I recognize that there is a strong likelyhood that I might be "crazy," but I can't help but feel that our elected official in Washington should be held accountable for getting something accomplished during the lame duck session.
Hell, they did manage to pass a food safety budget, something that I think most American's would agree is not very controversial. Now, the FDA is able to mandate recalls, and there is to be more request FDA inspections of food processing facilities. But despite something that, as a consumer of food in American, I can't help but feel is in the best interest of day, 99% of Americans, our officials still found things to bicker about. Albeit, it did pass, so what is there to complain about?
An apparently overly amitious Sen. Harry Reid (Democrat, Nevada) released a list of items that he wants to see passed during the remaining three weeks of the Lame Duck session. Among these items were the Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, a 9/11 Rescue Workers health care act to provide coverage for those who are now ill from the work that they did following that disaster, and amoung others, he wanted to see a budget for the 2011 fiscal year worked out.
Too bad the Republican's have put on the breaks saying that it's not a time to compromise. Even after a bi-partisan sit-down (referered to by the media as the Slurpee Summit) with the President; an event which after both Republicans and Democrats alike thought was useful and a good chance for conversation, still could not bring fourth change.
At a time when our leaders should be the least afraid to push for change in legistation, with no election looming for yet another two years, and some who will not be returning to Capital Hill next year, they are putting their tail between their legs.
In a letter from all 42 GOP members of Congrees, signed the day after the summit with President Obama, the letter started by saying it was time that the American' peoples priorities (job growth) became the priorty of the Senate. They then went out to say that they would not look to pass any legslative action until the time that the Senate acts to fund the government, and prevent tax increase. While they go out to point out that these tax increases will affect small business owners, their agenda all long as been not to budge on the Bush-Era tax cuts, not wanting to return to wealthiest American's to the Clinton Era tax rates.
I don't see what is so wrong with asking the wealthiest American's to pay a little more of the tab for those who do not make hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollar each year. They can best afford it. Especially in a time when the middle class is shinking by the day.
We can only hope that the tune is changed and something, in addition to the food safety bill, gets passed over the next three weeks. Otherwise, we are just spinning our wheels, after two years of doing just that. With the Republican take over that is heading our way in Washington at the start of the 112th Congress, if this is the example that they are trying to set, we will only be worse off as a country after the next two year.
Something needs to change, and citizens must demand that change.
