Schieffer: Congress not giving us our money's worth

(CBS News) There was this guy who loved to talk about guns, and when he couldn't figure out any other way to work guns into the conversation, he would say, "I think I heard a gunshot ! Uh, speaking of guns . . . " and off he'd go on his favorite subject.

With brings me to Congress, where House Republicans did THEIR favorite thing last week, virtually their only thing lately.

For the 33rd time, they voted to repeal all or part of the health care law, knowing that the action is meaningless because the Senate would never go along.

Now mind you, this is no endorsement of the new health care law. We need health care reform, but I'm a long way from believing the president's plan was the best way to go about it.

My beef is that Congress can't figure out how to do ANYTHING but vote on this one issue - over and over, day after day.

Hey guys, we hear you, we take your point. But the way I heard it, government is there to improve the lives of citizens.

You seem to believe all this repetitious blather will help you raise campaign money. Maybe so, but it's hard for me to see how it helps anyone else.

The best estimates are that Congress wasted a total of two full work weeks - 80 hours - voting on this ONE thing.

According to the Congressional Research Service, it costs US millions of dollars a week to operate the House of Representatives - staff salaries, mail services, cafeterias, all of that - and we're not even including paying the capital costs.

You do the numbers. Do you think we're getting our money's worth when they spend two weeks voting on the same thing over and over again?

I think they can do better.

[catmomtx]

WOW, a seasoned reporter presenting what is happening in our country and here flock a whole bunch of people insulting him all upset and angry because he is voicing an opinion different than them.

The simple fact is, this Republican Congress has been absolutely worthless to this country and the American people. Republicans in Congress have spent the past three years trying to destroy the duly elected President and everything he tries to do just to make your lives miserable so you would vote against your own best interest, reward them for doing nothing and return them back to power so they can continue the destruction of our country they started under George Bush.

[davcor2]

TO THE BOB SCHIEFFER Haters: What is it with people that can only insult a person for comments they dislike instead of intelligently debating the facts. Could it be because you have no facts to support your abissmal lack of what's going on in this country or are you so idealogically entrenched that you cannot deal with the real issues in an intelligent pragmatic manner ?

[JimBrittTN]

This COMMIE Mayor should be run out of the nation!

ONE person with a gun would have stopped this scumbag! When's the last time a gunman went into a police station and opened fire? If this scum had know that a lot of people in the theater were armed he would not have gone in!

WHY is this scumbag still alive and enjoying 3 meals a day? WHY will taxpayers waste money on a needless trial...he was caught in the act! WHY will taxpayers waste a million dollars on shrinks and lawyers? HE SHOULD BE BEATEN TO DEATH IN JAIL

[Martha12345]

Bob, the Great War against the Kaiser is over. We won. Now go back to sleep.

[NinthSt78]

If it's too quiet, rides too smooth, and the seats are too plump they have probably been going around the block a few times due to GPS problems.

[usunus]

Schieffer has stopped giving us our money's worth long ago.Physician,heal thyself.

[RealiteBites]

Yeah, he's expecting the tail to wag the dog.

Congress are accountable to 'the people' - HE is 'the people' ... but one who actually has a voice in the national debate.

So rich hearing Bob complain that others can't figure out how to get anything done. What are YOUR ideas Bob ... we haven't heard anything coming out of you in years, except helpless whining!

If you want something done, you have to do it yourself!

[tb91006]

I was thinking the exact same thing but you can add all the network and newspaper news as well.

[Martha12345]

Mr.Schieffer, please retire and day dream about your days reporting on the Great War against the Kaiser. You're just an old dried up leftist from days gone by.

[skeezix06]

I would suggest you check out Wendell Potter's explanation. He's a former insurance executive has started talking. He confirms the 33 votes is all for show and the the GOP has no intention of getting rid of ACA. Link in case you need it, not advertising. http://wendellpotter.com/2012/07/why-insurers-want-obamacares-medicaid-business/

[skeezix06]

A more colorful explanation can be found with Jim Hightower.

[GBUJarhead]

Bob got the effect right, but in his desire to be "fair and balanced", he missed the cause: Mitch McConnell standing on the Senate floor saying that he and the Republicans would do everything they could to make President Obama a one-term president.

[catmomtx]

EXACTLY!!!

[foo8259]

I'll bet they will be real quick to vote themselves their "Monies Worth" in the form of a standard Pay Raise just before Thanksgiving -- thank you very much for a job well undone!

[myth1958]

First the Supreme Court, and now Bob Schieffer: the Republicans are playing the poor sport to the max, trying to beat this dead horse and get a little more mileage from it. Those of us independents who wish there were a better alternative to the two main parties aren't going to lean GOP over tactics like this - because Schieffer is spot on about wasting money and (perhaps even more importantly) time re-heating the same can of gripes. Those tired ideologues tried the legal system, and failed, so they are doing their one-trick-pony act up on Capital Hill to clearly empty seats. Reminds me of those tired old Southern Democrats that opposed desegregation and would mount filibusters to try to avoid the inevitable - desegregation. They, too, failed. My hope is that the people who will be running for House seats this Fall will bring up this massive waste of taxpayer time and money (aren't Republicans the ones moaning about 'waste in government?) as they run against the men and women who are doing this embarrassing charade. Want to cut waste in DC? Don't re-elect people who would do such a thing as this.

[catmomtx]

The sad thing is some of Congress was sent there to do exactly what they are doing. They were sent to Congress to keep the First African American President from succeeding. The reason they are so out of control is that despite the efforts of the Republicans in Congress, President Obama IS achieving quite a bit. The more he achieves, the angrier and out of control they become.