When the 111th Congress convenes this month, all the bills introduced in the 110th Congress that did not make it into law will find themselves in the Congressional dumpster. There had been 7,318 bills introduced in the House and 3,724 in the Senate, and a generous estimate is that only about 4 percent were enacted. That number includes naming of post offices, moratoriums on various tariffs and so on. Of the 40 or so aviation bills introduced, none of sky-shaking import was enacted. Lawmakers whose bills stalled will have to reintroduce those they think merit consideration.
Democratic Congressional leaders may opt for an early start in January to work on priority legislation so that it will be ready for President-elect Barack Obama’s signature shortly after he takes office. That legislation might include an economic aid measure, expanded healthcare for lower-income children and loosening rules related to federally funded stem-cell research.
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