U.S. Congress to Adjourn Early

[JohnRPollard]

Where would the country be if the rest of us could get away with not doing our work too?

Will they dock their own pay?

TheHill.com - Reid: Spending bills will likely wait until Bush is gone

[sailaway21]

"Under that scenario, Congress would only be in session six more weeks this year."
reader casually turns around and consults calender where he's indisputably confronted with the fact that, yes, it is July 10th.

What the sam hill! Let's just do 'em a favor and make the job part time like it used to be-at half the salary!

So we elect a guy to the House and they then take half a year off out of a two year term and get paid for it? The guy in the Senate amoritizes it over six years and I'm supposed to feel better? Everybody call your boss and float the idea of taking the rest of the year off.

We're on the brink of war with Iran and these guys want a sabbatical to go bass fishing?

This Congress came in vowing change in '06, claiming a mandate for change from the American people, claiming a mandate to rein in a President run amok, and they're waiting for nature to take it's course? That's a balance of power between the legislative and the executive branches?

In another thread, Cam and I had a brief discussion about the Boland amendment and declarations of war. This is about the perfect example of how Congress has grown complacent, let's the executive do what ever it wishes, and thinks it's just fine to cry about it afterwards. These guys fill the airwaves every night complaining about a Bush administaration that is keeping them out of the loop and in the dark. I'm guessing it's not the Bush administration or none of these guys have phone service on their bass boats!

What are you, kidding me? I'd think they could fill up at least a couple of weeks here and there deciding to maybe, just maybe, consider that social security is broke and there ain't no more money comin' in and a whole passel of peeps retirin'.

Baseball season isn't half over. Football season will be well into the playoffs when they come back. And we think that atheletes are over-paid? Even though they've been out of it since the start of the season, at least the Kansas City Royals are going to play out the string! By this logic the Dolphins wouldn't even take the field this year! Well, it's not looking like it's going to be much of a season. We think we'll just opt out, rest up, do some personal, home type things and maybe be fresh and ready for the following season. We'll be working a bit at home and if you need us for a weekend scrimmage we'll see if we can get a few of the guys together. It'll give the stadium crew a chance to slap some paint on the bleachers. And we'll actually save money since, even though everyone on the team will get paid we'll be able to lay off the vendors.

Are they going to shut down the Senate cafeteria, etc... Or do we get to pay for cooks and bus-boys with nothing to do? I get it, we won't have to air-condition the Capitol all summer and we can turn the heat down low in the fall, the energy savings will probably balance the budget.

WHAT ARE THEY, FREAKIN' NUTS? !!!!!!!!!!!

[TxLnghrn]

One way to look at it Sway is when they aren't in session, they cannot pass more pork-loaded spending bills
Seems like a plan to me, I say we keep the SOB's out of session until Newt comes back into public service.

[sailaway21]

I'm just listening on the radio while working on the dinghy project and the Congressional approval rating is now at 9%. And here's the kicker, you know what King George's approval rating was when we decided to dispense with our relationship with England? 15-20%

Whether you like or approve of the President or not, at least you can say he's showing up for work!

You're right, cowboy. When Congress is in session nobodies wallet is safe. We should help 'em out and make it a part time job. The month of August sounds like a good month for them to be in session. Washington is sooo comfortable in August-it'll act as a motivator to get something done, perhaps.

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

We should help 'em out and make it a part time job. The month of August sounds like a good month for them to be in session. Washington is sooo comfortable in August-it'll act as a motivator to get something done, perhaps.

And while we're about it: Rip out all those comfortable chairs in the House and Senate chambers. Let 'em stand while they're in session.

Jim

[sailaway21]

I get so GD PO'd just thinking about this. Harry Reid ought to be taken out and horse-whipped! Damn!

[PBzeer]

And let us not forget, this same bunch gets to give themselves raises, benefits, etc., that we pay for.

[camaraderie]

We need longer terms for House of Representatives so they aren't running foroffice full time. 3-4 years would be better. We also need LIFETIME term limits for both houses. 12 years would allow for 2 senate terms and 6 House terms and would shake things up quite a bit. The republican house brought it to a vote under Gingrich but it has faded since then. With current approval rates perhaps it is time to revive the idea....and get some pledges by the candidates this fall!

[Gary1]

Getting rid of politicians who spend their entire lives in Congress would be a great idea.

Forcing them to enact a 'Sunset' law would be even better. And it should apply to Presidential declarations, as well.

If congress goes home early, do we get to dock their pay? Huh. Fat chance.

I'm not a fan of more committees, but we should have one that watches our various and sundry representatives, and if they don't show up for work, they lose a day's pay. They should pay for their junket trips out of their own salary. Why should we pay for them to 'study' something abroad?

Finally, I think they should be able to demonstrate that they are well trained and versed in something before they can pass a law about that something. I mean, why should an English or Political Science Major be allowed to pass a law about deck run off or ballast water? What makes someone like Diane Feinstein qualified to make a decision on something like that.

Oh, well. I'm convinced that the system is falling apart under its own weight of stupidity. That's one of the reasons I'm glad I'm an old fart. Maybe I'll miss the supernova.

[SailorMitch]

As my father is fond of saying-- vote the old rascals out and the new rascals in!!!