To (GOP)Congress, Passing Bills Not the Point (need hot button votes)

[papau]

"If you can't make a law, you make a point," said John J. Pitney Jr., a professor of government at Claremont-McKenna College.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-congress16sep16.story
To Congress, Passing Bills Not the Point
In a highly charged election season, Republicans are bringing up measures designed to put Democrats on record.
By Richard Simon
Times Staff Writer

September 16, 2004

WASHINGTON — You don't have to turn on the TV to see campaign ads these days. You can watch Congress.

The Republican-controlled House and Senate have begun taking up bills, not with any expectation they will become law, but with the intention of stoking the presidential campaign and energizing the party's political base.

Congressional Republican leaders are bringing up measures — such as constitutional amendments to ban flag burning and same-sex marriage — to highlight differences between the parties and between President Bush and the Democratic challenger, Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts.

Consider the proposed amendment, supported by Bush, to ban same-sex marriage. In the Senate, it fell far short of the votes needed to break a filibuster. No matter that it's already dead; the House plans to take up the measure before adjourning in early October.<snip>