Following tomorrow’s Thanksgiving festivities and what is a four-day weekend for many people, Congress will return to work next week to begin another infamous lame duck session, where the losers of the recent election can still cast votes on unfinished legislation.
While the effectiveness of lame duck sessions is debatable, recent history shows us how they can be used to accomplish things that would otherwise go undone when the new Congress officially starts in January.
The year was 2010, the first midterm election of Obama’s presidency. After major victories by the GOP that flipped control of the House, Democrats used the lame duck session to successfully push through several controversial bills, including:
- Extending the Bush tax cuts
- Creating new Obama tax cuts
- Extending unemployment benefits
- Passing a bill loved by Michelle Obama that dealt with food safety
- Ratification of Obama’s New START Treaty
- Repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
All of that was accomplished in just one month during the waning days of full Democrat control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives.
So, what will the GOP do in their waning days of full control?
In the aftermath of the 2018 midterm election that Trump called a “tremendous success” after the Democrats flipped the House, Republicans have an opportunity to use the upcoming lame duck session to pass bills that won’t stand a chance of passing after January 3rd, 2019.
- They could repeal Obamacare, but they won’t, even though they promised to do so for the umpteenth time leading up to the election. Besides, Trump and the GOP love socialized healthcare as much as the Democrats do.
- They could repeal DACA, but they won’t because Trump and the GOP agree with Democrats about granting amnesty and citizenship to illegals. Besides, Trump promised to work with Democrats in the new Congress to save it.
- They could defund Planned Parenthood, but they won’t because murdering unborn babies is a great campaign issue. Besides, Trump believes in the “good things” Planned Parenthood does.
- They could make tax cuts permanent and pass Trump’s bogus promise of a “pure 10 percent tax cut” for the middle class, but like I said, it was a bogus promise. Trump made the promise to get votes; it’s not going anywhere now that the election is over.
- They could cut spending in the upcoming funding negotiations and finance the wall Trump said Mexico would pay for in addition to other border security needs, but they won’t. As I mentioned above, Trump and the GOP are simpatico with the Democrats concerning illegal immigration.
Usually, it’s a bad thing when Republicans act like Democrats, but they could take a cue from their so-called political foes on how to get things done during a lame duck session of Congress.
Unfortunately, we’re talking about Republicans, the party that puts the “lame” in lame duck, so I’m not expecting them to get anything significant done.
David Leach is the owner of The Strident Conservative. His politically incorrect and always “right” columns are also featured on NOQReport.com.
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