Contrasting Impacts

Last week I saw an opinion piece from the Washington Post by Dana Milbank. He wrote about "Our Do-Almost-Nothing Congress". Milbank wrote this short piece about the 112th Congress (now in session) and the fact they've done practically nothing. He contrasted today's Congress with the famous Congress of 1947-1948. You history buffs will recall that Truman won an unlikely victory in 1948 running against a "Do Nothing" Congress. Well, the do-nothing Congress of Truman's day is miles ahead of the 112th. According to the record, Milbank points out The Do-Nothing Congress of 1947 passed 908 public laws. So far, the 112th Congress (which is about 3/4's over) has passed just 106 public laws. The House has taken 195 roll-call votes on about 60 total pieces of legislation. Here's the really pathetic part. Those 60 big items include the naming of Post Offices and this amazing set of accomplishments:
-The Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act
-The Sportsman's Heritage Act of 2012
-The World War II Memorial Prayer Act
-The Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act
-Legislation requiring the Treasury to mint coins commemorating the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Mr. Milbank points out that this Congress has only officially been in session 41 of the last 127 days. They only are scheduled to work 17 on the last 34 weeks remaining in this session. This Congress is on track to be the worst, most ineffectual Congress in memory. As people in this country struggle to make it in a down economy- as they struggle to pay the bills and pay for college for their kids, you have to ask yourself, "what are these people doing?". This Congress has the lowest approval rate since we started keeping track- because they've earned it.

Why is this deplorable situation is happening? There are a number of factors in my view. The House is now under Republican leadership and the leadership simply isn't able control its own members. The new ultra-conservative members that took office after the 2010 election are so conservative they refuse to cooperate with their own party leadership. Poor Speaker Boehner won't schedule any bills for a vote because he doesn't know how his own party will vote and he would be embarrassed to have a mutiny on his watch.The only bills he can get through are bills and budget proposals so far to the right that the Senate (even some Republicans in the Senate) won't pass them.. Another factor is the very clear tactic of not passing any legislation that would be helpful to the People, for fear the People would give some credit to the President. To illustrate this point just remember the (usually routine) National Debt Ceiling vote that nearly defaulted the nation, and the usually bipartisan Transportation Bill (a Jobs Bill) that still hasn't been passed in the House. They have crafted a very transparent and effective strategy of doing nothing, then blaming the President. Some have argued that Speaker Boehner just isn't a very good Speaker. I think that's true. But, both parties share the blame because the atmosphere is now so poisoned by partisan hatred that civility and governance are practically impossible.  In the Senate, Republicans have used the filibuster to thwart every bill that the President supports. To be fair there is still plenty of bluster amidst all this inaction. Congressman and women spend more time in front of a cable news channel cameras than they do in session- with the Republicans complaining about the President and the Democrats complaining about the Republicans. Meanwhile nobody is legislating. In a time like this it is so troubling to see our Congress do nothing, while collecting big money and benefits, and being on vacation more than half the time.

Sometimes just when I need it- just when things seem so disheartening and dysfunctional an event will come along to lift my spirits and make me believe there is still plenty of reason for hope. Last Friday night was one of those times. I had the privilege to sit down to dinner with about 450 staff and supporters from Catholic Charities Spokane. Catholic Charities Spokane is an amazing organization. They are the largest  charitable and social service agency in Eastern Washington. Each year Catholic Charities touches the lives of 77,000 individuals by providing a variety of services to the poor, the homeless, the disenfranchised- as well as providing excellent early childhood education, refugee services, and housing programs. Catholic Charities provides these services by working with Government and private funding sources to cover an amazing range of human needs. Their leaders and staff employ a simple set of guiding principles and a mission that speaks eloquently to the dignity of all people (including the poor) and the pursuit of social justice. Those who are helped by Catholic Charities span the whole range of religions or no religion at all. They provide services based "on need-not creed" as they say. A truly special part of last Friday's dinner and Gala was that on that night Catholic Charities Spokane was celebrating it's Centennial-100 years of working for the betterment of those in need, and the betterment of our community.

It was an uplifting experience to be sure. But, it also made me wonder why this organization can dedicate itself to this work and have such an enormous positive impact, while those we elect to lead and guide us seem so inept at achieving even the simplest deeds on behalf of our wounded nation. I think the answer lies in the concept of service. The people of Catholic Charities have a true dedication to those they serve and the mission under which they provide services. In other words, they mean what they say and the live out the purpose for their existence. Contrast that to today's politicians who wrap themselves in the flag of patriotism as they stand before us at the 4th of July Community Picnic to tell us how they are honored to serve us-when in fact those in Congress seem to have a dedication only to themselves and the continuous quest for political power and the money that follows it.

This idea of service-and community, are profound ideas. For me, these ideas and values go straight to the heart of what a society and a culture are for. I left Friday's event thinking of the huge gulf between the impact  Catholic Charities is having, compared to the sickly, sad, and disheartening impact our leaders in Congress are having. It seem that those who so sincerely court our votes, promising to SERVE us in Congress, have no intention of SERVING once they get there. The politics of power and control rule the day. For example take the simple matter of the Lilly Ledbetter Law. This was President Obama's first piece of proposed legislation. It proposes equal pay for equal work between men and women. Almost every Republican in the House voted against it (Including my Representative- Cathy McMorris-Rodgers). Now I ask, what could wrong with equal pay for equal work? Are people for unequal pay for equal work? No! But, Republicans voted against it because it was supported by the President. The politics of power and greed have robbed those in Congress of their sense of service to the people who put them there-along with a fair measure of common sense.

In one week I saw two clear examples of organizations that are worlds apart in there ability to serve the people their mission demands they serve. The Congress could take a valuable lesson from the people of Catholic Charities. They would serve the country much better if they could just get past the quest for power and do the simple things that make life better for the People they represent. A dose of common sense and humility among those who SERVE the nation would do two things: it would produce actual legislation; and it would infuse our lawmakers with a spirit to serve again. There are many examples of people and organizations that remain true to their purpose and show through their actions that they will serve and care for their fellow man. I wish Congress had the same convictions about service that our friends at Catholic Charities have. Our world would be better for it.

Thanks for looking in.