Americans witnessed a rarity at the end of 2015: a functioning Congress that enacted major legislation with bipartisan support. For 2016, Republican leaders in both chambers are promising a return to the traditional legislative procedures under which Congress operated decades ago – an intention that will be tested in an election year.
From funding the U.S. government to upgrading America's overburdened highways to boosting the nation's cyber security, the Republican-led Congress passed a flurry of bills that President Barack Obama, a Democrat, enthusiastically signed into law.
"I feel good about what we've been able to accomplish in just a few short weeks," said House Speaker Paul Ryan before Congress adjourned for the remainder of the year. "And I feel very good about where we are going in the next year."
Seeking compromise
"When the American people elect divided government, they are not saying 'don't do anything.' They are saying, 'look for the things you can agree on,'" McConnell said.
Democrats, who lost their Senate majority in 2014, claimed some of the credit.
"When Republicans were in the minority, their goal was obstruction," said Democratic Senator Patty Murray. "Now that Democrats are in the minority, our goal is helping the middle class, and we are willing to work with Republicans to achieve that."
For some Republican presidential contenders, a Washington that works is a Washington up to no good.
"If you see a candidate who Washington embraces, run and hide," said Senator Ted Cruz at a recent campaign event in Alabama. "If you think Washington is fundamentally broken, that there is a bipartisan corruption of career politicians in both parties that get in bed with the lobbyists and special interests and grow and grow and grow Washington... that is what this campaign is all about!"
Return to old norms
The congressional leaders are on the turn.
"As Congress works in the new year, I want to make sure that we get back to what is called 'regular order' so that we have a system that operates like the founders intended," Speaker Ryan said.
"The speaker and I had a number of conversations," said the Senate's minority leader, Democrat Harry Reid. "He wants to do appropriation bills; I want to do appropriation bills. And there is no reason we can't."
Congress has not funded the governments through committee by committee spending bills since Bill Clinton was president.
"This big bill we just passed was $1.1 trillion (of spending) in one bill. That's not the way to do business. And so we are going to try our best not to end up in that situation again," he said.
McConnell will need help from Democrats, who have designs of their own for next year.
"We can only hope that our Republican colleagues will be as cooperative a minority as we were this year when Democrats take back the Senate in 2016," said Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer.
Republican leaders aim to keep that prediction from coming true, and see a functional Congress as key to that goal.
Vocabulary
lobbyist:说客
bipartisan:两党连立的
Staying at Home Alone(独自在家)
My Dream(我的梦想)
诞树(Christmas tree)
My parents
的圣诞节My Christmas Day
写给母亲的感谢信
An Accident
Spring Festival(春节)
Lucky Numbers(幸运数字)
Studying Abroad
儿童节书信作文 六一儿童节英语作文
雪人(Make a snowman)
于亚运的英语作文
年级英语期末测试试卷
Today is Children"s Day(六一儿童节)
Blowing Balloons(吹气球)
Today is Children's Day
我的六一节终于来啦!
假英语日记范文-January 29 2010
Haste Makes Waste
To Experience the Life
学英语作文-大火灾(A big fire)
my best friend
学英语日记附教师评语-Today
我的小猫
学英语日记附教师评语-lucky day
英语日记范文
天(Winter)II
Play Football
我的元旦(My New Year's Day)
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英语课件 |
英语试题 |
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