And I hope you have too.
I wanted to fact check myself a bit on this post, because while I wasn’t completely wrong on my post about Congress on Recess, I gave the impression that our elected officials were out in the school-yard running around (likely with scissors).
Can’t you just see you’re favorite congressperson as the bully picking on other kids?
As much fun as that sounds, recess is a term used when congress is released from their legislative duties in Washington and they return to their districts to meet with constituents, maybe do some campaigning/fundraising, and possibly some prep work for upcoming legislative sessions in Washington.
Not necessarily just this.
So while they’re not technically on vacation (OK, I was a bit off there) they are not in Washington making things happen which is where we needed them during the many shut-downs and budget crisis. So ha, ha. I was right-on there.
Congress
I asked Grok to help with the responsibilities of congress. Here’s what he had to say.
I’m not going to nitpick each of these, but I notice that Regulate interstate and foreign commerce is the top item under #1. Sounds like tariffs might fit in here…
But for today’s purpose, #2 is the biggee. Congress is responsible for the budget. I thought so, but I feel better with Grok backing me up.
And just for ha, has…#3 has congress responsible for declaring wars. I’ll see if Grok is aware that this is outdated.
Grok provided a 5,6 and other responsibilities but we’ll save those so we can have some fun on another day.
Budget
How many shut downs have we had recently? For how many days? I really don’t want to relive the stats, but it’s been a lot.
We’ve been shut down because congress can’t come up with a budget. Or even a short-term resolution to keep the government open for business.
I’m getting on a flight tomorrow and it should be interesting to see how the check-in lines are since we stopped paying TSA agents. We require them to come to work, but we can’t figure out a way to pay them. Not cool.
Especially not cool since most of them don’t make a fortune.
Even when we pay them they don’t make a fortune. I’m guessing it’s worse for them when we don’t.
Adding Insult to Injury
This is bad. Responsibility #2 is a working budget. Congress has proven time and time again that they are unable to do this.
I get even angrier when they are unwilling to do this. They are standing by their principles. They are standing up for the American people.
Tell that to the TSA guy whose family has just had to move in with his parents.
Recess
And yes, after another failed attempt to fund DHS, even a DHS without ICE, congress is heading off to recess. I expect many have nice vacations planned. I’m hoping those that don’t have access to private jets get caught in long TSA lines.
Here’s an excerpt:
So recess begins with no deal. Even if recess isn’t play-time, I don’t understand why congress is not called back to do their job.
More Insult
And the other insult is that my congresspeople keep sending me emails complaining about our President – the same one who just signed an executive order to pay TSA.
While I am quite conflicted about most things coming out of the oval office these days, paying civil servants who are required to show up for work even when their paychecks stop, seems to me the right thing to do. Seems something congress had the power, but not the will to do for the last month or so.
Perhaps they should keep their eyes on their own paper. Mind their Ps and Qs and get a budget together to keep our government running.
Once they’ve done that, their attacks may have a bit more credibility.
Wrap Up
Business as usual.
The US Debt is approaching $39 Trillion.
Congress can’t come up with up with a budget.
Tax-payers are inconvenienced and civil servants are unpaid.
I resolve to vote for not 1 incumbent in the upcoming mid-term elections.
In my view, congress is a team. And that team has miserably failed at a key job function.
I hope others will join me.