Over the last several years, under Republican rule, Congress’ schedule became shorter and shorter. The “work” week began late on Tuesday, and wrapped up early on Thursday. Single-day holidays for most of us (Memorial Day, for example), became an excuse to take off an entire week. Come adjournment, the 109th Congress will have worked just 103 days — seven fewer than the infamous “Do-Nothing Congress” of 1948.
To a certain extent, this should hardly come as a surprise. Republicans have lacked a policy agenda for quite a while, so bother working? And since they gave up on the basic mechanisms of the Legislative branch — administration oversight, passing budgets, holding hearings — lawmakers soon began to find utility in staying home a great majority of the time.
Those days are over.
Forget the minimum wage. Or outsourcing jobs overseas. The labor issue most on the minds of members of Congress yesterday was their own: They will have to work five days a week starting in January.
The horror.
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, the Maryland Democrat who will become House majority leader and is writing the schedule for the next Congress, said members should expect longer hours than the brief week they have grown accustomed to. “I have bad news for you,” Hoyer told reporters. “Those trips you had planned in January, forget ‘em. We will be working almost every day in January, starting with the 4th.” The reporters groaned. “I know, it’s awful, isn’t it?” Hoyer empathized.
5 comments:
the 109th Congress will have worked just 103 days — seven fewer than the infamous “Do-Nothing Congress” of 1948
By example, the Chimpster has had more days off to spend at the ranch (or wherever)than any other president.
The free ride is over. It was nice to know that all these people were only working three days a week yet getting 5 days paid with an increase. I know Hastert is going to have problems with a 5 day work week. As for Doctor Quack he got out just to time so he wont have to work yet still he has problems with the up coming criminal investigations. Daddy Bush will need to call in all his favors to keep his idiot son George out of jail. Cheney is more concerned about what the Saudi King will do to him then Fitzgerald. Karl is all alone again. Libby is going to be some jail inmates baby toy.
"By example, the Chimpster has had more days off to spend at the ranch (or wherever)than any other president."
A blast from the past: In the first 8 months in his first term in Oval office, the chimpster went on vacation 42 percent according to the Washington Post.
So as Jackie said, free ride is over for 109th Congress and the chimpster...
Denny Hastert or Spongebob out of the water? Who is it in the picture?
"Denny Hastert or Spongebob out of the water? Who is it in the picture?"
*lol*
Either Denny or his evil twin...
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