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When Does Congress ACTUALLY Work?

funnyordie.com — Uncle Jay Explains the News about congressional work days. prepare to be dumfounded.

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  • argoff, on 11/26/2007, -10/+118Please I beg you. We DON'T want congress to work. If they spent 364 getting blowjobs at paradise resorts, I might be jealous, but would find that much more preferable to them voting on bills all the time. We already have more laws than any human being can read in 100 lifetimes.
    • dattaway, on 11/26/2007, -2/+13If congress doesn't work, then big business will lobby to form yet another new branch of government to do its bidding. Just how many three letter agencies does this country need?
      • DucoNihilum, on 11/26/2007, -8/+1This has to be the most asinine comment I have heard this week. Proof?
    • Peepsalot, on 11/26/2007, -1/+34Exactly, couldn't agree more with the parent.
      From The US Constitution, Article I, Section 4 (emphasis added by me):
      "...The Congress shall assemble AT LEAST ONCE IN EVERY YEAR, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day."
      Our founding fathers did not expect nor intend for congress to meet incredibly often. Every meeting is another chance to pass more unnecessary or even downright unconstitutional legislation. Our federal government is one of those examples where bigger is NOT always better.
      • zachshmack, on 11/26/2007, -2/+23In all fairness, it did take a while to get around back then...
        • ryllharu, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1Not to mention they actually *talked* to those whom they were elected to represent.
      • diggduggjoe, on 11/26/2007, -1/+6You have it exactly right!. Most of the laws and agencies made by Congress are unconstitutional. They should pay Congress much less and have them actually hold a day job. Wow, real people with real jobs meeting once a year to confirm a small budget. That is what was designed by our founders.
      • Orion682, on 11/26/2007, -1/+1You're an idiot... the reason for that was because they physically COULD NOT meet often, as his was the era where the fastest method of travel overland was the horse, and going through a state would take days instead of hours...

        Additionally, the word "meet" does not imply a length of time. They could meet and the meeting could continue for a week or more if they so chose.

        That being said, I certainly agree that Congress has been doing more harm than good as of late, but unfortunately, the President does not take as many days off...
    • searob1, on 11/26/2007, -0/+3Obstructionist. Or maybe you just like all those recess appointments that Bush likes to make. Ha! Reid beat Bush this holiday recess!
    • xyzunit, on 11/26/2007, -0/+5I'd rather they spent more time meeting with lobbyists :)


      Edit: Woops, that would be impossible
    • Pssdoff, on 11/26/2007, -0/+3They don't ready anything they vote on. Very few Congressmen actually read a bill before voting (*cough* Ron Paul *cough*)
      I highly recommend sending a message to your congressmen asking them to support the RTBA which would require that they actually (GASP!) READ the bill before they vote on it.
      http://www.downsizedc.org/read_the_laws.shtml
  • interg12, on 11/26/2007, -14/+113law makers should submit their new bills to the new digg section "Laws". if they get promoted to the front page, then they become law!
    • kerrybreyette, on 11/26/2007, -2/+37Then we'd have bury squads for all kinds of agendas: right-wing, left-wing, Ron Paul, etc...
    • Rhino2, on 11/26/2007, -4/+70half our laws would be written in LOLCATs.... which actually might make them easier to read.

      I can haz a speediez and farez trylawl?
      • nigh7dagger, on 11/26/2007, -0/+8Funniest thing I've seen all day.

        You can haz speek anyfing u want, can has worshipz ne ceiling cat u wantz, and u can has use invisible typewriter with ne storiez.
        • Rhino2, on 11/26/2007, -0/+5lolz, i haz rite to bear armz

          lolz, u haz rite to separate ceiling catz from statez

          it be of the kittens 4 the kittenz, lolz

          4 scored and 7 years ago.... our old cat founded this great boxen, invisible and juices for allz.
      • Orion682, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1If that's not done by the end of the day, I will make them myself... They shall be called... LAWLCATS! :D
    • masterm1nd, on 11/26/2007, -0/+3I'm trying to comprehend what the Ron Paul law would be...
    • DucoNihilum, on 11/26/2007, -0/+2LOL.


      In reality though democracy is evil.
    • gak001, on 11/26/2007, -0/+3Think of some of the crap that ends up on the front page. Now think about how much stuff people don't actually read but digg up anyway. If you didn't shudder, check your pulse - you might be dead.
      • KicktheDonkey, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1How is this different from laws that Congress-people vote on, but don't read?
  • rebrad, on 11/26/2007, -36/+5I would digg this and enjoyed it very much. Problem is that it is a video and has been miscatagorized. Buried for wrong Topic.
    • chiefbandit2200, on 11/26/2007, -1/+6I would digg you up, but the problem is i really don't care why you buried it... buried
  • Vicujozobenaxod, on 11/26/2007, -21/+16Maybe you should ask Obama when how many times he's gone to work since he got his job.
    • fuzzmeister, on 11/26/2007, -6/+16Why not Paul, McCain, Clinton, or any of the other Congressmen/Senators who are running for President?
      • CondoleezzaRice, on 11/26/2007, -5/+18Because he said Obama. If he said Clinton, we would have asked Clinton, but he didn't, so we're asking Obama.
      • Daggity, on 11/26/2007, -0/+8Because Vicujozobenaxod cares about black people!
      • JordanTW90, on 11/26/2007, -3/+3Because Paul goes to work. McCain nor Clinton bother. Hell, McCain missed 70% of the votes so far.
      • ZenMojo, on 11/26/2007, -0/+3You mean, force him to compare someone he's attacking with the rest of the candidates? Why should he do something that balanced? It's not like the media does it.
    • gak001, on 11/26/2007, -0/+2Maybe you should write a coherent statement.
  • Grumps, on 11/26/2007, -7/+63They obviously don't have work to do. Congress is just some display to make the public thinks that democracy exist.
    • Richandler, on 11/26/2007, -2/+3Democracy is an illusion. No matter how you look at it someone always gets screwed. If people are allowed to not have to make every damn decision that only affects them collectively i.e. free market, we would all be better off.
  • hooblagoo, on 11/26/2007, -2/+50We have to give them some credit. They do work relatively hard to get elected. Once.
    • Gerz1219, on 11/26/2007, -0/+6Even then, they usually just get the seat by default when the sitting congressman from their party retires. House seats only change parties due to gerrymandering or sex scandals.
  • 2010student, on 11/26/2007, -1/+130It was never meant to be a full time job, elected officials are supposed to be part of the public at large and to have normals careers

    that is before they got paid 200k/year to go to work all of 40 days...
    • thebellmaster1x, on 11/26/2007, -1/+18So true. The Indiana General Assembly meets for 30/61 days (depending on the year) and each regular member gets a base salary of about $11k plus a per diem. Congressmen were never intended to have legislating as their only job.
    • gak001, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1The Pennsylvania General Assembly is also a part-time legislature in theory. I don't remember what the salary is, it's more than $11k, but I do know that they get a per diem calculated on expected expenses.
  • gplpark92, on 11/26/2007, -2/+17excellent video
  • BlackMagic2, on 11/26/2007, -11/+20Digg should really get a video section. :(
  • colincornaby, on 11/26/2007, -2/+17Isn't this one of the first things the Dems changed when they came into power? I mean, I know this is Digg, the land of "Democrats and Republicans never do anything", but... http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=0612160829 ...
    • searob1, on 11/26/2007, -1/+4Great find!
    • gak001, on 11/26/2007, -1/+1Yes - I'm surprised that this video was made this past summer. Buried as inaccurate.
  • D3koy, on 11/26/2007, -2/+24On the bright side, the world works best when Congress is not in session...
  • Nerys, on 11/26/2007, -7/+7Considering how Apathetic and uneducated the majority of the US is at large be THANKFUL we do not have a democracy. MY problem is out REPUBLIC is being destroyed by the SAME apathy and lack of education :-(
    • Richandler, on 11/26/2007, -5/+3Democracy doesn't work. Free Market does.
      • ZenMojo, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1And weekends are fun because monkeys fly out of my butt and play volleyball.
        "The free market ain't free." Actually, name one instance where the free market "works" instead of simply "functions."
      • jon30041, on 11/26/2007, -0/+2The free market is a world of economics where the corporations with the more money are the countries. Yeah, free market, assholes with money doing whatever the hell they want without oversight.

        Gimme a ***** break, man.
    • sw33tsarin, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1A Republic is a Representative Democracy. Just thought I'd let ya know.
  • TheDHC, on 11/26/2007, -2/+23looks like I'll be running for congress
    • mhale85, on 11/26/2007, -4/+1Then not only do you condone this behavior, you aspire to it? Isn't that what's wrong with this society?
      • DSGalvin, on 11/26/2007, -1/+5lulz, welcome to the world

        /digg me down
      • dsmx, on 11/26/2007, -0/+2The only way to change it is to get elected though.
    • jon30041, on 11/26/2007, -0/+2You won't get in. Remember, 90% re-election rate =P
  • Evolutuon, on 11/26/2007, -1/+6I must say, I really am dumbfounded. Well what they forget to tell you, is that the president can make them work longer than they're supposed to, which is not uncommon.
    • HHP2K, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1"longer than they're supposed to" is still probably less than the rest of us.
  • EuphopiaB, on 11/26/2007, -3/+14They shouldn't be paid at all. If someone wants to support their government and play a part in it, they should be willing to sacrifice the time to play the role while simultaneously being a normal citizen with a normal job. Working for the government should be a title and role, not a job. That might also give them something to do besides pushing ridiculous laws constantly to fix a small problem in one area and open a gaping hole of a problem somewhere else. Being a member of congress needs to be a privilege, not a title.
    • Evolutuon, on 11/26/2007, -6/+4You forget that essentially, they earned their title and work without pay is slavery. Of course theres volunteer work, but they didn't "volunteer" now did they?
      • Evolutuon, on 11/26/2007, -2/+2God god Im an idiot. lol Was not thinking.
      • G-RaZoR, on 11/26/2007, -2/+8How could it be called slavery when there is no work?
    • SpykerSpeed, on 11/26/2007, -2/+3Yep especially if they want to keep calling themselves "public servants".
  • Damian91, on 11/26/2007, -1/+20They worked hard to take debate, yell at each other, talk behind each other backs and take over 200+ days off. It's like a middle school kid dream to have a job like this...
  • armonde, on 11/26/2007, -5/+7This is Jay Gilbert from WEBN in Cincinnati (and voicetracked all over the country thanks to the godless bastards running Clear Channel). He's been on that station forever and also does (did?) work for the Jerry Springer Radio show.

    Not sure how that applies, just thought I'd share... the thumbs down to bury me is right up there
  • Hakeem34, on 11/26/2007, -8/+14america is a joke... poor american taxpayers... im grateful to be in a different country..
  • americanuck, on 11/26/2007, -1/+31I always wondered why anyone would want to go through all the ***** to become part of congress, now I know. It's a $150,000+ salary to continue the status quo by going on vacation.
    • Pake, on 11/26/2007, -0/+15Don't forget the bribe money. That adds up to a $500,000 a year job for most congressional members!
      • jon30041, on 11/26/2007, -0/+4Not to mention all the free hookers and blow!
  • Richandler, on 11/26/2007, -1/+15In New Hampshire there legislature has 400 members. All paid $100 a year. If we had that system, congress wouldn't have incentive to screw up everything on a daily basis.
    • dsmx, on 11/26/2007, -0/+2They would just take even more kickbacks than they do already to make up the cash shortfall.
  • kaosethema, on 11/26/2007, -6/+0omg
  • lordnikon, on 11/26/2007, -1/+1http://www.gpoaccess.gov/calendars/senate/browse.h ...
    here is a calendar of when the senate has met this year it looks like this year the have meet more times than they usually do, I guess they dont get monday and friday off anymore. The first pdf is the one the contains the calendar.
    • crobathias, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1your link is le broke
      copy the whole thing next time...
    • Orion682, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1yeah, the newly elected democrats did that. There were republicans who threatened to resign...
  • AF-Geek, on 11/26/2007, -2/+7All political talk aside, this guy is great! You might want to see his other videos at: http://www.unclejayexplains.com/
  • childprey, on 11/26/2007, -2/+3If pro is the opposite of con....
  • laeteralis462, on 11/26/2007, -5/+4The question was: "When does Congres ACTUALLY work?" The answer: never.
  • JK1150, on 11/26/2007, -4/+5The less congress works, the better.
  • BretFTW, on 11/26/2007, -7/+7I feel like something about Ron Paul should be thrown in here. Just like every other political topic on this site!
  • NineVotesNow, on 11/26/2007, -7/+29As someone who has worked for Congress, I find this video a bit... inaccurate.
    First off, that is the old Congress. The 110th meets mon-fri, though some of those are pro-forma sessions. That basically means they meet for like 10 minutes in the morning just so they have it on the books that they are there. Additionally they do get rather extensive breaks, but campaigning and meeting with constituents is a big part of hold public office. Showing it as pure party time (as this video does) is inaccurate. (for the most part)
    Secondly, when in session they bust their asses quite a bit more then one would expect. I had to work as long as the house was in session, and I had to stick around on average until 12 midnight to 1 in the morning. Does your job keep you that late? Admittedly, most of the time its special orders that keep people late, and most congressman can miss those. However, if its votes, and thats not uncommon, they better be around.
    Basically, my point is the idea that Congressman are lazy is ridiculous if you have ANY actually first hand work experience in DC. You guys should try it, it may actually raise your faith in the government to actually know what goes on.
    • Masefield, on 11/26/2007, -0/+2QFT. End of session was the worst. Getting appropriations passed could sometimes mean pulling an all-nighter.
      • jon30041, on 11/26/2007, -1/+5Good. Like a factory job, if you don't get the work done in the normal time, you go until it ***** IS.

        Campaigning should be SECONDARY to doing your job in Washington if we're paying you 200k a year. Hell, work like every other American adult, 5 days a week, 2 weeks vacation time, plus the regular days off I ***** get. That's what you do? Wanna hang with your constituents? It's called the goddamn internet. Get a ***** webcam.
        • Masefield, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1You're not paying staff 200k per year - usually 20-50K (excluding chiefs-of-staff). And constituent work is as important, if not more so, than the DC work. Most people meeting their representatives need significant help with a problem - and believe it or not, a majority of them don't have a computer, let alone internet access. Broadband penetration in our mostly rural district is to this day still slim. And guess what? When I worked there, I got 2 weeks vacation just like you. Just because it's "recess" doesn't mean people aren't working. My vacation, pay, and health benefits are triple what they were siince I've joined the private sector.

          Look, I'm not saying all members of Congress are saints (God no!), but don't paint the entire institution with a broad brush. It's easy to throw stones when you have little knowledge of a subject.

    • brad3378, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1Actually, yes I have pulled all nighters for my employers - and did it for MUCH less money
      • NineVotesNow, on 11/26/2007, -0/+0Ah true, but how often? I was often at the capitol until 12 midnight. And by often I mean every day. (well almost) Once again, it was special orders that normally kept me late, and only the congressman directly involved with those have to stay around. However, if votes were that late, all the congressman had to stick around. Votes obviously don't always happen in the wee hours of the morning, but its not a rare event for them to. Additionally I am only commenting on house floor proceedings, and I am completely ignoring committee responsibilities, constituents, campaigning, and negotiations.
  • neo912, on 11/26/2007, -6/+0Man this is pathetic and true unfortunately. Shows how great of a country we are (I've lived and worked in several countries and all of them are cool but none come close to us with ease of life) when our federal government is a total waste of space and yet we still are the major superpower of the world. I think the biggest problem we have is they pass too many pointless things and we don't get somebody else in office. This next year people throw everybody that is currently in congress or senate out and start over. Right now all branches of our fed government suck and need a replacement. The system works the people in it aren't right now because we let them get away with it.
  • harajukukei, on 11/26/2007, -4/+3to quote gallagher "congress is the opposite of progress."
    • gak001, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1Gallagher was paraphrasing someone else. If memory serves, the original is more along the lines of "If pro is the opposite of con, what is the opposite of progress?" I've seen that attributed to Mark Twain, but every quote of ambiguous origin is usually attributed to Mark Twain, Benjamin Franklin, or the Bible.
  • bonds, on 11/26/2007, -1/+3Damn, Congress seems like a sweet gig.
  • PabloIV, on 11/26/2007, -3/+9I worked on the hill for a while and to just equate the days that congress isn't in session to days off is retarded. Most of the work done in congress is done out of session away from the floor. Even if the actual elected representatives weren't doing a damned thing their staff sure is. You just have to get used to the idea that when its working well, your country is run by college educated, non elected, 20 and 30 somethings. Its only when the incompetent elected officials (not all of them are) jump in that most things go awry.
  • UtopianComplex, on 11/26/2007, -4/+9This really is misleading. The assumption he is making is that the only time congress is working is when they are voting which is completely untrue. First of all congress needs to have days to read bills, write bills work with staff on how to vote on bills, communicate with both washington and home district staff to make sure everything is working properly. Home district staff has to keep constituent resources working which occasionally takes the congressman doing some things even if they are sometimes just signing papers. Members of congress have to go to party meetings, committee meetings, organize committee things, while according to this guy the only part of that that is work is sitting in the comittee chair.
    Now if as a member of congress you ever want to actually be able to have significant power on a committee or make a difference on an issue you care about you need to be there more than just one term, so you need to worry about reelection, which you start working on the day after the previous election (sometimes before). This involves keeping contacts having dinners and meetings with people back at home, insuring you are going to community events and staying in touch with your constituents.

    Most members of congress, especially after Nancy Pelosi's successful PR move to make congress meet 5 days a week, find themselves working every day and most of the time upwards of 13 14 hours a day. Granted I think most of this work would be fun at times, but still it is work and they have to do it or else they will not be reelected and not be able to serve their constituents. They have more things that they have to read than humanly possible in a week. THEY ARE ALWAYS WORKING
    • NineVotesNow, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1Exceptionally well said.
    • ZenMojo, on 11/26/2007, -1/+2I had to chase my representative around all day (/night) after showing up at his office unannounced. That was pretty insane.
      • gak001, on 11/26/2007, -0/+2You might try making an appointment next time... you know, like you would do with any other professional whose time is in demand.
      • sethisastud, on 11/26/2007, -1/+2He was probably trying to get away from you...
  • barius, on 11/26/2007, -3/+5The only part of that I was really concerned with was the re-election rates. Congress members actually work pretty hard, but I'm sure they would be more responsible to their constituents if there was more turn-over. Further, a higher turn-over rate would limit the corruption by removing bought votes every few years.
    In fact, I'm not sure why there isn't a term-limit on Congress, except perhaps because Congress has to pass that into law...
  • alcibyedes, on 11/26/2007, -1/+2Next lets have uncle jay explain the fantastic health plan that these fine men and women enjoy (also at our expense) which will go with them long after the leave government service.
  • xlar54, on 11/26/2007, -0/+7So what day do they read all the emails I send?
    • PabloIV, on 11/28/2007, -0/+1You'd be surprised most correspondence is read, if not by the congressperson, at least by one of their staffers, and if they're decent enough they'll even reply
  • Fasterthanthou, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1Really, i don't think the congress has enough to do. With the majority of the year off, they are spending all their time inflating their own campaigns and weak shots at the presidency. In my opinion, the entire system needs a huge overhaul, with lawmakers actually getting things done rather than spending time on district work and campaigns. The docket for the congress is backed up for years because they take way too much time off. If i had their job, i would work hard to get reelected too.
  • zanzzz, on 11/26/2007, -0/+3There is a difference between working hard and working productively. I have no doubt that most work hard. Hard at work making invasive laws to protect the children, to protect us from the terrorists, to legislate against someone having more fun than they are. All these bills with names that are the exact opposite of what they really accomplish. More surveillance, more prohibitions, more micro management of every aspect of our lives. Bigger government, more subsidies, more perverse tax laws. Yes it is hard work dismantling almost every aspect of what this country supposedly stands for.
  • rot13ubercrypto, on 11/26/2007, -0/+2Fine by me. Less time for them to ***** things up. I just wish they weren't paid so much.

    There's a theory which states that the founding fathers knew exactly what they were doing when they put the capital in a steaming swamp, and which blames the invention of air conditioners for most of what's wrong with the US. As in, before they were invented, politicians had to leave the city during the sweltering summer months and couldn't do any more damage...
  • LoneRanger85, on 11/26/2007, -2/+1This guy is really funny. I've been trying to figure out his political affiliation. He isn't biased or mean-spirited. He doesn't use profanity. He's fair and balanced. Do you think he's a liberal or conservative?
  • Fhwqhgads, on 11/26/2007, -1/+4"When Does Congress ACTUALLY Work?"

    When there is a multi-billion dollar corporation whose profits need protection.
  • witebuddha, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1isn't that the whole point of congress? didn't we design our government to be entirely slow? wasn't the idea that by the time a bill got through all that red tape that it would have been examined so many times that it 'should' be a good law?

    /i stress 'should'
  • lagrange, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1You mean when do they actually get their dicks out and stick them up your ass?
  • gkiltz, on 11/26/2007, -0/+1What's the opposite of PROgress?
    CONgress!
  • KauLad, on 11/26/2007, -0/+0Expenditure of energy does not alway create results.
  • joeschoe, on 11/27/2007, -0/+2First, please keep them from meeting often, second who the **** allowed them to vote for their own pay raises? And Lastly, these ppl need to be required to actually READ the bills corporate lobbyists present to them to vote on and actually DEBATE them, and allow the American voters the opportunity to. view the Bills, without riders.. before any vote. DownsizeDC.org!
  • nonchallant0819, on 03/30/2008, -0/+0This is a great story... found this one through http://www.google.com




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