 –double the current output. McCarthy’s spokesman said the claim was based on when Congress went on its long summer holiday. But as of now, McCarthy’s 219 bills are well below the 25-year average of 257 enacted at this point by previous Congresses. And, as House Democrats point out, 195 of those 219 bills have been minor “suspension” bills such as post-office namings. Actually, the average number of bills enacted into law in previous Congresses going back to 1991 is 435 — double the current output. McCarthy’s spokesman said the claim was based on when Congress went on its long summer holiday. But as of now, McCarthy’s 219 bills are well below the 25-year average of 257 enacted at this point by previous Congresses. And, as House Democrats point out, 195 of those 219 bills have been minor “suspension” bills, such as post-office namings.
“People want a positive vision and a clear direction for solving the country’s big problems,” Ryan declared at his news conference.“People want a positive vision and a clear direction for solving the country’s big problems,” Ryan declared at his news conference.
They do. But instead, they’re getting:They do. But instead, they’re getting:
*An attempt to impeach the IRS commissioner. Some hardliners, still angry about the IRS treatment of conservative groups, are using a “privileged resolution” to force leaders to hold a vote to impeach the current commissioner, John Koskinen, who took over after the alleged wrongdoing occurred. ●An attempt to impeach the IRS commissioner. Some hard-liners, still angry about the IRS’s treatment of conservative groups, are using a “privileged resolution” to force leaders to hold a vote to impeach the current commissioner, John Koskinen, who took over after the alleged wrongdoing occurred.
*A bid to punish two dozen House Democrats, led by civil-rights icon John Lewis, who staged a sit-in on the House floor in June to protest Republicans’ refusal to bring up gun-control legislation. ●A bid to punish two dozen House Democrats, led by civil rights icon John Lewis, who staged a sit-in on the House floor in June to protest Republicans’ refusal to bring up gun-control legislation.
* Legislation allowing the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in federal courts. The bill has no chance of surviving an expected veto. ●Legislation allowing the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in federal courts. The bill has no chance of surviving an expected veto.
Instead, House Republicans could spend their fleeting time at work resolving an impasse blocking funds to fight the Zika infection. The Senate reached a bipartisan deal in May to provide $1.1 billion for the effort, but agreement fell apart when House Republicans added a provision restricting funds from going to Planned Parenthood. Instead, House Republicans could spend their fleeting time at work resolving an impasse blocking funds to fight the Zika infection. The Senate reached a bipartisan deal in May to provide $1.1 billion for the effort, but the agreement fell apart when House Republicans added a provision restricting funds from going to Planned Parenthood.
At Wednesday’s news conference, CNN’s Manu Raju asked Ryan why he wouldn’t accept a “clean bill” without the poison pill.At Wednesday’s news conference, CNN’s Manu Raju asked Ryan why he wouldn’t accept a “clean bill” without the poison pill.
“Look, gimme a break,” Ryan said, blaming the Senate. “Look, give me a break,” Ryan said, blaming the Senate.
But even some of Ryan’s Republicans aren’t giving him a break. Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) told Bloomberg’s Billy House that “we become obstructionists” with the Planned Parenthood gambit.But even some of Ryan’s Republicans aren’t giving him a break. Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) told Bloomberg’s Billy House that “we become obstructionists” with the Planned Parenthood gambit.
And Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.) carried a jarful of Florida mosquitos onto the House floor. “During the seven weeks … that we were gone, cases of Zika rose from 4,000 to by some estimates over 16,000 in the country,” he said. His constituents “are demanding action and they are seeing inaction, and in that inaction they are angry.” And Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.) carried a jar full of Florida mosquitoes onto the House floor. “During the seven weeks . . . that we were gone, cases of Zika rose from 4,000 to by some estimates over 16,000 in the country,” he said. His constituents “are demanding action and they are seeing inaction, and in that inaction they are angry.”
Yes, but have they seen that new soapbox for members of Congress? Gee whiz!Yes, but have they seen that new soapbox for members of Congress? Gee whiz!
Twitter: @MilbankTwitter: @Milbank
Read more from Dana Milbank’s archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.Read more from Dana Milbank’s archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Read more:Read more:
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Tom Frieden and Anthony Fauci: How not to fight the Zika virusTom Frieden and Anthony Fauci: How not to fight the Zika virus