Democrat Controlled 110th Congress Has Passed Fewest Bill in 20 Years … Wonder Why Approval Rating is so Low

Who is the real “Do Nothing” Congress?

When Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Majority Senate Leader Harry Reid assumed power they promised America a change from the ways of Republicans. The 110th Congress has become the do nothing Congress as Americans sit back and scratch their heads why they go on vacation and refuse to pass any energy legislation to deal with soaring oil prices. Nearly 75% of Americans believe the US should drill offshore and become less dependent on foreign oil. Instead, the Democratic controlled Congress takes a vacation while everyday Americans cannot afford to.

Barring a burst of legislative activity after Labor Day, this group of 535 men and women will have accomplished a rare feat. In two decades of record keeping, no sitting Congress has passed fewer public laws at this point in the session — 294 so far — than this one. That’s not to say they’ve been idle. On the flip side, no Congress in the same 20 years has been so prolific when it comes to proposing resolutions — more than 1,900, according to a tally by the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense.

What change did Democratic leadership bring to the House and Senate? Is it any wonder why Congressional approval is at an all time low.

When Democrats won control of Congress in 2006, Republicans were eager to tar them as “do nothing,” an echo of Democrat Harry Truman’s successful 1948 presidential campaign during which he railed against the “Do Nothing Congress” led by Republicans.

“The Democrats in charge of this Congress have been heavy on fluff and light on substance,” says Republican leader Rep. John Boehner of Ohio. “Resolutions are fine but why aren’t we also passing legislation to lower gas prices? What about health-care reform and runaway entitlement spending?”

In fact, the second-fewest number of public laws passed over the 20-year review was during the 104th Congress — when Republicans were newly in control, with a Democratic president. Resolutions, however, are usually popular on both sides of the aisle.