Research Briefing

Dems Leave Town “After Failing To Address Just About Every Other Pressing Problem The Nation Faces”

“The House Hasn’t Adjourned Before Sept. 30 In An Election Year Since 1960.”  (Jonathan Allen And Jake Sherman, “House May Adjourn By End Of Week,” Politico, 9/20/10)

DEMS LEAVE TOWN WITHOUT PASSING A BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, STOPPING THE UPCOMING TAX HIKE OR HOLDING ETHICS TRIALS

“They Never Passed A Budget Or Any Of The Dozen Appropriations Bills That Fund The Government. In Addition -- And Perhaps More Important On The Campaign Trail -- They Didn't Vote To Stop Expiring Bush Tax Cuts On Employment, Investment Or Inheritance Income.” (Jonathan Allen, “The Huddle,” Politico, 9/30/10)

Dems Are Skipping Town Without Producing A Budget, Voting On The Tax Hike, Or Dealing With Two “Embarrassing” Ethics Scandals. “A deeply unpopular Congress is bolting for the campaign trail without finishing its most basic job - approving a budget for the government year that begins on Friday. Lawmakers also are postponing a major fight over taxes, two embarrassing ethics cases and other political hot potatoes until … the Nov. 2 elections.”  (Andrew Taylor And Laurie Kellman, “Congress Punts Tough Choice Until After Election,” The Associated Press, 9/29/10)

DEMOCRATS DECIDED CAMPAIGNING WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LEGISLATING

USA Today Editorial: “[L]awmakers Moved To Adjourn Late Wednesday After Failing To Address Just About Every Other Pressing Problem The Nation Faces.” (Editorial, “Departing Congress Leaves Piles Of Unfinished Business,” USA Today, 9/29/10)

• USAT: “All Of Which Leads To The Question: Don't These Much-Honored Lawmakers Have Any Work To Do? The Answer Is: Plenty, But They Are Often More Interested In Keeping Their Jobs Than Doing Them.” (Editorial, “Departing Congress Leaves Piles Of Unfinished Business,” USA Today, 9/29/10)

The New York Times: “The Last Day Of The Brief September Session Was As Notable For What Did Not Get Done As For What Did. Neither chamber voted on the expiring Bush-era tax cuts as Democrats skipped a politically treacherous debate and Republicans slammed them for it.”  (David M. Herszenhorn, “Congress Wraps Up Session Early As Midterm Races Loom,” The New York Times, 9/29/10)

The Boston Globe: “The House And Senate Adjourned Last Night, Leaving The Central Pocketbook Issue To Be Decided After The Nov. 2 Midterm Elections — and just weeks before the tax cuts are set to expire. That indecision injects more uncertainty into whose taxes will go up, and by how much.”  (Matt Viser, “Middle Class Tax-Cut Issue Backfiring On Democrats,” The Boston Globe, 9/30/10)

Democrat Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA): “It Is Both A Political And A Governmental Mistake … To Me, It Is A Classic Example Of What’s Wrong With Washington.’’ (Matt Viser, “Middle Class Tax-Cut Issue Backfiring On Democrats,” The Boston Globe, 9/30/10)

The Wall Street Journal: “Congress's Adjournment … Will Leave Many Major Issues Unresolved, Including The Fate Of Tax Cuts Enacted Under Former President George W. Bush, Which Expire At The End Of This Year.” (Janet Hook, “Lawmakers Head For Exits,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/30/10)

Politics Daily:  “Although endangered incumbents were eager to leave Washington to concentrate on campaigning in their home districts, members of both parties left town frustrated that Democratic leaders had not held a vote on the Bush tax cuts before adjourning.” (Patricia Murphy, “Congress Adjourns Until Elections, Punts On Tax Cuts And Spending,” Politics Daily’s “The Capitolist” Blog, 9/30/10)

• Politics Daily:  “In a display of just how much disagreement Democrats had within their own caucus, 39 House Democrats joined the House Republicans late Wednesday in an effort to force congress to vote on the cuts before leaving town. (Patricia Murphy, “Congress Adjourns Until Elections, Punts On Tax Cuts And Spending,” Politics Daily’s “The Capitolist” Blog, 9/30/10)

DEMS DIDN’T WANT TO VOTE ON “CONTROVERSIAL” ISSUES, INCLUDING THE TAX HIKE

“With Their House And Senate Majorities On The Line, Democratic Leaders Called Off Votes And Even Debates On All Controversial Matters.”  (Andrew Taylor And Laurie Kellman, “Congress Punts Tough Choice Until After Election,” The Associated Press, 9/29/10)

 Pelosi Was Called In To Cast The Deciding Vote To Adjourn Without Voting On Their Tax Hike. “The vote was so close, 210-209, that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who rarely votes on day to day legislation, had to cast the tie breaking vote on the adjournment resolution.” (Simmi Aujla, "Democrats Rebuke Leaders On Adjournment," Politico, 9/29/10)

• Dems Were So Split On Wanting To Vote On The Tax Cuts That Pelosi Had To Take The “Unusual Step Of Voting To Break A Tie.” “In a display of just how much disagreement Democrats had within their own caucus, 39 House Democrats joined the House Republicans late Wednesday in an effort to force Congress to vote on the cuts before leaving town. Democrats won the 210-209, but only after Pelosi took the unusual step of voting to break a tie.” (Patricia Murphy, “Congress Adjourns Until Elections, Punts On Tax Cuts And Spending,” Politics Daily’s “The Capitolist” Blog, 9/30/10)

“Thirty-Nine Democrats, Many Of Them In Tight Races, Broke Ranks Wednesday To Vote Against Adjourning The House, A Direct Rebuke To Democratic Leaders' Decision Not To Hold A Tax Cut Vote Before Adjourning For Elections.”  (Simmi Aujla, "Democrats Rebuke Leaders On Adjournment," Politico, 9/29/10)

• Some Dems Were “Anxious” About Leaving Without Voting On Whether Or Not To Extend The Bush Tax Cuts. “However, some Democrats were anxious about leaving town without voting on legislation to extend the Bush tax cuts.  Senate Democrats decided last week to put off the issue until the lame-duck session. House leaders followed suit, in part because of divisions among Democrats over whether to extend the tax cuts for all taxpayers or, as President Barack Obama has proposed, only for families with less than $250,000 annual income. In a sign of the political jitters surrounding the tax cuts, 39 Democrats joined Republicans Wednesday in voting against a routine motion to adjourn …” (Janet Hook, “Lawmakers Head For Exits,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/30/10)

“According To The Senate Historian, This Week's Adjournment Is The Earliest Pre-Election Exit Since 1960. (Janet Hook, “Lawmakers Head For Exits,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/30/10)