Friday, November 02, 2007
Posted by: John Campbell at 2:23 PM

In the real world (that means outside of Washington, DC) productivity is measured by comparing the output received to the effort/cost expending to produce something or perform a task. Or, as the dictionary describes it "rate of output per unit of input".

So far, the House of Representatives this year has taken over 1,000 separate votes which has surpassed the most recorded votes ever in the history of Congress. We also have been "in session" voting for 146 days so far, which is also headed to a record number of days in Washington, DC. So, that's the input.

But what about the output? So far, only 107 bills have been signed into law. Over half of these were either naming something (like a post office) or extending an existing law that was scheduled to expire. several more were simple land transfers from government to government. National Review has suggested that has been only one piece of legislation of any significance that has passed and been signed into law which was the increase in the minimum wage. This Congress is on track to pass the fewest bills since electronic records have been kept. Furthermore, Congress has failed to send a single appropriations (budget/spending) bill to the President after a full month into the fiscal year. The is the first time Congress has failed to do so since 1987.

So, arguably, this Congress has been the least productive Congress ever. After all, we have been in Washington the longest and voted the most while producing record low output. And they can't blame this on having a different party control Congress and the White House as that has been the case much of the time in the past.

By far the least effective Congress ever.......and I'm so proud to be a part of it.......not!



View in ascending order View in descending order
dogjudge writes: Friday, November, 02, 2007 2:48 PM
This is a joke, right?
Lets see. Appropriations bills? Hmm. These are the same ones that the 109th Congress didn't pass and left for this congress to finish off. Correct?

Least productive Congress. Hands down it was the 109th.

Major legislation? Minimum wage. And the 109th Congress gave us what? Terri Schaivo. McCain Detainee Act (sans a later signing statement). Dominican Republic - Central American Free Trade Act. Presidential $1.00 coin act. Family Entertainment and Copyright act. etc.

And that was without any Democrat input on the various committees, etc. since the Republicans wouldn't let the Democrats in the committee meetings.

Republican oversight of the President? Oh yeah, we didn't need that.

Please. The LEAST productive? They have a LONG way to go to beat the 109th.
DougDumitru writes: Friday, November, 02, 2007 3:27 PM
Complaints about investigations
Mr. Bush is truly pitiful. His complaints about to many investigations is amazing. Lets make a short list:

* Corruption from K-steet
- People already in jail
- WH refusing to hand over docs
* Violation of records keeping laws
* Mis-use of justice department personnel
* Politically motivated prosecutions
* Violation of the law with wiretaps
- ... which started before 9/11
- prosecution of companies that did not cooperate
* Mercenary armies overseas and at home
* Secret prisons
* Torture
* No bid contracts
* 8 billion dollars lost of the back of trucks.

My list is short and incomplete. There is no way that you can argue that this administration is not criminal. Too bad, if you had an ounce of integrity and courage, you would be investigating instead of covering up.

You are an accountant. Demand audits. Follow the money. $100BN spent on reconstructing New Orleans, for nothing. $600BN spent on Iraq (on the way to $2.4TN), for nothing. And you complain about $1Mil for a museum in someone's home district. Give me a break. Investigate. I want MY MONEY back.

And, I am in your district.
Rogue writes: Friday, November, 02, 2007 3:40 PM
This is truely the worst Congress
In the history of these United States of American, both Houses led by traitors to the nation, thousands of hours spent on investigations without a single case of criminal wrongdoing exposed. Only accused. Corrupt politicians throught the leadership, Murtha, Jefferson, Reid, Pelosi, Feinstein, Conyers, Schumer, the list just goes on and on. "Do Nothing Congress" has taken on a new look...and it is the faces of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
THE POSITRON writes: Friday, November, 02, 2007 5:37 PM
THE DO NOTHING CONGRESS
http://evolutionfacts.townhall.com/

It's time for a change. I believe we should wage a strategic recall of all the liberal congressman and and congresswomen who have shown contempt for our US constitution. These socialist leaning congressmen have betrayed our trust. I would start with recalling every congressman who signed the "thought police" hate crimes legislation. They should be removed. I would also recall Hillary Clinton before November 2008 election.
TheHistorian writes: Saturday, November, 03, 2007 6:52 AM
Let's Keep the Do-Nothing Congress
I agree with John Campbell, that this is largely a do-inothing Congress. But doing nothing is a great thing for Congress to do, mostly.

Rogue asks about investigations. I guess I forgot to read that section of my Constitution. Where does it say that Congress investigates the wrongdoing of the Executive Branch? Their check and balance is to deny funding, not to try to get publicity for their next campaign.

Dogpoop (oops, dogjudge) complains that the last Congress didn't appropriate, so his had to. We agree that Congress wasn't doing its job, so it got voted out. However, your Congress gets a pass for the same behavior; drop the partisan BS (or at least leave it to BS artist); your Congress is NOT doing its job.

You list the wonderful legislation passed by the last guys. Yet your group is doing even less. Of the legislation passed, virtually all of it relates to naming days as National ____ _____ Day; the minimum wage legislation passed had to be passed as an amendment on a military appropriation. They have tried to attach slow walk and "get out" legislation to other bills. They can't even get a clean bill through Congress. I want to see them pass a law to defund the war. Your chances of taking the White House would fall to zero and you and your legislators know it.

Finally, we Republicans helped to put you Democrats in power this time; you could NOT have done it by yourselves. But the Congress which we replaced had a much higher approval rating than the group which is being run as the Nancy/Harry comedy hour, which has an 11 percent approval rating as I write this.

Let's face it; the people do NOT love the Democrats, and the Democrats have NOT done their job. Thank you, Mr. Campbell, as a member of the minority party, for pointing it out.
Jon writes: Sunday, November, 04, 2007 9:46 PM
Yeah, so what!
I don't have time to read all the posts, but I must say....Even though we are paying for little productivity from congress, I actually applaud that virtually nothing was done.

Even though there are some important things they should be doing, the fewer laws these knuckleheads submit for a vote, the better off this country is!

I believe that if you look at year after year, other than 94' (Contract with America), Congress has done mostly nothing, but waste our hard earned money and their time.

The fewer laws that get submitted for a vote, and the more veto's of votes that actually get to the floor, the smoother this country will run....



lyster writes: Monday, November, 05, 2007 12:04 AM
Less is better!
Less legislation (other than repealing old, failed legislation of the past) is GOOD!!! Close down congress as often as possible - perhaps meet 3 months a year - or skip every other year altogeher. Tell the congressmen to go home and get a job in the private sector.
Hockey Goon writes: Monday, November, 05, 2007 10:41 AM
agreed
lyster writes: Less is better!
Less legislation (other than repealing old, failed legislation of the past) is GOOD!!! Close down congress as often as possible - perhaps meet 3 months a year - or skip every other year altogeher.
=================================================


The fact that congress can't acomplish anything is a plus in my book. If Bush had the House in 2004 we might even have a balanced budget today.

dale writes: Monday, November, 05, 2007 12:05 PM
agreed
We have a saying here in the private sector: those who can do; those who cannot teach; those who cannot teach teach teachers. I would add, those who cannot teach teachers become politicians. doing nothing is the only thing these people are qualified for. If they could run a business they would be doing it. If they could raise a family they would be doing it. If they could do anything else they would. That is why we banished them to Washington, to clean up our home towns, by getting the slime out (and sending it to Washington).
chuck writes: Monday, November, 05, 2007 1:11 PM
DAAAAA
Like the Queen Bee said and I quote, THERE IS A NEW CONGRESS IN TOWN. Cant say no more. Done ,finished , and capoot the article speaks for itself. WHAT A JOKE
Frigglesnitz writes: Monday, November, 05, 2007 8:32 PM
AGREEMENT WITH OTHER COMMENTS!
This happens rarely. My view comports with a great many other comments here.

A do-nothing Congress?

Perhaps it's the most we can hope for.
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About John Campbell

John Campbell is a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and has taken a leadership role in addressing the country's top economic issues. Campbell serves as a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and House Committee on the Budget. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from UCLA and a Master's Degree in Taxation from USC.

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