I read what Ezra Kline had to say about the 112th Congress -- the worst ever -- and decided to take some of my frustrations out on my idiot Congressman, Jim Gerlach. Read my rant below the fold.
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Dear Representative Gerlach,
I read this column in the Washington Post yesterday: 14 reasons why this is the worst Congress ever.
I am, quite frankly, disgusted by the abject failure of this Congress to address ANY of the nations problems. Republicans in the House especially (and you are complicit) have done little other than posture about who is more conservative. Thirty-three votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars. Once, sure, we get it that you don't like the law. Twice, okay, you've made your point. But thirty-three? Give me a break! Attaching anti-abortion riders to everything you pass is a sure-fire way of getting nothing through the Senate. If you didn't pay attention to Schoolhouse Rock as a kid, let me help you out with understanding our form of government -- BOTH houses of Congress must pass a bill, and then the President must sign it before it can become a law. If you want to do some actual legislating, then you have to figure out a way to get the Senate to agree. Otherwise you simply aren't taking the People's work seriously.
So far, despite the Republican Leadership's claim that jobs are the top priority, the House has yet to pass a single jobs bill. I have heard the talking point that the Senate is sitting on all sorts of jobs bills, but that simply isn't so. The bills that GOP leadership claims are languishing in the Senate are deregulation bills that have nothing to do with putting Americans back to work. Take up the President's Jobs Bill. Not to do so is tantamount to intentionally sabotaging the economy for some perceived political gain. That is not what the people of the 6th District sent you to Washington to do. Get off your backside and DO something. Do something that will make a difference. Do something other than score political points. Do something that will improve the lives of your constituents and all Americans.
I don't want to hear one word from you about the budget deficit until you repudiate the Grover Norquist no-tax pledge. Last I knew Grover wasn't a resident of the 6th District. It is a fairly easy concept that deficits must be attacked from BOTH the spending side AND the revenue side. Not to consider raising revenues just tells me that you aren't really serious about doing the work, just about scoring political points.
I want to see less game-playing and more productivity. Congress has been in session just over 100 days so far -- the fewest of any Congress in recent memory. This Congress has passed far fewer laws than any Congress going back to the Truman Administration. I want to see the House work with the Senate and the President to accomplish the things that are possible, such as extending middle-class tax cuts. I challenge you to look at the objective data about some of the GOP orthodox positions and really ask yourself whether the mantra is true. For example, if you take it as a matter of faith that tax cuts for the "job creators" (i.e. the wealthy) creates jobs, then why did we not have explosive job growth following the Bush tax cuts?
Bottom line is that I expect my Representative in Congress to be one of the adults in the room, to be one of the people who rolls up his sleeves with the other side and the Senate to find common-sense compromises that will move the country forward. You have disappointed me so far, so grow up and get to work.
Your disgusted constituent,
ccyd