House Republicans Prioritize…Vacation?
September 17, 2012 at 8:27 pm in House, News by Dustin Siggins 8 Comments
Last Friday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) announced that the House of Representatives will be on what is formally known as a “district work period,” or congressional recess until November 13, 2012. This means the House will go from being out for five weeks in August and part of September to being in Washington for two work weeks – totaling eight work days, two of which will focus on non-controversial votes for perhaps three hours each of the two days – and then leaving Washington again for seven weeks. This is a change from the original schedule, which had Congress back for a week in October.
This is outrageous, for both symbolic and practical reasons. Symbolically, when he first announced the 2012 congressional work schedule, Rep. Cantor proudly stated that the Republican House would work more days than the 2008 Democratic-controlled House. With this change, the 112th Congress is officially working fewer days than the 110th Congress. Also symbolically, in 2008 then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi let the House go on a full, lengthy August recess, ignoring the peaking gas prices that were devastating households around the nation. Republicans rightly lambasted Rep. Pelosi. Yet today it is Republicans who leave Washington with great economic uncertainty, this time about taxes and spending reductions taking place on January 1, 2013.
Grassroots activists, take note: This is yet more evidence that we should look to candidates, not parties, for substantive changes to how Washington works.
Practically speaking, Rep. Cantor’s decision causes a great deal of harm to the chances of Congress dealing with the coming “fiscal cliff” in a responsible fashion. While Congress would do very little in an ideal world because its power and scope would be limited, the fact is that Americans face massive taxes in the New Year as well as disjointed spending reductions due to the Budget Control Act unless Congress acts. There is also a debt ceiling debate likely taking place early next year, and we all saw what happened in 2011 when conservatives waited until the last minute to put together a strategy.
In Cantor’s defense, the House has passed a great deal of legislation the Senate has ignored, so it is not unreasonable for Cantor to assume Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will continue to ignore legislation coming from the House. Additionally, any legislation regarding taxes and spending could very well be electoral liabilities, so of course Cantor wants to protect his Republican colleagues from being undercut in November by tough votes so close to the election.
All of this, of course, is more reason for grassroots activists to keep up the pressure on both parties. Members of Congress are elected to do what’s right – which is often politically difficult – not to become permanent fixtures in Washington. Again, Congress is showing activists that kicking the can down the road is still a Washington practice, and this is unacceptable. While doing the wrong thing will drive activists away, doing the right thing will bring support in droves from the grassroots in America. Rep. Cantor appears to have forgotten this, and decided that helping his Republican House colleagues is more important than finding solutions for 312 million Americans.
The Senate hasn’t passed a budget in 3 years. They don’t hear bills passed by the House including jobs bills. I’m sure the House could come back if the Senate ever does anything, but the Senate has 25 or 30 jobs and other critical bills to pass, but they won’t pass them until after the election. If, as expected the Democrats will be in the minority in the new Senate, the House might as well keep the House from meeting much until Harry Reid is out of the way. You can’t pass bills when only one house of Congress has adult leadership.
Nothing really surprises me anymore when it comes to our government. The republicans, who are at least American, have their own agenda whilst the d’s only have their Ogenda which, I believe, stem’s from sources overseas. Sadly, if teh R’s assume total power (control of all 3 branches) they will do whatever they want (as they have in the past) and the people of the United States AGAIN will not be represented.
I wish I didn’t read history or remember things as I do. I’m amazed I don’t wallow in depresession for what these bastards have don’t to the nation I served to preserve.
This looks so bad. There are citizens out here(including myself) that are almost making themselves sick worrying about this election, the debt and the economy.
You said it all. but in my case I am sick and scared of whats going to happen. Obama, the dictator in charge and congress doing anything to stop it. Really sick.
i agree… we need to start looking at CANADITES not parties….. I can speak from my local stand point and I am 100% disgusted with what just recently happened…. I am definitly looking at the man (woman) not the party !!!! I know its crazy but I feel totally betrayed !!
If we have Romney in; 3days later we need to find a new party of great Americans to become the next government we have; maybe all TEA PARTYers? Sounds good to me. No politicians or attorneys; just American worker people. Think about that. need lots of clean money backing.
Absolutely unacceptable work ethic. Our nation is in serious trouble and this is a fine example of why.
Voting for any incumbent is approving of this behavior.
Most Americans would love a 7 week vacation and WE ARE PAYING FOR IT. Maybe if they worked for their money we all wouldn’t feel so bad. Increase in pay when they want it. Work one term and be set for life. WOW.