Major legislation stalls as a divided Congress enacts few laws.

Jason Cannon
Unit 5
11/30/13

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/30/unproductive-congress-record-low/3691993/

Synopsis:
2013 is on track to be the lowest law-passing year for Congress in the last 66 years (since they started recording).  By the first part of November, 52 laws had passed.  The previous lowest was in 1995 in which 88 laws passed.  Some of the bills that have not passed have been the immigration reform bill (which is waiting in the House), farm and defense bills, and an annual spending budget bill.  The House and Senate both passed budget bills for themselves, but together they did not pass an annual spending bill.  The article also said that the House and Senate could not successfully change the sequester (automatic, sweeping budget cuts) now present.

Detailed Analysis/Comments:
The article quoted a think tank member, Matt Bennett, as saying, "We do not see any evidence that there is a real possibility for breakthrough next year."  I don't see why there would be a breakthrough next year, with Congress being the same.  An obvious reason for the inefficiency of this Congress is the fact that a different party occupies each house.  But why would this Congress pass much fewer laws than other divided Congresses?  A contributing factor could be the fact that the political parties have become more and more ideological and have increasingly been influenced by the extremists of the party. 




Clarine Riddle said, "Some will say that this is the new normal, that the era of big reforms brought together through bipartisan compromises is over.  We're certainly hopeful. We want to be part of turning it around."  How will they turn this around?  Something definitely needs to change either within political parties or within Congress itself.  I like the idea of parties working together to pass laws that will benefit the entire country.  Right now it seems like everyone is doing what they can to keep themselves safe.  I don't think it is bad that Congress cannot easily pass laws, but I think that it should be able to compromise and get more done.  The majority of each party (more moderate than the extremists) needs to speak up and get things done.