21 Jul 2009 Outrage of the Day: Congressional Leadership Blocks Debates

The House leadership is refusing to allow debates on controversial issues as Congress deals with spending bills this summer.

The effort is designed to help members of the majority party get re-elected by permitting them to fudge where they stand on issues on which their constituents are divided. In practice, however, it tends to make both Members of Congress (of both parties) and their constituents (of all political persuasions) angry and frustrated.

People like to be heard, even when their views don’t prevail, and they are less likely to support people who make them mad. For the country’s sake, as well as their own, this is a policy the House leadership should reconsider.