I think that you have undersold the importance of how few bills have been signed. What good is a bill that never becomes law (setting resolutions aside)? The best you can say is that it moves the issue forward, but forward may be inches, not miles closer to resolution. How many bills are messaging votes with no chance of passing the other chamber?
By your analysis, not Congress has had fewer signed bills than this one. In fact, by percentage, it is also at the very bottom. On average, according to your numbers, Congress averaged 20% of their bills that passed being signed into law. This Congress only managed 11%, which is two full standard deviations from the mean.
Beyond the numbers, though, it would be unfair to say that this is Mike Johnson's fault. I doubt Hakeem Jeffries, should the Democrats take the House, will be much more successful. We are far too polarized to get much done. Not only are we nearly equally divided between the parties, but the fact that each party has extremes that insist on purity over compromise make the job of Speaker almost impossible. Perhaps even Tip O'Neil would find this an ungovernable environment.
Legislative efforts that require collaboration and compromise on issues of national importance seem to be beyond the abilities of this Congress. And yet, they pat themselves on the back for accomplishing very little while the major concerns of most Americans get kicked down the road. Should I expect anything else?
As if the vital responsibilities of the House weren't replete enough with the pressing matters of naming Post Offices and designating new calendar days for such things as the importance of the boll weavil to agriculture, you say that the distraction IS their primary purpose?
Sir, how dare you besmirch the efforts of this proud and nobly august body!
Do you realize how much time and effort goes into the making of these legislative works of artistic legalistic labor? The great expense by which they toil in those lonely chambers to their health and welfare, so we can enjoy those fruits of labor while entertaining other equally grand ideas of enterprises, often involving great sums of tax derived revenues that must be shaken from far away trees in other lands? As if oil weren't enough and AI generated answers to complexities unknown was mere folly!
I know not what others in our population must think that the House is doing for the greater benefit of all, but as for me, don't force me to choose between liberty and death, but give me strength to vote the bums out early.
Therefore,
I ask you to rethink your most harsh assessment and give us the simple solace to allow our choices in the matters before Congress be heard as the simple whimpering of discontent and be returned with pamphlets asking us to follow that mighty Federal edict:
"..if you see something, say something".
That is all we can expect at this late date in our Republic.
The Pothole Congress I thought was going to be commended for finally taking care of the nations, or at least Vermont's potholes. Congress could at least fund out interestate system adquately. Even the interstate is riddled with potholes. Of coure there is no way they will increase gas tax now. Perhaps some of the subsidies going to oil could go to the highways.
"All that said, I don’t think the number of pieces of legislation a chamber passes is actually a good way to judge its productivity, because it treats every piece of legislation as equal." Thank you, and the extended explanation was appreciated.
Having said that....I would consider Congress to be better the FEWER things it passed. Yes, get rid of all the "pothole" legislation (although I do fancy T. rex being the national fossil), but get rid of a lot of other stuff, too. I would extend the "for every new regulation get rid of three old ones" philosophy to legislation in general. How many Tier 1 pieces of legislation have actually done more harm than good? And the one Tier 1+++ piece of legislation that never gets passed? The budget, which is the principal duty of Congress. It's a failure if it doesn't pass the budget. Everything else (almost) is unnecessary.
I think that you have undersold the importance of how few bills have been signed. What good is a bill that never becomes law (setting resolutions aside)? The best you can say is that it moves the issue forward, but forward may be inches, not miles closer to resolution. How many bills are messaging votes with no chance of passing the other chamber?
By your analysis, not Congress has had fewer signed bills than this one. In fact, by percentage, it is also at the very bottom. On average, according to your numbers, Congress averaged 20% of their bills that passed being signed into law. This Congress only managed 11%, which is two full standard deviations from the mean.
Beyond the numbers, though, it would be unfair to say that this is Mike Johnson's fault. I doubt Hakeem Jeffries, should the Democrats take the House, will be much more successful. We are far too polarized to get much done. Not only are we nearly equally divided between the parties, but the fact that each party has extremes that insist on purity over compromise make the job of Speaker almost impossible. Perhaps even Tip O'Neil would find this an ungovernable environment.
This quote, by Mark Twain, “says” it all…”Suppose you were an idiot, and supposed you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.”
Everything with the GOP these days is "the biggest", "the best", "the most".
But, when they drop their trousers and you get a good look....
Legislative efforts that require collaboration and compromise on issues of national importance seem to be beyond the abilities of this Congress. And yet, they pat themselves on the back for accomplishing very little while the major concerns of most Americans get kicked down the road. Should I expect anything else?
Like your moniker for this bunch as the "Pothole Congress".
Put 'em in a pothole!
Whoa !
As if the vital responsibilities of the House weren't replete enough with the pressing matters of naming Post Offices and designating new calendar days for such things as the importance of the boll weavil to agriculture, you say that the distraction IS their primary purpose?
Sir, how dare you besmirch the efforts of this proud and nobly august body!
Do you realize how much time and effort goes into the making of these legislative works of artistic legalistic labor? The great expense by which they toil in those lonely chambers to their health and welfare, so we can enjoy those fruits of labor while entertaining other equally grand ideas of enterprises, often involving great sums of tax derived revenues that must be shaken from far away trees in other lands? As if oil weren't enough and AI generated answers to complexities unknown was mere folly!
I know not what others in our population must think that the House is doing for the greater benefit of all, but as for me, don't force me to choose between liberty and death, but give me strength to vote the bums out early.
Therefore,
I ask you to rethink your most harsh assessment and give us the simple solace to allow our choices in the matters before Congress be heard as the simple whimpering of discontent and be returned with pamphlets asking us to follow that mighty Federal edict:
"..if you see something, say something".
That is all we can expect at this late date in our Republic.
The Pothole Congress I thought was going to be commended for finally taking care of the nations, or at least Vermont's potholes. Congress could at least fund out interestate system adquately. Even the interstate is riddled with potholes. Of coure there is no way they will increase gas tax now. Perhaps some of the subsidies going to oil could go to the highways.
It’s a scary world out there and Congress isn’t helping the situation!
"All that said, I don’t think the number of pieces of legislation a chamber passes is actually a good way to judge its productivity, because it treats every piece of legislation as equal." Thank you, and the extended explanation was appreciated.
Having said that....I would consider Congress to be better the FEWER things it passed. Yes, get rid of all the "pothole" legislation (although I do fancy T. rex being the national fossil), but get rid of a lot of other stuff, too. I would extend the "for every new regulation get rid of three old ones" philosophy to legislation in general. How many Tier 1 pieces of legislation have actually done more harm than good? And the one Tier 1+++ piece of legislation that never gets passed? The budget, which is the principal duty of Congress. It's a failure if it doesn't pass the budget. Everything else (almost) is unnecessary.
THAT was amazing!! So edifying. Your final comment says it all! Thank you for all you do to make our government more transparent to its citizens.