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Is This the Least-Productive Congress Ever?

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  • Description

    FBN’s Gerri Willis on the lack of work being done by the current Congress.

  • Duration 2:53
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Can you imagine the job that gives you fourteen to seventeen weeks off a year in her -- -- right.

And don't think about teachers they don't get that much time off we're talking about congress.

Even the rare occasion members are in session they aren't getting much work done.

According to the Chicago Tribune this congress is on track to be one of the least productive.

Ever.

The papers grating congress' productivity on three criteria votes.

Bills -- and a lot and nominees approved on all accounts the 112 it's failing grades.

In the first five months of this year only sixteen bills made it on to the president's desk compare that with the last congress which saw fifty bills made into law.

-- -- 111 congress was controlled entirely by Democrats as was the White House.

Democrats are usually more legislative happy than their conservative counterparts and when everyone is on the same site well more can be done.

But -- 2007 when congress and the White House were divided still more was accomplished.

And a lot that we're past let's just say they weren't all vital ones for the American taxpayer.

As a paper points out to realize were for the naming buildings.

One -- a member to the Smithsonian Institution and one extending the Ronald Reagan Centennial commission.

And I'm so glad that made -- through.

As far as votes -- 84 in the senate this year 112 in the house half what was being done for years ago.

Finally the nominee is only half -- been confirmed at this point usually the senate has gone through most of the president's list by now.

The budget battle both houses -- the White House are engaged in a perfect examples of a do nothing congress the Senate Budget Committee tasked with formulating a budget.

Haven't met since April 5 and no meetings are scheduled.

But apparently the lack of motivation and lack of action is nothing new here's what senator Dick Durbin recently said.

Quote if you're not comfortable with delay frustration and an impatient to get us senate and quote.

Just because it's been the status quo doesn't mean it's right look at I rarely showed up for my job and wants -- kept putting off my work.

Guess what I'd be fired and I that you would be too.

However in the case of congress sometimes inaction is best for everybody.

Take for example financial regulation in just over two weeks the Dodd-Frank glob will be a year old and we're not really any closer to fully implementing it.

Because -- -- was just a start it ordered federal agencies to craft rules to enforce it.

As of Friday out of an estimated 400 regulations to be written just thirty -- complete.

And all congress seem to do is hold hearings on the matter pass legislation with no hope of going anywhere.

This congress has become a punch line for every joke in Washington the most partisan one ever.

But in the end you know what it's not really funny it's our country they hold -- their hands our tax dollars our future.

I wish they'd start making that a priority instead of their -- times.

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