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"I just don't know when we can do it," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, who sets the floor schedule, said Tuesday. "Everyone knows how much we have to do, and procedurally, because of all the obstacles that I have to jump through as the leader, it makes it very, very difficult." So Congress has mired itself in a faux legislative session, loudly holding court before going home in August to campaign. Taxpayers, of course, foot the more than $2 billion-a-year bill to run Congress whether lawmakers hold session, pass bills or not. But in July 2012, it seems a bad investment. Running the House costs about $24 million a week, not counting Capitol Police and other joint costs, according to the Congressional Research Service. This week, members returned from their July Fourth holiday to yet again debate repealing Obama's landmark health care overhaul, following the Supreme Court decision upholding its constitutionality. A vote is set for Wednesday; like the roughly 30 previous votes to repeal all or parts of the law, this measure stands no chance of passing the Senate. The House then shifts to a mineral resources bill before heading home Thursday night. "We are wasting time," thundered Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. In the Senate, where costs run about $17 million a week, members are debating a bill that would slice taxes for businesses that hire new workers and buy major new equipment. The House, which has to originate tax bills, has passed a broader business tax cut with no hiring requirements. Neither will be accepted by the other. Both proposals would be paid for by enlarging federal deficits
-- something neither party wants to answer for on the campaign trail.
But no sooner than the debate opened, it turned into a proxy over the Bush-era tax cuts and Obama's proposal to let them expire for the wealthiest Americans. Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the Finance Committee's senior Republican, took the floor immediately to say he would offer an amendment extending the Bush tax cuts for everyone, including Americans who earn more than $250,000 a year. "I think it is a good idea to talk about taxes this week," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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