Guest Post: Gridlock in Washington Continues to Hold Promise; Only 65 bills enacted during 2013

Gridlock in Washington Continues to Hold Promise; Only 65 bills enacted during 2013

The January 6, 2014, Congressional Record (page D13)[i] provides new evidence that should warm the hearts of millions of Americans outside the Beltway who are aware of the damage done by Congress each year as it expands the size and reach of the federal government, spends trillions of dollars, provides billions in tax breaks to special interests, and adds hundreds of billions to the debt that will be passed along to our children and grandchildren.

A total of 5,703 public bills (Senate - 1,894; House 3,809) were introduced in Congress during the first session of the 113^th Congress that just ended, but only 65 were finally enacted into law.

While the decline in the number of bills enacted is promising, The US Congress and the Obama Administration still managed, during 2013, to spend trillions of dollars and add hundreds of billions to the national debt.

Also, we need to remember that there are thousands of federal officials and employees, lobbyists, law and PR firms, non-government organizations, associations, and others in the Washington Establishment  standing ready to fight to continue wasteful programs and find new ways to spend tax dollars, write new regulations, and extend the reach of government into our daily lives.

Glenn R. Schleede

Ashburn, VA