Almost Time for Another Break

Congress has work to do this week, but after Friday, members could be back on the campaign trail through the election.

From a short New York Times editorial today:

Lawmakers call their latest hiatus from the job of legislating “an extended district work period,” but it will be spent mostly bragging to voters about imaginary accomplishments.

…

The 112th Congress has earned a reputation for monumental procrastination and toxic paralysis. Unyielding Republican obstructionism is the root of this dysfunction, and no amount of “extended district work” can change that fact. Yet, as they prepared to head home, both political parties were teeing up single-chamber bills designed to help troubled incumbents who need to pander to special-interest groups that might help their re-election.

Read more about those pandering efforts here.

— Michael Levine