"House Speaker Johnson Embodies "Do-Nothing Congress" with Record-Breaking Absence"
In a stark contrast to his predecessors' efforts during times of crisis, House Speaker Mike Johnson has effectively coined the phrase "do-nothing Congress" by taking an unprecedented step: leaving lawmakers absent from work for weeks on end. The Louisiana Republican, who had initially cited the need for a prolonged recess in September due to government shutdowns and pandemic-related issues, has now extended his break indefinitely.
In reality, Johnson's decision is less about addressing pressing legislative concerns than it is about allowing members of his party to avoid their duties in Washington. By keeping lawmakers away from work, Johnson is, in essence, giving them a temporary reprieve from the very responsibilities they were elected to perform.
The House speaker's justification for this prolonged absence - that Congress should not operate while Americans are suffering - rings hollow, especially when considering that he has the authority to call members back to work at any time. In fact, Johnson could have easily done so and avoided drawing criticism from his own party.
This development has significant implications for the role of Congress as a whole. As one analyst noted, this approach diminishes the institution's effectiveness and shrinks the speaker's power at a critical moment in U.S. history. Moreover, it highlights the growing deference to President Trump, with House Speaker Johnson seemingly ceding influence to his boss.
The break has also raised eyebrows among lawmakers, who have expressed frustration over their inability to engage in meaningful discussions or pass legislation. Democratic Representative Jim McGovern, for instance, told The Boston Globe that without legislative sessions, "there are no negotiations going on, there are no talks, there are no hearings - nothing."
In the meantime, Johnson's reluctance to reinstate lawmakers has allowed him to delay a vote on releasing sensitive information related to Jeffrey Epstein, a case of great public interest. As long as the speaker chooses not to call members back to work, he can indefinitely postpone this decision.
Overall, House Speaker Mike Johnson's actions have effectively turned his party's traditional governing mantra into a mocking reality. By abandoning their responsibilities and leaving Congress in limbo, Republican lawmakers are emboldening their leader's most absurd claim: that the very institution they're supposed to represent is better off staying absent from work.
In a stark contrast to his predecessors' efforts during times of crisis, House Speaker Mike Johnson has effectively coined the phrase "do-nothing Congress" by taking an unprecedented step: leaving lawmakers absent from work for weeks on end. The Louisiana Republican, who had initially cited the need for a prolonged recess in September due to government shutdowns and pandemic-related issues, has now extended his break indefinitely.
In reality, Johnson's decision is less about addressing pressing legislative concerns than it is about allowing members of his party to avoid their duties in Washington. By keeping lawmakers away from work, Johnson is, in essence, giving them a temporary reprieve from the very responsibilities they were elected to perform.
The House speaker's justification for this prolonged absence - that Congress should not operate while Americans are suffering - rings hollow, especially when considering that he has the authority to call members back to work at any time. In fact, Johnson could have easily done so and avoided drawing criticism from his own party.
This development has significant implications for the role of Congress as a whole. As one analyst noted, this approach diminishes the institution's effectiveness and shrinks the speaker's power at a critical moment in U.S. history. Moreover, it highlights the growing deference to President Trump, with House Speaker Johnson seemingly ceding influence to his boss.
The break has also raised eyebrows among lawmakers, who have expressed frustration over their inability to engage in meaningful discussions or pass legislation. Democratic Representative Jim McGovern, for instance, told The Boston Globe that without legislative sessions, "there are no negotiations going on, there are no talks, there are no hearings - nothing."
In the meantime, Johnson's reluctance to reinstate lawmakers has allowed him to delay a vote on releasing sensitive information related to Jeffrey Epstein, a case of great public interest. As long as the speaker chooses not to call members back to work, he can indefinitely postpone this decision.
Overall, House Speaker Mike Johnson's actions have effectively turned his party's traditional governing mantra into a mocking reality. By abandoning their responsibilities and leaving Congress in limbo, Republican lawmakers are emboldening their leader's most absurd claim: that the very institution they're supposed to represent is better off staying absent from work.
! He's basically saying that just because some people can't make it to work, the whole Congress should shut down too... like, what a cop-out 
. And now he's extending this break indefinitely? That's just ridiculous 
. As if the people who elected him didn't vote for him to get things done in Washington 
️.
. It's like he's more interested in giving his party members a break than actually doing the people's job 
.
. And what about all the important info that's being delayed because of this break? It's like he's putting politics over people 
.
! We need our lawmakers to be engaged and working towards the greater good, not just their own party's interests 
.
as a doomscreener, i mean what more can you say about a house speaker who thinks congress should just take a break while americans are suffering? like, excuse me? 
and meanwhile, trump is already pulling the strings from behind the scenes. this is not good for america at all 
And what's with the excuse about Americans suffering? Like, we've been dealing with that for years already. It feels like they're more interested in avoiding their own responsibilities than helping people. I don't know if this is a good thing for democracy at all... 
and it's getting out of hand. I mean who needs Congress to function when you've got a Speaker who thinks he can just stay away forever? 
It's embarrassing and it's making America look bad on the world stage. We need our Congress to be working for us, not just playing politics. 
.
I mean, what's next? Taking a vacation in D.C. 
And now we have to wait even longer for answers about Jeffrey Epstein... what's going on?! 
. And let's be real, it's not like he needs an excuse to do this - it's just an excuse for him and his party to avoid taking responsibility for their actions 
.
. If he really cared about the people, he'd find a way to make things happen without leaving everyone hanging 
. And what's with all the deference to Trump? It's like Johnson is more concerned with being his BFF than doing what's best for the country 
. We need people who are willing to take risks and make tough decisions, not ones who are more interested in avoiding their responsibilities 
. It's time for Mike Johnson to step up his game or ship out 
.
. Instead, he just drops everything and leaves us hanging...literally. [Image of a bunch of lawmakers staring blankly into space]
. Congress is supposed to be the one representing our interests, not just taking extended vacations 
. it's so unprofessional and I don't get why he's not being held accountable for it 
i'm all for taking breaks, but this is taking it to a whole new level 
. and now they're delaying a vote on the Epstein case? that's just disgusting 
. what's next, are they gonna start showing up late to work too 
I'm literally watching a party of people who are supposed to be working for the American people just take a backseat while their constituents suffer 
.
so house speaker johnson is literally taking a break from congress for WEEKS and its not even a real reason 
. but what about when Americans need their representatives to do something?! 
and maybe, just maybe, we can get back on track 
. It's like he thinks he's above all the drama and pressure that comes with being in office 
. And now he's using it as a way to stonewall on some important info about Epstein? Yeah, because that's exactly what we need more of - secrecy and delay