At the present pace, this Congress will pass fewer bills than any of its predecessors for the past 40 years. The Columbus Dispatch this week asked members of the Ohio delegation what that’s like. For most of them, it’s just plain frustrating, even if you’re in the party that seems more dedicated to doing nothing.
Republican Congressman Mike Turner, for one, tells the hometown press he almost never tries to have a solitary measure become law — not as a standalone.
“We look for bills that are what people call ‘must-pass’ bills,’ ” he said, noting that this way was used to introduce legislation into an FAA reauthorization bill urging the Federal Aviation Administration to consider the Dayton region as a site for unmanned aerial vehicle airspace.
The bills he can’t attach to larger bills tend to struggle, Turner admits.
“Because less bills are being passed, and some of my bills can’t be attached to a larger bill, good ideas flounder,” he said.
Some of those floundering good ideas might help the country if they got a chance. As Steve wrote this morning, nearly half the public believes that Republicans are deliberately hamstringing efforts at an economic recovery. On the flip side, at least that suggests the public believes Congress could help the economy, if only it would.
After the jump, Ezra Klein’s chart of cloture votes — read: filibustering — in the Senate. (H/t @olevia) By way of our pal Ezra:
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