Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNice work if you can get it
Nice work if you can get it
09/18/14 02:49 PMUpdated 09/18/14 04:25 PM
By Steve Benen
The Republican-run U.S. House had a nice, long summer break recently, taking the month of August off, as well as the first week in September.
House members worked four days last week, and another four this week, at which point they apparently decided that theyve done enough.
Its official: The House is closing up shop until after the midterm elections.
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthys office announced Thursday there will be no votes on Friday and said the four-day session originally scheduled to begin on Sept. 29 has been canceled, pending Senate approval of the continuing resolution that passed the House Wednesday.
That means lawmakers will be sprinting to the exits and the quick trip to the airport after the close of business Thursday.
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthys office announced Thursday there will be no votes on Friday and said the four-day session originally scheduled to begin on Sept. 29 has been canceled, pending Senate approval of the continuing resolution that passed the House Wednesday.
That means lawmakers will be sprinting to the exits and the quick trip to the airport after the close of business Thursday.
In this case, close of business Thursday means this afternoon.
Granted, lawmakers in the lower chamber werent scheduled for a lot more work days they were supposed to show up tomorrow and four days the week of Sept. 29 but theyve decided not to bother.
And so, over the 14 weeks spanning the beginning of August and the middle of November, House members will work a grand total of eight days out of a possible 103. And after today, theyll be away from work for the next 54 days.
I imagine there are many wholl see this and shrug. If theyre not going to do any real work anyway, the argument goes, they might as well go home.
Thats one way to look at it, but theres another way.
For example, the U.S. military carried out its 175th and 176th airstrikes on ISIS targets in Iraq today, and this seems like the sort of combat mission that warrants some congressional debate and maybe authorization.
If lawmakers were at work, that might happen.
Also, by cutting out early, lawmakers help guarantee an ignominious record will be set. As of this morning, the current, 113th Congress has passed 163 laws. That means, unless lawmakers passed 75 pieces of legislation in the lame-duck session that wont happen this will easily be the least productive Congress since clerks started keeping track a few generations ago.
more...
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it-0
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 611 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (2)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Nice work if you can get it (Original Post)
babylonsister
Sep 2014
OP
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)1. Nobody will notice. nt
sheshe2
(83,708 posts)2. I vote that receive minimum wage for the hours they work, bsis.
And they can damn well punch a time clock too! Since they are part timers, they get no health benefits and no vacation time.