pantslessprogressive: “Now you may say that this simply reflects divided government. But while there are many instances of divided government on that chart — the 104th Congress, for instance, when Newt Gingrich and his Republican revolutionaries faced off against President Bill Clinton and still managed to pass 333 public laws — there’s no session of Congress with such a poor record of productivity.” - Ezra Klein Klein also points out that, while Congress is still in session, “the 112th is three-quarters done, and it’s not yet half as productive as the next least-productive congress.” 13 reasons why this is the worst Congress ever

pantslessprogressive:

“Now you may say that this simply reflects divided government. But while there are many instances of divided government on that chart — the 104th Congress, for instance, when Newt Gingrich and his Republican revolutionaries faced off against President Bill Clinton and still managed to pass 333 public laws — there’s no session of Congress with such a poor record of productivity.” - Ezra Klein

Klein also points out that, while Congress is still in session, “the 112th is three-quarters done, and it’s not yet half as productive as the next least-productive congress.”

13 reasons why this is the worst Congress ever

(via pantslessprogressive)

sunfoundation: Is Congress getting dumber, or just more plainspoken? Congress now speaks at almost a full grade level lower than it did just seven years ago, with the most conservative members of Congress speaking on average at the lowest grade level, according to a new Sunlight Foundation analysis of the Congressional Record using Capitol Words. Of course, what some might interpret as a dumbing down of Congress, others will see as more effective communications. And lawmakers of both parties still speak over the heads of the average American, who reads at between at 8th and 9th grade level. Today’s Congress collectively speaks at a 10.6 grade level, down from 11.5 in 2005. View image bigger.

sunfoundation:

Is Congress getting dumber, or just more plainspoken?

Congress now speaks at almost a full grade level lower than it did just seven years ago, with the most conservative members of Congress speaking on average at the lowest grade level, according to a new Sunlight Foundation analysis of the Congressional Record using Capitol Words.

Of course, what some might interpret as a dumbing down of Congress, others will see as more effective communications. And lawmakers of both parties still speak over the heads of the average American, who reads at between at 8th and 9th grade level.

Today’s Congress collectively speaks at a 10.6 grade level, down from 11.5 in 2005.

View image bigger.