The Worthless Legislature?

I'm going to switch gears and beat on Congress.

You may or may not have seen a story the news channels have been running on the actual amount of days Congress will be in session this year. The 109th Congress, as if the 27th Amendment* wasn't enough, has been taking an extended amount of days off each session.

Since the start of the new year, the House of Representatives has been in session a total of 19 days. The Senate has a little better record with 33 days. Today is the 82nd day of the year. I don't expect Congress to work everyday, because they're job is so demanding, but stick with me, because it gets worse.

Congress is still in break for St. Patrick's Day, and they will be until the 28th of this month. St. Patty's Day was, what, the 17th? Oh, and they adjourned before the 17th. They also go on Spring Break next month. This is in addition to the extended weekends they usually take.

This is where is gets good. Congress is on track to work a whopping 97 days this year! This is rediculous! The news channels were quick in reminding us, however, that they come home and hold town halls with the voters. Sorry, I haven't heard of any town halls starring my Congressmen.

Congress was quick to note that they are predicted to work 120 days this year. I'm not willing to completely trust Congresses "predictions". Plus, 120 doesn't sound that much better. In 1948, President Harry Truman called his Congress the "Do-Nothing" Congress. They were in session for 108 days. Looks like the 109th is trying to beat that record.

I think we're getting cheated. The Court recently fell to the right, The President's terrible at his job, and now Congress won't do their's...

...Oh well, I've come to expect it.

-Adam

* The 27th Constitutional Amendment basically states that no one (including the President) can change Congresses salary, unless Congress votes & approves it first. This Amendment was originally proposed September 25, 1789, and ratified 203 years later, on May 7, 1992. The Bill of Rights was ratified December 15, 1791; which means Congress (if they had worked faster) could have made the 27th Amendment the FIRST one to appear in the Constitution. Figures...