I see my friends at Newsbusters are upset at NBC for telling it like it is. Another great example at the sort of drivel they publish at their whining crybaby website that supposedly highlights "liberal media bias".

"Liberal media bias" to anyone else, is simply telling it like it is.

The 'Less Than Do Nothing' 112th Congress

Here's the official list of laws passed by the House in the 112th Congress and a few examples...

H.R. 1308 - 5/12/2011 - To amend the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act to extend the termination date for the Commission, and for other purposes.

H.R. 793 - 5/31/2011 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the "Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office".
(Of the 45 total bills passed by the Republicans in The House, 7 (16%) were to rename a federal buildings - usually post offices.)

H.R. 489 - 11/7/2011 - To clarify the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir, and for other purposes.

H.R. 765 - 11/7/2011 - "Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011" To amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding additional recreational uses of National Forest System land that is subject to ski area permits, and for other purposes.

H.R. 368 - 11/9/2011 - "Removal Clarification Act of 2011" To amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify and improve certain provisions relating to the removal of litigation against Federal officers or agencies to Federal courts, and for other purposes.

H.R. 674 - 11/21/2011 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities, to modify the calculation of modified adjusted gross income for purposes of determining eligibility for certain healthcare-related programs, and for other purposes.

CBO Estimate, dated 10/17/2011. H.R. 674 would repeal a requirement scheduled to take effect under current law that government entities withhold and deposit with the Internal Revenue Service 3 percent of certain payments made to vendors, as a credit against the vendor’s income tax. The staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates that enacting the legislation would reduce revenues and thus increase federal deficits by $11.2 billion over the 2012-2021 period. Under current law, federal, state, and local government entities will be required to withhold 3 percent of payments to vendors made in exchange for properties or services, beginning on January 1, 2013. The requirement will apply only if a government entity spends $100 million or more on all such payments to vendors annually. Payments made on contracts in effect on December 31, 2012, will not immediately be subject to the requirements. Repealing this requirement would reduce revenues by an estimated $11.2 billion over the 2012-2021 period.

H.R. 2447 - 11/23/2011 - To grant the congressional gold medal to the Montford Point Marines.

H.R. 3321 - 11/29/2011 - "America's Cup Act of 2011"
To facilitate the hosting in the United States of the 34th America's Cup by authorizing certain eligible vessels to participate in activities related to the competition, and for other purposes.

As you see, most all the bills passed where Republican "pet issues" like chipping away at "Obamacare", "privatizing" government-controlled entities, reducing government control over public lands, lessening consumer protection and litigation abilities, and lowering taxes. And rather than reducing the deficit – some added to it.

Compare those meager 45 bills this year to the 110th Congress which passed 261 bills into law (over 2 years). Granted they were even worse than the current Congress when it comes to frivolous bills "designating" federal building names (63 or 24%). But that was over a period of 2 years, and most of the renaming was introduced by the Republicans in the minority - a way of appeasing them, I guess.

Still, take away the 63 "renaming" bills and you come up with 198. Divide that by 2 (because the 111th Congress figures are for 2 years) and you come up with 99 "legitimate" bills per year from the last Pelosi House. Take away the 7 "renames" from the Boehner Congress' first year total and you have 38 bills passed - or just 38% of the number of bills averaged each year of the 111th Congressional House.

I'm not sure what Newsbusters means by "based primarily on the number of bills passed rather than delving into the issues addressed" - because either way you look at it the current Congress more than deserves the "Do nothing" label. The figures are almost as bad a saying that they averaged any meaningful legislation but once every 10 days.

AND STILL – WHERE ARE THE JOBS? And what about “LISTENING TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE”??? Not a single serious move has been made by Republicans to pass a decent jobs bill that would have done anything to help the middle class without further widening the wealth gap - despite the 2010 campaign promise to "focus on jobs" that brought them their "mandate" in the midterms - and despite having the Obama blueprint that does just that sitting on their desks for months now – and despite polls showing an overwhelming support for taxing the 1% to help reduce the burden that’s been placed on the middle class.

No wonder the public gives a greater approval to "the U.S. going communist". Even Fox Nation admits that.



I don't think most voters realize just how "different" Republicans have become over the past few years - and the extent they have gone to refuse to compromise and filibuster legislation compared to the historical record.

Excellent bar graph! Of course the Teapublicans that got voted into office in 2010 would knee jerk respond with "It's the Democrats fault" or blame Obama.

Its actually worse that doing nothing. Republicans are sabotaging regulation right now. They tried to undermine the EPA by budget cuts, and then the EPA publishes a report about shale oil hydrofracking contaminates ground water. And John Boehner is now pushing for a oil pipeline from Canada to Texas to make all of that shale oil available to Americans and give big oil one big fat pork project.

Cleve,

True much more was done when the Democrats had a super/near-super majority but they still were unable to pass a budget - weird? Of course if you are after a dictatorship there is no common ground.

I know all the Democrats would the love to forget that their two houses in Congress and that the endless political posturing by both parties is what prevents any real constructive work to be done. The Democrats have sat on nearly every meaningful bill sent to them since the Republicans elected in 2010 were seated. That is the right of the Senate but the fact that they won't even let the bills be debated on the floor tells me they don't have a lot of confidence that they can sell their own plans to their own people.

You give me a good reason why a Democrat Congress with an overwhelming majority couldn't do their primary job of passing a budget with a friendly President for two years and I could probably concede your point. Congress spent two years acting like an extension of the Executive branch, I know that has happened before, in which they didn't even read the bills they were passing by their own admission but they couldn't do their job.

Because the Republicans are the same?
The Prez and JB had the broad outline of a $4T deal that they could both agree to.
Boehnner couldn't sell it to the TP caucus nor could Obama sell it to the progressive caucus.
Why? It contained cuts and taxes that were an enathma to both caucuses - and rather than negotiate they pass the bill and let it stall in the Senate or allow it to get veto'd.
The media calls it "sending a message" or "making a statement"
I call it useless politicking

Best Regards
Vog