US lawmakers likely to do what they do best: the bare minimum

[webfact]

Lawmakers likely to do what they do best: the bare minimum

By ANDREW TAYLOR

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers return to Washington this week for an abbreviated election-season session in which they will likely do what they do best: the bare minimum.

 

All Congress must do this month is keep the government from shutting down on Oct. 1 and, with any luck, finally provide money for the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Republicans controlling Congress promise they won't stumble now, but the weeks ahead could prove tricky.

 

A chief motivation for the September session, especially for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is allowing lawmakers to return to campaigning as soon as possible. Republicans are scrambling to hold onto their Senate edge as GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump lags in the polls.

 

The short-term spending measure is sure to pass. The alternative is that Republicans would get the blame for a government shutdown, as they did in 2013.

 

But it's a complicated path for the temporary spending bill. Some House conservatives say the measure should last into next year, when there is a new president and a new Congress, and that would block any chance for a session after the Nov. 8 election. Leaders in both parties feel otherwise — as does President Barack Obama — and a temporary measure until December seems to be the consensus.

 

"We are not doing anything into next year and every Republican should be aware of that right now," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

 

Lawmakers left Washington seven weeks ago without resolving a dispute over money for Zika. The virus can cause severe birth defects and is linked to a host of other maladies. Obama asked Congress in February for $1.9 billion in emergency money, but legislation to partially pay for his proposal collapsed in July amid various fights. Among them was a Republican provision to deny money to Puerto Rican affiliates of Planned Parenthood.

 

Because the shutdown-prevention measure simply has to pass, it's a tempting target for lawmakers seeking to use it as a vehicle for their preferences. For instance, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., is pressing for emergency grants to help communities in his flood-ravaged state to recover.

"I hope we can accomplish that in September," Cassidy said.

 

But GOP leaders probably will try to keep the spending bill as free of unrelated additions as possible, especially now. If GOP leaders were to grant Cassidy's request, it would make it more difficult to say no to others, such as Democrats seeking money for fixing the lead-tainted water system of Flint, Michigan.

 

House conservatives are looking to press ahead with impeaching IRS Commissioner John Koskinen over the destruction of agency emails and misleading testimony on whether the tax agency, before his arrival, improperly scrutinized conservative groups seeking nonprofit status. The impeachment drive is a headache for Republicans who believe that Koskinen's conduct isn't serious enough to warrant impeachment, but who may be reluctant to support the Democratic appointee in such a politically charged environment.

 

In a recent memo, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said lawmakers will take up legislation regarding the Obama administration's $400 million payment to Iran in January, made immediately after four U.S. prisoners were released. The payment, for undelivered arms to the shah of Iran, was made on the same day of the prisoner release, and Republicans call it "ransom." The as-yet-unreleased legislation is designed to prevent a repeat, but seems like an election-season messaging effort.

 

McConnell also wants to advance a popular water projects measure. But the priority is to simply adjourn the chamber to allow embattled incumbents such as Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., to get back home and campaign for re-election against the political headwinds created by Trump.

 

The abbreviated session should give GOP-run committees a final pre-election chance to hold hearings on the Obama administration and other targets such as EpiPen manufacturer Mylan, N.V. That company has come under withering criticism for steep price increases for its life-saving injector, which can stop potentially fatal allergic reactions to insect bites and stings, and foods such as peanuts and eggs.

 

House Republicans are promising hearings on Hillary Clinton's emails. FBI Director James Comey criticized Clinton's use of a homebrew email server to handle sensitive work-related emails as "extremely careless," but said his agency's yearlong investigation found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

 

Republicans now are demanding that the Justice Department open a new investigation into whether Clinton lied during testimony last year before the House Benghazi committee. They claim the FBI note may show Clinton provided inconsistent answers to questions about her handling of emails containing classified information.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-09-05

[thaibeachlovers]

I like it when politicians do as little as possible. It means that they have less chance of stuffing up my life.

[sanukjim]

As normal do nothings they are only working at getting their stupid followers to reelect them

[ClutchClark]

4 minutes ago, sanukjim said:

As normal do nothings they are only working at getting their stupid followers to reelect them

 

How cynical.

 

They are also looking to create legislation to help their cronies and contributors. They are looking to collect a very hefty pension and receive the best health care available in America.

[Pimay1]

8 minutes ago, ClutchClark said:

and receive the best health care available in America.

It certainly won't be Obamacare.

[arjunadawn]

How far we have fallen... The idea that legislators are ineffective if they are not passing laws is a celebration of the Leviathan, the Regulatory State. The best America can hope for is a locked Congress. The best thing they could have done recently, is obstruct Obama rather than permitting him to abrogate to the Executive that which the Legislative was deliberately not addressing- also an equally valid choice in the Separation of Powers. Non action does not, as Obama has made clear, translate into usurpation. This president sucks. These past congresses suck.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

1 hour ago, Pimay1 said:

It certainly won't be Obamacare.

Or an HMO that denies everyone's claims as pre-existing so that corporations can get richer while their policyholders die unnecessary deaths.

[mamypoko]

1 hour ago, Pimay1 said:

It certainly won't be Obamacare.

So true. The GOP certainly made sure of that. How sad

and hypocritical. 

[ClutchClark]

36 minutes ago, arjunadawn said:

How far we have fallen... The idea that legislators are ineffective if they are not passing laws is a celebration of the Leviathan, the Regulatory State. The best America can hope for is a locked Congress. The best thing they could have done recently, is obstruct Obama rather than permitting him to abrogate to the Executive that which the Legislative was deliberately not addressing- also an equally valid choice in the Separation of Powers. Non action does not, as Obama has made clear, translate into usurpation. This president sucks. These past congresses suck.

 

I have been saying this for years--a do nothing Congress causes far less damage !

[Chicog]

21 minutes ago, ClutchClark said:

 

I have been saying this for years--a do nothing Congress causes far less damage !

 

Of course you have.

And of course it hasn't.

 

 

[Rod Gold]

US "lawmakers" job has been tarnished by political posturing and relative importance diminished by Obama's executive orders.  These overpaid bureaucrats will become all but obsolete in the post Obama era.  

[Scott]

Off-topic posts removed.   Please stay on topic.   I don't believe the topic is about Obamacare.  

[impulse]

12 hours ago, ClutchClark said:

I have been saying this for years--a do nothing Congress causes far less damage !

 

The problem being that there are volumes and volumes of pork barrel law on the books that need to be unwound.  And that takes effort.

[sgtsabai]

The Republicans said as Obama was being sworn in they would block every thing and they have. They just added unacceptable amendments to the Zika funding bill which in turn failed and promptly blamed it on the Democrats, business as usual. I'm of a mind that "party" should be declared traitors and a terrorist organization, not that the corporate blue dawg Democrats are much better. Unless it directly benefits the corporations, Wall Street criminals/banksters and the 1% it doesn't pass. Keep GitMo open for those that really belong there.