recent headlines new york times “Parliamentary dysfunction by the numbers: 724 votes, only 27 laws passed,” shouted one, while another said: Publication I called 118th Congress is “the least productive Congress since the 1930s.”
The bleak picture they paint ignores the important point that Congress is functioning primarily as America's Founding Fathers intended. (Related: Kyle Hupfer: Will Republicans Gain Momentum Against Minorities?)
“'' is scaryuncontrollable passion” The Founding Fathers designed the federal government to act prudently, especially in situations of widespread political discord. With Republicans leading the House and Democrats leading the minority in the Senate, anger among those on both the left and right who want to impose sweeping public policy changes on a divided region but are unable to do so. Parliament appears to be dysfunctional due to this dissatisfaction. Country.
like thomas jefferson wise got it“Great innovation should not be forced on the hands of a minority.”
117th enacted by parliament 365 laws Joe Biden's first two years as president. By that standard, it was far more “productive” than the current Congress. However, more is not necessarily better.
The raw number of new laws enacted is less important than 1) the content of those laws, 2) the long-term costs associated with those laws, and 3) their ultimate impact on the future of the United States.
Consider a bill with the reckless and laughable name of the American Rescue Plan Act. 117th Congress passed the bill shortly after President Biden took office, prompting former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, a senior economic adviser to Presidents Clinton and Obama, to: Warning“I think this is the most irresponsible macroeconomic policy in the last 40 years.”
Summers also warned that the new law could worsen inflation. He was proven right.only 1.4% After Biden took office, inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, steadily accelerated to 9.1% last year. In fact, inflation reached 2.9% during President Donald Trump's term. That number is lower than all but the first three months of Joe Biden's presidency.
Overall, U.S. price levels have soared 17.38% It has been three years since President Biden took office. The fact that the House overcame out-of-control government spending and other inflationary policies is certainly an advantage for the House, and one that should not be overlooked or ridiculed in the New York Times' statistics.
117th Congress probably passed a bad law. In reality, there are some bad laws. And is that somehow a good thing? yes! At least according to the statistics touted by the New York Times.
“Productive” work 117th Congress, President Biden inflated federal spending, added nearly additional funding 5 trillion dollars 10 years of federal budget deficits. And given that his policies contributed to massive increases in inflation and interest rates, interest payments on the federal debt soared year after year. $176 billion Last year I was alone. (That's a 33% increase!) Biden's fiscal policy is, sadly, the “gift” that keeps on giving.
If, as the saying goes, legislation is; making sausageNo matter how talented or productive a butcher may claim to be, a law created using rotten meat is dangerous.
remember what happened before president calvin coolidgeQuote: “It is far more important to repeal a bad bill than pass a good one.”
From that perspective, 118th Congress was very productive. In fact, given the Biden administration's relentless push for left-leaning legislation, 118th The parliament is one of the most influential in recent decades.
It's good that there are fewer bad things.
Given that Secretary Summers warned again earlier this year that the Biden administration's economic policies were expanding.increasingly dangerousThe American people should take great comfort in knowing that House Republicans are doing their job. They stand between the Biden administration's expensive, woke policies and America's future.
Again, the U.S. House of Representatives is doing its job and doing it well. 118th Congress is putting a stop to a series of politically divisive federal policies that threaten to further divide America.
118, butth Congress has enacted relatively few laws, and the ones that have been enacted have been very positive. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 comes to mind.
This one bill resulted in nearly $1.5 trillion in savings.According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, that Largest spending and deficit reduction measures For the first time in over ten years!
Congress's role is to pass responsible legislation that strengthens our country and provides greater opportunity for more Americans. This objective does not necessarily correlate with the New York Times' simple assertion that passage of legislation is the definitive measure of success.
118 through appropriate application of quality over quantity legislation.th Congress performed admirably.
James Carter served as Assistant Secretary of Labor and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under President George W. Bush. Jim Ellis is the founder of Ellis Insight election analysis service.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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