The Republican Party experiment with a new work schedule in the House of Representatives is in its second year, and the reduced number of days in Washington, D.C. is leading many to think that very little will get done before the November elections.
Think of it this way - between now and Columbus Day in early October, there are 97 business days for those who have Monday through Friday work weeks.
Of those 97 days, the House of Representatives is scheduled to be in session just 43 days.
The old schedule would mean about 65 days of work like the Senate has, but even that number will shrink because of a number of four day work weeks sprinkled in (like maybe this week).
This week, only the Senate is in session, as the House is off until after Memorial Day.
Last week I was walking through the Capitol and ran into a senior Republican aide on a top committee in the Congress.
"Ready for another week off?" I asked with a big smile.
He shook his head.
"It's hard to get any momentum going with this schedule," he acknowledged.
And it is difficult to get any rhythm going when you work two four day weeks, then have a week off, followed by a three day work week (Memorial Day week), then work a four day week, followed by another week off during the week of June 11.
Now, I understand the argument of Republicans, that this schedule gives them more time to go back home and listen to the voice of the voters.
Nothing wrong with that.
Except you still have to get your work done in the District of Columbia as well.
Speaker John Boehner told ABC's "This Week" that it's not easy to pass bills in the current political environment, likening his troops to amphibians.
The Congress hasn't passed all of the budget bills for the new fiscal year on time (by October 1) since 1994.
It isn't going to happen this year either. It's only happened three times since the early 1970's.
Would lawmakers have a better chance if they were here burning the midnight oil?
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