Congressional Vacations For All!
This is a rare week indeed in Washington, since it is one of those weeks when Congress actually attempts to get something done. There's a reason for this, of course, and it is the usual one: they're about to take another jaw-droppingly extensive vacation. They scurry about, in the days leading up to playtime, in an attempt to con the American people into thinking they can still get something done. It is, in fact, just about the only time any bills actually move forward -- when the threat of possibly having to cut their vacation short by a few days inspires them to action.
Think I'm being too harsh? Consider their big accomplishment so far this week: moving forward on a bill to fix the problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs. A bill finally made it out of the House and is expected to pass the Senate -- right before they all disappear for an astonishing five weeks. Some might react to this news with praise that Congress actually moved to solve a problem. I'm not that impressed, personally.
The problem hit the news headlines a while back, if you'll remember. The media absolutely obsessed over the fact that veterans were having to wait an average of six weeks before getting a doctor's appointment. That, not to put too fine a point on it, happened over six weeks ago. Eric Shinseki resigned at the end of May -- two whole months ago. But that doesn't even tell half the story, because the House held hearings a full 16 weeks ago where they were made aware of the problem -- including the fact that people had died during the wait period. You can even go back to March of last year to find people testifying before Congress that wait times had gotten completely out of control. So, take your pick, it has either taken 16 weeks -- or a full 68 weeks -- for Congress to do its job.
Time and time again, the news media focuses a spotlight on something that needs doing, and rams the point home for about a week or so. Big headline news! Crisis! Congress must act! Then the media gets distracted by some other story, and nothing gets done for a very long time indeed (if ever). Remember the last cycle? The "border crisis" that required immediate action? Congress will likely be heading for the seashore for over a month, starting tomorrow, without actually tackling this problem. The House may (or may not) pass something unacceptable to Democrats, and the Senate may or may not pass anything either, but it's almost a certainty at this point that they won't both pass a compromise bill and put it on Obama's desk before heading off to bask in the sun for five straight weeks.
In American English, the phrase "banker's hours" used to mean "I only work a short amount of time, because I am so important." Maybe we need a companion phrase to describe the overly-generous vacation schedule our lawmakers allow themselves each and every year: the "congressional workweek."
So far this year -- from the beginning of January through tomorrow (the last scheduled work day until September) -- the House of Representatives has worked 107 days and the Senate has worked 106 days. That is out of a total of 152 weekdays on the calendar. To be fair, we'll subtract the five federal holidays that have already happened this year, to come up with a possible 147 working days. What this means is that Congress has worked under 73 percent of the possible days it could have. That's worse than even "three days out of four," folks. Stated as a portion of a 40-hour workweek, the House has worked an average (per week) of 29.1 hours and the Senate 28.8 hours.
That is, in a word, pathetic. But it gets even worse.
If you calculate out to when they plan on returning to doing their jobs (adding on five weeks of scheduled vacation, in other words), the House will work 107 days out of the first 172 workdays of the year, and the Senate only 106 days. Put another way, out of over 34 workweeks on the calendar, Congress will actually work less than 22 of them. This lowers their percentage to roughly 62 percent each, which is pretty dismal. Again, out of the 40-hour workweek most full-time employees are expected to put in, Congress instead worked less than 25 hours (24.9 House and 24.6 Senate). Out of every two weeks, Congress shows up for a little more than six days of actual work.
So you'll have to forgive me if I'm not joining in the praise for Congress actually passing a few bills this particular week. The problems at the V.A. are going to be solved? Hey, that's great -- it only took them 68 weeks to do so! It's only been four months since Congress was told people are dying in waiting lines! Hey, wow -- they took care of the problem only two months after the top guy resigned! At this pace, we can expect the border crisis to be addressed long about October or so -- whoops, maybe not... since there will doubtlessly be another big chunk of time right about then where Congress decides to go off and campaign rather than do their jobs (it is, after all, an election year).
So while I do appreciate that Congress is actually doing a few things this week, I cannot in any way say I'm impressed by this tiny burst of energy. The only real reason action in Congress is even news this week is because they spend so much time they're supposed to be working either by doing absolutely nothing (when they're in town) or by doing absolutely nothing (on one of their many, many vacation weeks). This is supposed to be impressive? I think not.
Now, I try to only write articles pointing this fact out once or twice each year, since it's not exactly news within the Beltway. But, as always, I am simply astounded that regular Americans don't demand more from the people who represent them. If you were an employee, would you give full-time pay and benefits to someone who showed up to work only 25 hours a week? Well, "we the people" are supposed to be the ultimate employers of Congress. So where's the outrage? At the very least, we should demand that all American employees get their own five-week vacation. Maybe that would shame Congress into cutting back on its leisure time a bit, who knows? If Congress passed a mandatory five-week paid summer vacation for all American workers, that would get me to applaud, loud and long. But I'm not exactly holding my breath waiting for it to happen, if you know what I mean.
-- Chris Weigant
Cross-posted at The Huffington Post
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Chris, you've been beating this drum for so long and so well that I've come to think of you as the Neil Peart of Congressional laziness reporting, so I'm adding this post to my weekly THREATCON update at BU tomorrow.
CW,
While I share the sentiment I'm not big on propaganda, Conservative or Progressive. And your numbers just aren't fair. Congress doesn't have to be "in session" to be working. And you know it. The coming round of Town Halls, for example, are Congress working. And likely being more productive than when they're actually In Session. Communicating clearly with constituents is valuable and productive, even if you don't support the positions being taken.
I agree that voters should be outraged at the abysmal productivity of Congress. But I'm not terribly concerned over all the long weekends and breaks when they're, supposedly, going home to talk to constituents.
Congress does so little with the time it actually spends in Washington I see no reason to obsess over their not spending more time there. Its foolish to rant over all the days off an employee takes if all they do is sleep on the job when they're present!
We should be outraged over how little they accomplish, and even worse how counterproductive they are. Like all the time and money wasted defunding Obamacare and investigating conservative conspiracy theories, ad nauseam, like Benghazi. They not only don't address our issues, the exacerbate them.
Being "on vacation" is actually more productive.
Color me indifferent. They spend most of their time raising money, right? That really sounds like the exact opposite of fun to me. They occasionally do what is necessary, but they rarely do anything good, so I'm not convinced that doing nothing is worse. I can't summon much outrage about where they are while they pretend to be working. I mean it's not as if congress is guilty of Benghazi™.
The End is near.
Matt ["OsborneInk"] -
Neal Peart! Wow, that's praise indeed. I just hope LizM realizes the Canadian significance of this.
:-)
Saw Rush in like 1976 or 1977... they were pretty awesome... couldn't believe three guys were making all of that sound!
-CW
LewDan -
Oh, foof. I mean, really, just: foof.
Sure, Congresscritters do more than just make floor speeches, but a WHOPPING amount of what "else" they do is "raise money from donors." I challenge you: ask any congressman (off the record) how much of his supposedly-productive time he spends sucking up to donors, and I would be willing to bet it's 50% or higher. The system sucks, it's corrupt, and "district work period" to me means "hold two town halls, and take five trips to exotic destinations on the tab of large corporate interests."
Put them on a timeclock, and pay them an hourly wage, that's what I have to say about the situation.
Hmmmph.
-CW
Sure, Congresscritters do more than just make floor speeches, but a WHOPPING amount of what "else" they do is "raise money from donors." I challenge you: ask any congressman (off the record) how much of his supposedly-productive time he spends sucking up to donors, and I would be willing to bet it's 50% or higher. The system sucks, it's corrupt, and "district work period" to me means "hold two town halls, and take five trips to exotic destinations on the tab of large corporate interests."
{{cough}} {cough} Obama's Fundraisers {cough} {cough}
If it's OK for Obama, it's OK for CongressCritters, eh?? :D
Don't get me wrong. I completely agree with you CW...
I am just saying that shouldn't Obama be held to the same standard that you want to hold CongressCritters??
I mean, if something NEEDS to be done, if there is an URGENT need, then maybe our POTUS **AND** our CongressCritters should forgo the golf games and the fundraisers and concentrate on the jobs that we pay them to do..
Agreed???
Put them on a timeclock, and pay them an hourly wage, that's what I have to say about the situation.
Amen to frakin' THAT!!! :D
Michale
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/07/29/does-legalization-cell-phone-unlocking-really-benefit-consumers/?intcmp=obnetwork
Sometimes, the system DOES work..
Democrats, Republicans AND Obama.. All working together...
This is a big win for everyone and for me, personally...
Like I said.. Sometimes the system works...
Michale
Michale,
You sure are easy to please. The cell phone unlicking bill is nearly useless. Unlocking is still illegal until contract expiration. The only thing the bill does is allow independent unlocking other than by the carrier upon contract expiration.--Might help you but won't help consumers much. Unlocking fees not being a major problem.
The real issue, the one Congress isn't about to address, is the idea that third parties have a right to use your equipment for their own purposes against you. Locking, like many other so-called copyright protection schemes, relies on using your own equipment to your detriment and some third parties advantage. You're not allowed to control the equipment you paid for and supposedly own. Some company has a "right" to use your property, for free, in perpetually, to enforce their copyrights.
Your "stealing" their "intellectual property" is illegal. Their stealing your physical property is mandated by law.--Not what I call the system working.
CW,
I still say congress-critters out raising money is better for us than wasting millions on committees for political stunts, to raise money, or voting on legislation that has zero chance of actually being enacted, to raise money.
Yes Congress is easily distracted by shiny objects. I just prefer them spending time talking someone else out of their money than spending the time wasting mine!
Lack of productivity is an issue. Poor attendance--Not so much.--Granted, they act like children, but this isn't grade school.
You sure are easy to please.
Yes I am.. :D
Unlocking is still illegal until contract expiration. The only thing the bill does is allow independent unlocking other than by the carrier upon contract expiration.--Might help you but won't help consumers much. Unlocking fees not being a major problem.
Unlock codes when unlocking is illegal??
$50-$200
Unlock codes when unlocking is legal??
$5-$20
I rest my case... :D
Your "stealing" their "intellectual property" is illegal. Their stealing your physical property is mandated by law.--Not what I call the system working.
Oh, could I tell you some horror stories, LD..
Google DIREC-TV and LEGAL EXTORTION.... :D
For the record, I am in complete, utter and unequivocal agreement with you...
Michale
Matt,
Chris, you've been beating this drum for so long and so well that I've come to think of you as the Neil Peart of Congressional laziness reporting
I couldn't agree more!
Dear Great and Powerful Oz,
Please dance to my tune.
Doesn't France basically take the entire month of August off for vacation?
Doesn't France basically take the entire month of August off for vacation?
When is France NOT "on vacation"??? :D
Michale
John From Censornati -
Yeah, but the difference is that EVERYone gets that vacation time. It is MANDATED BY LAW that they get something like SIX WEEKS paid vacation every year. Six weeks! And that is not just for people making a lot of money, it is for the cashiers and burger-flippers at McDonald's, as well.
If the American people were guaranteed five weeks paid vacation every year, then I would not have the tiniest problem with Congress taking August off, how's that?
:-)
-CW
First of all the bar is set so low for congress to actually do anything I can certainly see why the praise is forthcoming it is almost like the rapture happened.
Secondly, I am disappointed you didn't grab the low hanging fruit of the self serving nature that passing this legislation accomplished. What with the VA in the news and all how can a congress critter enjoy the peace and quiet of listening to the monied interests when the constituents are angry they left this unfinished business hanging around. At least now they can go home and claim to have done something good, and when they get back they get to find away to blame Obama for not doing enough to fix the problem.
In my book it is a selfish win-win for congress. They get more vacation than a middle class american and they get to do nothing for a better than middle class compensation package. But then again what can we expect from a bunch of people who are more interested in managing the interests of the ones who bought them over the interests of the ones who brought them. That is a drum that needs to see more action.
"If the American people were guaranteed five weeks paid vacation every year, then I would not have the tiniest problem with Congress taking August off, how's that?"
I think they should get less vacation time than us, but my point was that they were doing what *France* does!