Legislative Inaction Quotes

Federal governments and even state governments within countries have basically been immobilized by conflicting interests, by conflicting views of what science is, and the inability to lead. They are immobilized because they don’t want to take tough votes and alienate half of the constituency.

Congress is almost totally dysfunctional right now. All we've done this year and my first year in the Senate ... is barely keep the doors open.

It is with deep regret that the determination to assemble Parliament has been so long delayed.

All anyone needs to enjoy the state legislature is a strong stomach and a complete insensitivity to the needs of the people. As long as you don't think about what that peculiar body should be doing and what it actually is doing to the quality of life in Texas, then it's all marvelous fun.

Congress seems to thrive on breaking promises and passing unfunded mandates down to local government. It's really just a matter of priorities.

But when I look at the fact that today is 1,000 days that we have not had a budget for the United States of America, you know, the House, one of the things we did, we passed a budget last year. But that is still sitting over there at the Senate. And so we have got to get this country back on track.

In our political system it’s easier to block action than to act.

I didn't come to Washington to be part of the problem.

Given the slow pace of Washington's bureaucracy, policymakers are often busy solving yesterday's problems. This rearview mirror approach afflicts Mr. Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress.

This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer.

You can see how dysfunctional this Congress is.

Everybody hates Congress; even Congress hates Congress.

Congress does two things well: nothing and overreacting.

In Washington, you have imaginary problems, and they can't even solve the imaginary problems.

Politicians are terrified of losing touch with folks back home but content to be clueless about government's failure to fix real problems.

People are so frustrated by electing people to represent them in Washington, D.C., and having them immediately forget about the Hoosiers they represent.

Has Washington become so dysfunctional that even when we all agree on something, we can’t get it done?

Congress is unable to do the work of the American people because too many politicians believe that compromise means capitulation.

I do hope that next year Republicans and Democrats will do nothing.

Overall, Congress is dysfunctional, partisan, and polarized, and it isn’t getting anything done. We need commissions to break out of divisive partisanship.

The Congress talks and talks and talks and talks, but doesn't act. I'm going to continue to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to bring about comprehensive immigration reform.

Congress doesn’t do comprehensive well.

The Democrats in particular are do-nothing guys.

Often times, political games prevent senators from even beginning to debate some of the most important issues.

Washington has become a place where good ideas come to die.