The Senate Has Essentially Shut Down

David Bernstein: “Barring something unexpected, this Tuesday will mark two months since the U.S. Senate held a roll call vote on passage of any type of legislation. That was a joint resolution to nullify President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border (which Trump later vetoed).”

“It’s been three months, as of Sunday, since the Senate last took yeas and nays on a genuine, full-fledged bill: the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. It passed, 92 to 8, and was later signed into law.”

“So there was some eye-rolling last week when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell harshly criticized House Democrats, telling them to ‘move on’ from investigating the Trump administration, and get back to the business of legislating for the country… The United States Senate, that great deliberative body, has effectively ceased legislating this year. It has shut down. Closed for business until 2021.”