Goals
The main goal of NationalDebate.org is to reverse the
modern trend towards ever shorter congressional work schedules,
using annual petitions to pressure Congress into scheduling enough
time to do what's best for our country.
The work schedule for the House of Representatives has gradually
dropped from a yearly average of 162 days in the 1960s and '70s
[1, 2, 3]
down to an estimated 127 days during the Bush presidency. The Library
of Congress web site will confirm
a downward trend for both the House and Senate over the last 30
years, with the House schedule thus far in 2006 being by far the
worst. Representatives met for a total of only 79 days during the first
8 months, and are on track to meet for only about 100
days. Not
only is this far below last year's total of 141, but it is also the shortest
schedule since the 108 days posted by 1948's "do-nothing" Congress.
The adverse effects of this drastically reduced schedule on both
the legislative and oversight functions of Congress should be of
concern to all Americans. As former Congressman and 9-11 Commission
Vice Chair Lee
Hamilton puts it:
Legislation
"The job of Congress is to build a consensus, both within
its own halls and in the country at large, behind solutions to
public policy dilemmas. This is exceedingly difficult work. It
requires time, patience, research, dialogue, and deliberation.
It demands that members of Congress sit down with one another,
try to understand one another, and grapple with one another's
ideas and concerns.
"You can't build a consensus without taking the time to
do all this. And more important, you can't craft good legislation."
Oversight
"Moreover, the late Tuesday afternoon-to-Thursday schedule
that members of Congress now keep prevents them from discharging
one of the most vital duties our Constitution gives them: carrying
out robust oversight of the executive branch. It's not too much
to think that a Congress that had the time and the inclination
to look over the President's shoulder might have led to more
judicious decision-making on everything from Abu Ghraib to domestic
spying to the Dubai ports deal." [1, 2]
130 Day Standard
"Mission accomplished!" will be declared following the
first 5-year period in which both the House of Representatives
and Senate have officially been in session for at least 130 days
each year. At that time, this site will be archived to serve as
a constant reminder for the members of Congress. Should either
the House or Senate fail to meet this 130 day minimum standard
in subsequent years, this site will be reactivated, petitions and
all.
The minimum standard of 130 days is by no means an unreasonable
figure to insist upon. It amounts to only half time work (26 weeks
x 5 days per week), and many of the "days" don't
even have votes scheduled until 6:30
p.m. Furthermore, this
130 day minimum has been met or exceeded by the Senate on a regular
basis
since
1948, and prior to 1992 the
House of Representatives managed to do so as well.
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