112th Congress at Work

I’m offering a summary from an article in the January 8, 2011 edition of the Christian Science Monitor as a public service to those who voted the Republicans back into control of the House of Representatives.  Let’s see how they did the first week on the job. 

First they read the Constitution aloud, but gently abridged it.  They omitted some passages, such as a formula that counts slaves as three-fifths of a person, a requirement that escaped slaves be returned to their owners, the amendment banning “intoxicating liquors” as well as the one repealing that ban.

Next up, two GOP lawmakers, Reps. Pete Sessions of Texas and freshman Mike Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania missed their swearing in on Jan. 5.  That didn’t stop them, they still participated in floor votes and committee work – a violation of the Constitution that was just read.   They were absent because they were attending a $30-a-head event in the Capitol in honor of Mr. Fitzpatrick’s swearing in.

Thirdly, Republicans launched a new rule requiring that all bills must include a statement of constitutional authority. I believe this was a key element of the tea party   push in the 2010 campaign to scale back the size and scope of government.

But in a caucus meeting on Tuesday, Republicans rejected bids to make lawmakers cite specific authorization in the Constitution to meet this requirement.  That promise didn’t last long.

Fourthly, in a bid to rein in deficits, Republicans revised the rules of the House to require that new spending be offset by spending cuts.  There are exceptions though: All tax cuts including the $800 billion tax cut extension and the repeal of the Healthcare law, which is estimated to cost $230 billion over 10 years.  Yes!  You read that right.  A repeal of the healthcare law would cost $230 billion according to the independent Congressional Budget Office.   Republicans refuse to acknowledge the CBO’s estimates.

So in the first week they could be responsible for increasing the nation’s deficit by over $1 trillion in the next decade.  No big deal!  Bush did it to the tune of $5 trillion plus with two unnecessary wars, a “gamed” pharmaceutical insurance law and a tax cut.

The floor debate on repeal of health-care reform will begin on Tuesday, with a vote no sooner than Wednesday. That fulfills a GOP pledge to allow members three days to study the text of a bill before having to vote on it. One little problem remains:  There’s not a snowball’s chance in Hades that this law will be repealed even if it passes the house. 

Fifth and final, GOP leaders opened the week with a surge of openness and transparency. There were television cameras in the typically reclusive Rules Committee, which decides which amendments will be allowed on the floor for votes.

“There are people who came in here today that would not have been here but for the fact that we’re on TV,” said Rep. Alcee Hastings (D) of Florida. “I saw people come in here and play to the cameras, and I tell you that you will see that more and more.”  Anyone could tell you that where there’s a camera, there’s a politician.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention Republican Darrell Issa, the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.  He’s promised to relieve American corporations of “unnecessary” regulations.  He actually asked 150 corporations and associations what regulations hindered them the most.  In the name of economic growth, industries are requesting repeals on everything from labor safety regulations and financial reforms to consumer safety.

Admittedly, these are only highlights of the 112 Congress in action.  Sadly there are voters who really thought that putting the Republicans back in charge of the House was going to accomplish some magical turn-around in DC.  Sorry folks.  I’m just reporting the facts. 

Robert DeFilippis