"Parade" Article 2

I'm having difficulties posting the pic to the blog and I wasn't able to find it on the website. I'll just type it out!

"Why is Congress Doing So Little?"
-Sharon Male
(Parade, Aug 3 2008)

The current Congress has enacted less legislation than any within the last decade, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS). The 110th Congress has passed just 260 laws-and 74 of those were renaming post offices. But they have passed hundreds of resolutions, including one to recognize soil as an "essential resource" and another to congratulate the UC-Irvine volleyball team.

Rep. John Shimkus (R., IL) introduced a resolution to recognize June 30 as National Corvette Day. "It's probably not the best use of our time, " he says, "but we have to do something. These resolutions make it look like we're working." Shimkus blames the Democrats for failing to introduce more substantive legislation. Democrats, in turn, blame Republicans for blocking key votes, contending that Senate Republicans have attempted a record number of filibusters this session.

"If there's anything Americans are tired of, it's partisanship," says Steve Ellis of TCS. "If they're not passing substantive laws, Congress should be conducting oversight, making sure our tax dollars are spent wisely. Frivolous bills and resolutions distract attention from what voters sent them to Washington to do."