America’s love/hate relationship with its elected leaders in all levels of government is not based so much on mistrust as the perception of what have you done for me lately.
For the wide swath of Americans who simply want Congress to do its job, pass laws and solve problems, this lame duck session of the 110th Congress falls right into your wheelhouse.
In a matter of a few weeks, need we be reminded that there is a tax compromise package that some say will cost us another trillion dollars, a law that would make our food safer to eat, a law that ends gay bashing and dismissal in the military and two laws on the brink of approval that would ratify a nuclear disarmament and inspection treaty with Russia and extend health care and compensation for 9/11 first responders. I may have missed one or 10.
My point is this: It doesn’t matter whether these laws are any good. Congress and the guy in the Oval Office who experienced an epiphany on Nov. 2 and decided to play his presidential hand suddenly became proactive.
There are 2,656,745 stories on the Internet trying to explain why.
Here’s one. Mine.
The Nov. 2 midterm election was the only poll taken in two years that matters about how Americans who bothered to vote felt about the direction that government was taking them. The conservatives won that message. The Tea Party only thinks it did but still carries a loud voice if not a big stick.
The 400-pound gorilla entering the lame duck session was of course the Bush tax cuts which expire Dec. 31. Never mind the tax cuts in seven years failed to produce enough jobs to sustain even a paltry 1% growth in gross national product, the winning argument was political in that it is unwise to increase taxes in times of economic recession and recovery. So they won’t be raised for two years, at least.
A decision on the tax cuts could have been made months earlier but Democrats did not have the courage in the House nor the filibuster-proof votes in the Senate.
With a Dec. 31 deadline on the calendar and an effort by 535 Congressmen and Senators wanting to get home for Christmas, the time was ripe for let’s make a deal.
President Obama and his elves with Rudolph the Red Nose Bill Clinton in the lead made Monty Hall look like a piker. Assuming the Start II treaty and 9/11 first responders bills are voted and passed as expected, this lame duck session of Congress was one for the ages. At least for those who want Congress to do their jobs, come hell or high water.
Why is it you have to put a toy gun to the head with a calendar with Dec. 25 and Jan. 4 circled in red ink before Congress votes on controversial legislation?
A damn good argument could be made that most of the reasons are pure, raw politics at the expense of what’s best for most Americans.
The trouble is most of us cannot play God and determine what is best for most. Passing legislation for the sake of passing laws is not a panacea to our nation’s economy or international fortunes.
Some examples:
— The Bush tax cut can is kicked down the road for two years for another Congress to decide. My father had an apt expression for this: Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
— Federal unemployment benefits are extended for 13 months. When do you draw the line and say no more. How many homeless must live under our decaying freeway overpasses?
— Social Security payroll-funding taxes are decreased 2% for a year. How does that shorten the time of SS to go bankrupt?
— Business can write off 100% expansion for 2011. How many new jobs in the private sector will that produce that are not ended in 2012 when depreciation taxes resume?
— Will an increase in federal food inspectors actually reduce the chances of some farm causing an outbreak of eColi?
— Will the Start II treaty with Russia reduce the chances of rogue nuclear scientists in other countries from selling secrets and delivering nuclear missiles to terrorists?
— What happens if the 9/11 first responders’ financing ticket by raising fees to foreign visitors and multinationals doing business with the U.S. falls fall short of expectations?
Frankly, I think the Democrats and President Obama should enjoy Christmas of 2010 and lick their wounds and savor their victories for the future is not filled with Christmas plums.
In Congress, they will be at the mercy of success or failure of the most powerful politician in America — Republican Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who boasts the Democrats “ain’t seen nothing, yet.”
By that, if McConnell means the Party of No and legislative gridlock, millions of Americans will not be pleased and it is those who may decide the fate of the next president and 112th congress in 2012.
As for Mr. Obama, will he continue to act above the fray and appear presidential when he vetoes Republican efforts to pull funding for implementation of the health and financial reform laws?
The next two years may be lame in terms of legislation but prime time in terms of political drama.
(Cartoon courtesy David Horsey, Seattle P.I.)
Jerry Remmers worked 26 years in the newspaper business. His last 23 years was with the Evening Tribune in San Diego where assignments included reporter, assistant city editor, county and politics editor.