Resolutions, report cards, and some *s

Richard Fulton

At the end of the year, it is customary for people to make lists of the best and worst in a variety of fields— from movies to books to the biggest news stories.

And, there are “report cards” on Congress and the President.

It should also be customary, it seems to me, to put an explanatory asterisk — * — next to each of the achievements being chronicled.

Washington has been pilloried for more than four years for its relative lack of progress in solving our nations problems. There was some progress, however, especially late this year. For ease of making the choices as to what were the major legislative accomplishments — all of them on a bipartisan basis, mind you — I’ll use a list set down by NPR’s Ailsa Chang.

Achievement 1. “Trillion-dollar government funding bill.”

This last minute miracle allowed government to continue spending until next September (the federal fiscal year begins anew Oct.1). All civilian spending was included in this omnibus bill.

*Dozens of “add ons” that were special interest rewards were added (it is a way of buying votes) as well. Still, beefed up cybersecurity was added as was money for health care for 9/11 first responders (and about time).

Achievement 2. “Tax extenders.”

To pass No. 1, this bill was passed at the same time to extend billions in tax breaks. It made permanent dozens of tax breaks such as the $1,000 write-off for children and research and development tax credits for businesses. The list is a long and specific one.

*Since many of the tax breaks contribute to the growing national debt, it is too bad that Congress did not think to find a way to pay for these tax breaks. Nothing’s free.

Achievement 3. “Two year budget agreement.”

A compromise between members of Congress and the White House that extended the debt ceiling through March 2017.

*Remember this is the issue that shut down government in 2014. Incidentally, the bill also increased spending by $80 billion, all not paid for: so more national debt.

Achievement 4. “No Child Left Behind Rewrite.”

Nobody seemed to like this Bush initiative as written, so they rewrote it to give states more decision leeway.

*New math and reading tests still are mandated, but states get to determine how to use them, gutting the purpose of the bill.

Achievement 5. “Five-year transportation bill.”

First long-term financing in more than 10 years to fund roads, bridges and mass transit. This allows states the ability to depend upon annual funds, thus make effective long-term planning.

*They didn’t raise the gas tax to pay for it, but patched together other funding sources not all of which seem too stable: e.g. funds from the Federal Reserve, never done before.

*Great move to improve infrastructure, but shaky financing. More deficit spending?

Achievement 6. “Medicare Reform.”

This permanently ended automatic Medicare payment cuts to physicians, which were to help keep Medicare viable.

*Many doctors threatened not to take Medicare patients. Whatever happened to that physician’s creed they used to talk about?

Achievement 7. “Trade promotion authority.”

Gave the President expedited authority to enter a trade deal with 11 Pacific Rim countries.

*It can get very complex when the Trans-Pacific Partnership is considered next year. Is anybody coordinating the trade obligations of the U.S.? How do these work with the almost universal International Trade Agreement now in force?

Much is still to be done if we are to praise Washington’s ability to deal with priority national problems like guns, immigration, tax reform, and that pesky dark cloud called the national debt.

I guess there’s always next year.