The political class is in the midst of one of those strange anachronisms of American political life, a congressional lame-duck session, during which members of the House and Senate repudiated by voters this month get one last chance to weigh in on making new laws of dubious wisdom. The American people would be best served if those legislators choose to disappoint the president.
The arguably legitimate reasons to call Congress back into session before the new Congress is installed in January have to do with miscalculations by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Sen. Reid thought Democratic chances would be better in the midterms if Congress avoided votes on maintaining current tax rates (sometimes called "extending the Bush tax cuts") and passing a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government funded for awhile, since the budget nominally due Oct. 1 has not been passed.
Since every American's taxes will go up next year if Congress fails to act on tax rates, it is important — even the president agrees — to keep the current rates in place, and a Continuing Resolution would prevent a government shutdown.
But these essential issues are taking a back seat.
President Barack Obama has suddenly decided that the lame ducks must pass a new nuclear arms control treaty with Russia that he didn't lift a finger to push before the election. A food safety bill with unneeded new regulations on vitamins, changing the military's "don't ask don't tell" policy toward homosexuals, a dubious Dream Act for children of illegal immigrants and others, and even an auto safety bill, have suddenly become essential. If the Democratic leadership thought it could get a cap-and-trade bill and card check through they would probably try.
Defeated Democrats who lost due to overreaching by the administration and congressional leaders would do well to let the leaders know they will work on the essentials but leave the more controversial stuff to the next Congress.
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