If Obama succeeds, as is now expected, in getting the New START treaty ratified, he’ll put a beautiful cap on a stunningly effective and productive Congress. It all started with the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and the bills just kept coming. One of the best was certainly the Credit CARD Act of 2009. Where is the love for this awesome piece of legislation?
We are still celebrating the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, but don’t forget that last year we were celebrating passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Too many people overlook the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was an outstanding piece of progressive legislation that was tucked into the health care reconciliation bill.
Health care and Wall Street reform were far from the only shows in town. People will remember the 111th Congress as the best and most consequential of most of our lifetimes. And for those of us that had a front row seat? It was appalling, depressing, spirit-deadening, and completely sub-optimal. Go figure. I think it is best not to watch too closely.
