Dem lame-duck agenda shrinking fast after Election Day 'shellacking'

[The Northerner]

Democratic allies are not optimistic about their legislative priorities getting done in the lame-duck session after Democratic candidates got pummeled on Election Day.

Senate Democrats had discussed as many as 20 bills up for consideration during the lame-duck session, the period between the Nov. 2 election and Christmas.

In the wake of a midterm election that President Obama called a “shellacking” of his party, Democratic insiders question if anything more than a stop-gap spending measure and temporary extension of Bush-era tax cuts can pass.

“I’m very pessimistic we’ll get much done,” said a labor official familiar with lame-duck negotiations. “We’re focused on extending unemployment benefits and middle-class tax cuts.”

“Republicans will try to put off everything so they can claim credit for anything that passes at the beginning of the new Congress,” said the source. “I expect a short-term continuing resolution into the new year,” in reference to a temporary funding measure to keep the federal government in operation.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and other GOP leaders have made clear that they’re in no mood to help advance the Democratic legislative agenda.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/128085-dem-lame-duck-agenda-shrinking-fast-after-election-day-shellacking

[neverforget]

1. to the Senate: fuck around fuck around, pretty soon you won't be around.

Words of wisdom from an old Army drill sergeant of mine.