Seriously, Can Washington Please Do Something!
While I was on vacation last week, I periodically checked in on email and the news. Much of what I read about our federal government’s continued ineptness in achieving any type of movement this fall on energy and environmental legislation and approving the various 13 appropriations bill to keep the federal government operating without continuing resolutions after September 30th or reaching triple digit extensions to keep the FAA operating made me wonder why we pay our taxes. Yes, it is an election year and Congress is notorious for slowing controversial legislation down to a near halt for fear of pinning Members of Congress in a corner to vote one way that could jeopardize their re-election, but enough is enough!
Congress is in recess until September 13th, and President Obama is vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard. Every media rag I read talked about how little Congress has on its plate this fall, yet there is so much on which to work. The only way Congress and the White House are held accountable for their actions or inaction is through elections. Remember that when Election Day 2011 (November 2nd) comes around. More than ever before, people need to vote this fall to let their elected leaders know how unhappy they are with their inability to move legislation. Congress should not have to approve double-digit extensions to reauthorize the FAA. Congress should be able to approve all 13 appropriations bills by September 30th on an annual basis. That is what we pay them to do, not punt every fall — which seems to have become a tradition here in Washington when it comes to the appropriations process.
It is no wonder the bureaucracy continues to move at a snail’s pace when our elected officials cannot do much more. Congress is supposed to be the overseer of the various federal agencies. But when Congress can’t do much, it certainly gives officials at our federal agencies the latitude to do little. This trend can be seen in our rulemaking system. Rules, across the board, are being produced at a slower pace than ever before. Rules are taking years, and sometimes decades, to move from proposed to final. Do you think it is a coincidence that this takes place when Congress does so little? I think not. We would be guaranteed a much more rapid pace by the bureaucracy if Congress were able to approve appropriations bills and conduct thorough oversight of the federal agencies. Political pressure does work!
So, as I start another work week, I write to express the frustration so many of us experience when it comes to our federal government’s inability to do its job. We all know that in the private sector this would not be allowed. Remember Election Day and how important it truly is to vote. Our elected officials must step up and do something!
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