Congress today completed action in an unusually bipartisan fashion on a bill to continue government spending at the rate of almost $1 trillion dollars in Fiscal year 2014.
Democrats and Republicans joined together and were so united – tea party, conservatives, moderates, liberals and two independents together – that they were doing everything but singing Kumbaya.
What happened? Congress passed H.J. Res 106, a new Continuing Resolution that keeps the government going for another 72 hours despite antipathy in many quarters about the size of government.
No fiscal cliff. No jeopardizing the stock market. No government employees concerned about their jobs. No closed national parks.
No contentious debates over riders on abortion, health care reform, unemployment compensation, Environmental Protection Agency rules on light bulbs.
No confrontation between Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell.
On January 14, the House considered the bill and after extensive debate lasting all of five minutes with two speakers, one from each party. The bill passed. Without a recorded vote.
On January 15, the Senate considered the same bill shortly after Noon. Total speakers on S.106 for a similarly abbreviated time: One. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Barbara Mikulski.
The Senate actually took a recorded vote and it was 86-14, with majorities of both parties voting aye.
So all hail Congress that for a couple of days has seen bipartisan harmony restored. Who said that Washington has gone to hell?
Now if we can only get the Washington Professional Football Team to change its nickname.
