Posted by Frank James at 9:13 am CST
House members have had some of the shortest work weeks in the nation, usually working Tuesday through Thursday, and spending the rest of the time back in their districts.
But yesterday, House Majority Leader-in-waiting Rep. Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, told reporters that was about to change, that House members would be working something closer to the five-day week familiar to most Americans.
HOYER: By the way, I have bad news for you. Those trips you had planned in January, forget 'em. We will be working almost every day in January starting with the fourth. We believe that is our responsibility, as we talked about a do-nothing Congress; I hope to have the schedule out for you before the end of the week. Not only do I hope to have, my expectation is we will have it by the end of the week.
REPORTER: Monday through Friday?
HOYER: You will not be excited about it. For the most part --
REPORTER: Sounds like a principal.
HOYER: I know, it is awful; isn't it? I presumably have some authority over the schedule. I don't like it. But in any event, when you say Monday through Friday, I think most weeks, most weeks -- not every week -- but most weeks, yes, we will be working Monday, we will come in Monday at 6:30, and be working on Friday, as we used to do, until about 2:00 in the afternoon to give people time so they can get home, particularly those on the west coast, to get home in a timely manner on Friday night. But what that will do, it gives you a full Tuesday, a full Wednesday, a full Thursday for committees to meet. One of the reasons we had -- well, I don't know whether it was chicken and egg. We had no oversight. First, you could argue there was no time for oversight, or you could argue there was no oversight and therefore no necessity to meet. But in any event, we are going to meet sufficient times, so the committees can do their jobs on behalf of the American people.
The Washington Post has a story today by reporter Lyndsey Layton that provides good background about how the workweek had shrunk on the House side of the Hill.
William Neikirk, my colleague, also had a posting earlier this year about the problem.
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Comments
GOP infighting is leaving Veterans Troops and Military Families behind. Larry Scott has the story here
http://www.vawatchdog.org
Posted by: Dale Peters | December 6, 2006 10:04 AM
Congress in action, as opposed to Congress inaction...What a novel idea. Finally, the adults will be in charge.
Posted by: nffcnnr | December 6, 2006 10:06 AM
The new congress has a task of monumental proportions in front of them.
The new Dem. majority has the OBLIGATION to work very very hard to figure out just what damage has been done to the Republic in the last 12 years and to start to try to apply some remedies. Gonna be had with GWB's veto power, but, let him show some more of his colors.
It's going to take more than and increase in the minimum wage, folks.
All those secret one liners inserted at the last minute that nobody knew they were voting on have to be exposed.
The Bush White House and the Republicans in general need a 'harsh bikini waxing' administered by Henry Waxman, the new chairman of the House Gmt Reform Committee.
Ways and Means needs to administer some good old fashioned bleach to the mildew that has collected over the passed years under America's own 'gang of four', Dick Armey, Gingrich, DeLay, Hastert and the rest of the 'swells, dandies, and nare-do-wells' that have stalked the halls of congress for so long.
There are so many easy fat targets out there boys and girls.
Let's get cracking!
Posted by: c.morris | December 6, 2006 10:19 AM
Way to go Nancy and Steny!
The "old" Republican led Congress would only meet when the Repubs needed to figure out how to surpress the Democrats on something,usually in favor of something W. wanted done.
Posted by: John E. | December 6, 2006 11:44 AM
It amazes me that with all those ridiculously short work weeks and all the critical business of the nation to ignore, the majority party still found time to address such monumental issues as a "flag-burning" amendment.
The Dems should have no problem raising the productivity level of the new Congress, after all, the bar's been set so low. But I'm concerned how this will affect the family activities to which the, soon to be minority party, has come to be accustomed. It's tough to squeeze in those golf trips to Scotland over the short week-end.
Posted by: unlettered | December 6, 2006 12:00 PM
And who says Democrats can't strategize?
This is a brilliant move for the Democrats. Most Americans just assume that Congress works a full work week. This will surely come as a surprise.
I just love how wonderfully and clearly this makes the GOP House of yore look so bad while making the Dems look like they're serious and ready to work.
And you just have to enjoy the cries coming from the GOP about actually have to work a week. Democrats are anti-family! This is just too good.
Posted by: Gabe | December 6, 2006 12:09 PM
And who says Democrats can't strategize?
This is a brilliant move for the Democrats. Most Americans just assume that Congress works a full work week. This will surely come as a surprise.
I just love how wonderfully and clearly this makes the GOP House of yore look so bad while making the Dems look like they're serious and ready to work.
And you just have to enjoy the cries coming from the GOP about actually have to work a week. Democrats are anti-family! This is just too good.
Posted by: Gabe | December 6, 2006 12:11 PM
A Republican's response to the new 5-day work week:
"Keeping us up here eats away at families," said Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), who typically flies home on Thursdays and returns to Washington on Tuesdays. "Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families -- that's what this says."
God forbid our elected representatives actually work the same amount of days in the week that all of us joe shmoes work.
Posted by: Neil | December 6, 2006 12:13 PM
C Mo...I agree there is much work to be done. It gets old though, having to clean up all those neocon messes.
But I recommend we keep the leash on "Bulldog" Waxman for a while. The power surge from all those office shredders going at once could cause a major blackout. I understand that January in D.C. can be quite cold.
Posted by: unlettered | December 6, 2006 12:52 PM
Nobody should take Hoyer's rhetoric seriously, as anything other than political puffery. Anybody willing to wager that, come October 2008, Congress will be working 9-5 M-F?
Posted by: Bruce | December 6, 2006 1:36 PM
Why would anyone take a bet that they will be working full time w/ an election day approaching w/ in a month. They will be busy campaigning. You think we are suckers, Bruce?
Posted by: jethro | December 6, 2006 3:55 PM
unl,
Don't know if you were kidding, but the Wax Man needs to hit hard and hit immediately.
There is no time to lose.
Just my opinion.
Posted by: c.morris | December 6, 2006 5:23 PM
C Mo,
Agreed, Waxman needs to hit the ground running. That last crack.... just another feeble attempt at humor.
I know you've made some references about the hidden legislation slipped in by Republican legislators and "the help". But what about all of Bush's "signing statements"? Do these carry any weight in the government's actual enforcement of legislation signed into law by the president?
Posted by: unlettered | December 6, 2006 6:06 PM
I figgerd that. Just commenting.
Sweet Home at 300 plus postings?
Posted by: c.morris | December 6, 2006 6:39 PM
unl,
As far as I can determine, those signing statements are a legal, but limited, letter of intention by the President stating what he thinks the law means, and perhaps his intentions regarding executive enforcement or implementation.
Apparently Prez. Bush has carried this tradition to an extreme. We don't really know what laws have been curtailed or enhanced at his whim.
It's why he is being accused of raising himself to the 'unitary executive' level.
Posted by: c.morris | December 6, 2006 8:35 PM
Well, since the new Congress hasn't even started its new session and Pelosi has already backpedaled on earmarks (the bill she's championing won't make them all public like she promised on the campaign), I wouldn't get so excited, if I were you, over Steny Hoyer's little photo op.
If it's only taken this long to back off earmarks, can you honestly believe things will really change in Washington? Or that they won't be back to working 3 day weeks in a few months?
I used to be just like my democrat friends on this blog who are expecting corruption to be swept out of Washington by a change in both houses of congress. We had a plan. We had bills like term limits that our leaders had promised would get a vote. That was 1996. And that enthusiasm lasted for about 6 months. I hope it turns out better for you guys, I honestly do. I just wouldn't get my hopes up too high if I were you.
Posted by: Bill | December 6, 2006 10:37 PM
Bill,
copy..
I do have doubts.
I do hope for improvements.
Posted by: c.morris | December 7, 2006 10:50 AM
Bill,
Our real bosses, the lobbies behind the politicians are going to be in overdrive trying to co-opt or short circuit real change. They have new people to suckup to and corrupt. Don't know how long it will take.
Just a clarification of my 'doubts'.
Posted by: c.morris | December 7, 2006 2:10 PM
I can say we're in a hundred percent agreement, C.Morris. What would be great is the ban of lobbying as we know it in both the house and senate. Keeping former congressmen lobbyists out of the private clubs is a start. I just hope they can get enough people together willing to ban lobbying sometime in the next five years. What more proof do we need of its corrupting influence?
Posted by: Bill | December 7, 2006 2:46 PM
Bill,
What is so sad is to see our Republic withering on the vine.
It seems to be devolving to reality TV and going to the mall.
There are great books, ideas, art, films, you name it, to study and see. Yet,,,,
I'll stop. Don't want to become despondent.
Posted by: c.morris | December 7, 2006 6:33 PM
Bill, all,
I tried to locate the lyrics to "Work that Sucker to Death' by Depechemode, but couldn't find it in Google or LyricsFreak.
Any chance you can find them?
Tweak them up and post!
Posted by: c.morris | December 7, 2006 6:40 PM