We read that the 118th Congress was by far the most unproductive since at least the 1980s. There are outcries about legislative gridlock and dysfunction, mainly from the political left. I ask why this is bad. Think about it; we pass a law with good intentions; it causes disastrous consequences and then we reform the law and then reform the reform.
In contrast the previous 117th Democrat-controlled Congress was supposedly productive, having passed more than 350 bills compared to fewer than 150 by its successor.
-It approved the $1.9T American Rescue Plan that drowned us with cash direct payments to combat the COVID-19 pandemic which had already subsided.
-Next up was the $1.0T Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a slush fund for projects like roads and bridges but also included social infrastructure, more cash.
-The coup dโรฉtat was the $1.1T Inflation Reduction Act that accelerated inflation through climate and healthcare spending measures.
Maybe a โdo-nothingโ Congress is actually doing something good.
Jeffrey McConnell
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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