A heated exchange between two Colorado lawamkers in the House of Representatives last week sums up the gridlock that has descended on Washington.
There may be some political staredowns that force action on serious issues in coming months, but for the most part you can presume that all bets are off on governing between now and November 2012.
As for non-serious issues, expect plenty more days like Thursday when the Republican-controlled House passed a measure prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating farm dust.
What’s so important about that, you ask? Great question.
Turns out, the EPA has no intention of doing any such thing. Republicans, it seems, are just bent on limiting the prospect of regulation and eliminating “uncertainty” from the marketplace.
As The Denver Post’s Allison Sherry reported, the legislation prompted a fiery debate between Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, and Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma.
DeGette lamented that the vote turned the House into “Alice’s Wonderland.”
Gardner insisted that “what the EPA says today doesn’t mean how they will act tomorrow.”
What’s next, a bill to address uncertainty surrounding commercial development on the moon?
DeGette pointed out that Congress might do well to come up with a deal on the payroll tax cut, the extension of unemployment insurance or anything “to put Americans back to work.”
Gardner countered that the House had passed numerous job-creating bills that have languished in the Senate.
“Democrats like to say that Congress isn’t doing anything,” he said. “But they aren’t passing legislation either.”
And he’s right.
According to The Washington Post, through the end of last month the House had passed the fewest bills in at least 10 non-election years. The Senate’s tally was its fewest since 1995.
Even the executive branch is getting in on the game, having recently delayed action on the Keystone XL pipeline and retreated on proposed EPA smog standards until, you guessed it, after next year’s elections.
New laws and regulations are not the sole or best measure of Washington’s effectiveness. But looking at the record of the current occupants provides a clear picture of just how ineffective the place can be.
