Editor's Note

What Should Congress Be Working On?

January 13, 2011 RSS Feed Print

Comment (3)
Tweet

Some new members of Congress may not have found the restrooms yet, but it's not too early to predict that this will be one interesting congressional session. As promised, the new House GOP majority is moving quickly to make its views known on a number of issues—even if whatever they pass turns out to be symbolic as it withers in the Senate. But it's clear that the old guard and the new Tea Party-backed members are feeling the impatience of agitated voters who want action on issues from jobs to spending. Some with a longer view see the session as a way to frame the 2012 presidential election. What would you like to see the House accomplish in the next two weeks? Are there votes that matter? Issues that need to be put on the table? I'd like to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

Read more about the 2012 presidential election.
See 2010: The Year in Cartoons.
See which industries give the most to Congress.

Tags:: Tea Party,; Congress,; Republican Party,; deficit and national debt,; 2012 presidential election,; unemployment

« Previous Post Next Post »

Reader Comments Read all comments (3)

Add Your Thoughts Comment Name State Email

Please enter the two words below into the text field underneath the image.

Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

1. Subsidize employers to hire employees. It would be cheaper than welfare and never ending unemployment benefits. Slowly wean off subsidies as the economy improves.
2. Tax the hell out of employers who move jobs and operations offshore. Major tax breaks for those who bring jobs home.
3. Increase taxes for those earning over 350k. Make tax cuts permanent for those earning under 100k.
4. Dump 90% of environmental red tape and fees, and other onerous, time consuming government regulations. The result - businesses that are able to compete in a world market. Tax credits for companies that invest in smart, low polluting technologies.
5. Major fines for those businesses that employ illegals. Tax credits for those who employ only legal residents and citizens in agricultural jobs. Lose those Orwellian fears - Issue a national ID card.
6. Create jobs and energy with nuclear power. Expand oil drilling everywhere - jobs and cheaper energy is the result. Cheaper energy makes a small increase in the gas tax palatable. Increase the number of hydroelectric dams - stop fretting over fish and "scenic rivers" - learn to like lakes.
7. Secure the southern border. Starve the violent drug cartels and increase jobs for here. Mexico becomes safer and more stable in the bargain.
8. Deport all illegals who have been in the country for less than 5 years. We've done it before - let's do it again.
9. Roll back the union legacy costs - they are totally out of hand.
10. Means test for social security benefits. Some old lady is eatin' cat food in a VW van, while a millionaire cashes his SSI check on the way to the golf course. We're broke - shut-up, man-up and suck it up.
11. Reduce air-pollution standards from the auto industry. Give huge tax incentives for higher mileage vehicles. The net result of higher mileage is cleaner air, cheaper energy and more economical vehicles.
12. Bring the soldiers home and reduce the size of the realm. It's sunset for the empire.
13. Targeted import/trade tariffs.
14. Start cutting funds for educational frills. School vouchers are one option for a better education.
15. Federal, state and local government must make do with old equipment. Repair and renew vehicles, furniture, electronics, buildings, aircraft and facilities. Good for the planet - good for debt.
16. Renew our Merchant Marine/ Maritime Industry. Safety and pollution standards are higher, we could ship our own "stuff", not be dependent on foreign shipping and create millions of jobs in the process. Gear up ship building like it was 1942.
17. Streamline Health Care Reform. Expand Medicare to those over 50 or those with preexisting conditions, and charge premiums, based upon means testing, for all recipients. Everyone else stays with private insurance. Add tort reform and interstate competition and we've got it. Billions of dollars saved.
Time to get serious or start teaching our kids Mandarin.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 1:34PM January 18, 2011

First defund the FCC and anything not essential such as art and NPR then eliminate any union within the government...eliminate the health care reform which is nothing but a 540 billion dollar tax bill,then close the borders and remove all illegals and there kid's...THIS has been done 3 times in our past people look it up...then tax the hell out of any import....then any purchases made by the government has to be American ...simple things but no one has the balls to be the one to implement it.I have come to the resolve that I have to take care of myself and family and because of how incompetent and illegal our federal government has become ...so with that I would like to tell the current administration stick it up your ass and hope you someday get tried for your treasonistic actions. Thank you

John of ME 5:12PM January 15, 2011

I believe the Congress should be working on matters that create jobs and lower the overall deficit. Concentrating on the repeal of the Health Care Bill is a complete waste of time and effort, energy and money. They are paid to do the people's work and the majority of "the people" want to see results, not fruitless effort.
I find it interesting that the CBO has determined that health care repeal would add to the deficit but some are turning a blind eye to this declaration. There are some very smart minds in the House and Senate but these ladies and gentlemen don't seem to get the fact that business as usual is NOT what we want. We're looking for not only a change of attitude but also a results oriented body working on issues that affect all Americans.

Victor Thornton of VA 8:29AM January 14, 2011

Editor's Note

What Should Congress Be Working On?

Reader Comments Read all comments (3)

Editor's Note

Rankings Lists

U.S. News & World Report

Sections

What Should Congress Be Working On?

Related Articles

Reader Comments Read all comments (3)

Editor's Note

Cartoons

Rankings Lists

U.S. News & World Report

Sections