Whipping up some news...

On a day when the Presidential campaign is grabbing most all the attention, it's easy to forget that there are other stories just as important to the lives of Americans. One of those, of course, is the continuing mismanagement of the public business by the Republican Congress. Hat's off to Steny Hoyer for some valuable focus on the facts...

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today at a press conference drawing attention to the failed Republican Congress's decision to wait for a lame-duck Congress to finish 12 of 13 appropriations bills and other important legislation.

Here's some of what he had to say...

"Tonight, when the clock strikes 12, the United States of America will begin a new fiscal year, closing the books on the most fiscally irresponsible year in our history - a year in which we will run a record budget deficit of $422 billion.

"And yet, as the new fiscal year looms just hours away, this Congress has enacted just one - just one - of the 13 annual spending bills that keep the federal government operating.

"As our workload piles up, consider this fact: This Second Session of the 108th Congress is on course to work fewer days - 94, as of today - than any single Session of Congress since 1948.

Of course, while the Republican leadership of the 108th Congress has accomplished practically nothing, it wouldn't be exactly right to say they're a "do-nothing" Congress. They're doing things, alright. The wrong things, the wrong way, at the wrong time.

Like this...

WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled House emphatically defeated a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage Thursday, the latest in a string of conservative pet causes pushed to a vote by GOP leaders in the run-up to Election Day.

...and putting assault weapons back on the gun shop shelves, Saturday night specials back in D.C. neighborhoods and making an end run around the Constitution in a purported attempt to 'save' the Pledge of Allegiance.

In fact, the Republican failure to pass a budget makes the entire session an end run around their Constitutional responsiblity to do just that.

It's, well, it's un-American! Literally.

And it's time for a change. It's time for Speaker Pelosi. It's time for a New Majority.

And there's time to follow this link before you settle onto the sofa to watch the Kerry debate victory. Kick in a few dollars and sign up for D-Trip updates before you get too busy doing all of this.