vote-a-rama

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Vote-a-Rama Part III: Wake Up, Congress

Several weeks ago the Senate held a “vote-a-rama” related  to amends to the federal budget. This is the third of a three part series of reactions to this event by Widener University students studying Congress this semester.

by Andrea Stickley

Widener University Political Science Major

Ladies and gentlemen, Congress has now found a way to act like a bunch of six year olds….and get paid for it! Introducing vote-a-rama, the newest invention that Congress has come up with that allows an all out debate and no compromise. It sounds like a word a six year old would come up with and sounds like how a six year old would act; and yet, it was created by our nation’s lawmakers. Something seems wrong with this picture. If Congress actually believes that they are going to accomplish something by holding this budget debate and comparing amendments, they’ve got another thing coming.

Wake up, Congress. Democrats and Republicans having different ideas is not a new discovery. The whole nation is aware of the fact that you guys can’t agree on issues. That’s not the problem. It’s the fact that Congress can’t come to a compromise. So, your solution to this is to hold a debate about the fact that you already know you have different amendments to request? Somehow this doesn’t seem like a smart idea or an effective use of time. Why not, instead of just rehashing all the things that you don’t agree on and will never agree on, you spend your time talking about things you can agree on? Wow, what a simplistic idea.

Unless, of course, there is nothing left that Congress can agree on…

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Vote-a-Rama Part II: “You can’t always get what you want”

Several weeks ago the Senate held a “vote-a-rama” related  to amends to the federal budget. This is the second of a three part series of reactions to this event by Widener University students studying Congress this semester.

 by Erica Szpynda

Widener University Economics Major

The Rolling Stones sang:

“You can’t always get what you want

But if you try sometimes well you just might find

You get what you need “

These few lyrics speak much about compromise.  Congress’s job is to WORK TOGETHER, to debate and to figure out what is needed for our country.  However, a series of nonbinding votes, just for the sake of voting is not what our country needs.

The Senate took part in a Vote-a-Rama.  This means that each party is limited to 25 hours of debate, to propose amendments to each of the budget proposals.  At least we know there will not be filibusters in an attempt to stop legislation, since debate is limited.  On the other hand, this means that the Senate will spend 50 hours in session to get nothing accomplished.  This can be viewed the same as going to a typical 9-5 job for OVER a week, and not being able to show your boss anything you accomplished.  Wait, I am wrong, Congress can show their bosses (also known as the voters) that they did accomplish something: Blocking many “bad” budget proposals.

Instead of this cut throat competition to make everyone vote on issues that can be used against them in the next election, Congress should be working on actually passing a budget.  This circus needs to stop for the sake of the nation’s credit score and the faith their bosses have in them.  This is just another reason for why pests have a better approval rating than Congress.  Hopefully, they can realize “You can’t always get what you want, BUT if you try… You get what you need.”