Frank Pallone: “our Nation faces many pressing issues; yet the House Republican leadership prefers to send Congress home for breaks…”

“our Nation faces many pressing issues; yet the House Republican leadership prefers to send Congress home for breaks rather than working to solve any problems. Back in 1948 President Truman dubbed that Congress the ``Do Nothing Congress'' because it only met 108 days the entire year. The Republican Congress of 2006 is set to break that record, scheduled to meet for only 97 days this year, 11 fewer than the first ``Do Nothing Congress.'' Now, the budget continues to spiral out of control after finally being balanced by President Clinton back in the late 1990s; yet House Republicans approved a budget last night that makes the deficit worse and offers no plan to bring the budget back into balance. Gas prices continue to hover at or above $3 a gallon; yet House Republicans continue to do the bidding of the big oil execs rather than providing any real relief to the American consumer. House Republicans, Mr. Speaker, are presiding over the most ``Do Nothing Congress'' in our Nation's history. They simply cannot govern and it is time for a change. ____________________”