By nearly every measure, the 112th Congress was the least productive since 1947. 1947!
With so many of the country’s fiscal and other problems to be solved, they passed the fewest number of bills and enacted nearly the fewest laws.
At the heart of it all: the Senate filibuster. In its first 50 years the filibuster was used 35 times. In the last two – more than 100 times.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily we talk about the launch of No Labels Radio and our ways to fix the broken nomination system.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, we talk about hyper-partisanship hurting the effectiveness of committees in Congress and a confirmation that some members didn't show up to vote on.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, we talk about No Labels Honorary Co-Chair Sen. Joe Manchin's leadership in finding solutions on gun control and President Obama's budget proposal.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, we talk about the Senate Democrats' vow to take their budget proposal to a vote and the need to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, there is still work to be done on the budgets, a candidate is committed to taking no pledges and Sen. Harry Reid throws out the idea of budgets being in a two year cycle.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, we talk about a meeting between President Obama and congressional leaders.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, we look at the passage of No Budget, No Pay and a deal on filibuster reform.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, we talk about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's commitment to not campaign against colleague Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, we talk about the new language of problem solving and the potential for solutions on the fiscal cliff.
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, Standard and Poor's warns the U.S. of another credit downgrade, Washington insiders give their outlook for Congress and political dysfunction hurts democracy.
