Political Hotsheet
By

Stephanie Condon /

CBS News/ February 23, 2010, 4:25 PM

290 House Bills Waiting for Senate Approval

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
To illustrate just how badly partisan gridlock has stalled work in the Senate, the House of Representatives has released a list of 290 bills passed in the House and now waiting for Senate action.

The list includes some major bills -- such as the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the American Clean Energy and Security Act and the U.S. Postal Service Financial Relief Act -- and some minor ones, like the Star-Spangled Banner Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act and the Shark Conservation Act. The legislation touches on everything from security, health care and food safety to naming post offices.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blames the GOP for the Senate's lack of productivity, the Hill newspaper reports.

"The Speaker believes that the filibuster has its place, but clearly Senate Republicans are taking what was once a rare procedural move and abusing it to the detriment of progress for America's working families," Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill told the Hill.

Democrats in the Senate have a solid majority, and until recently, had 60 members who voted with their caucus -- enough to bypass a filibuster. However, with the exception of the recently-passed jobs bill, Republicans have typically uniformly opposed the Democrats' agenda.

The House typically puts together a list of bills stalled in the Senate every year, an aide to Pelosi told the Hill, but this year's list may be the biggest ever.

Even as Pelosi pins the blame on Republicans, House Democrats have appeared frustrated with both their Senate counterparts and the White House, prompting some to question whether there was a "feud" between Pelosi and President Obama. In response to the question of a "feud," a House leadership aide told CBS News last week that there is definite frustration with the Senate.
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
3 Comments Add a Comment
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didserve says:
and what are the American People to do?

March on washington?

they would all flee to France or south America!
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markj2 says:
Its almost comical that Nancy blames the Republicans when the Democrats were in the majority and could pass anything they wanted.It wasn't until Scott Brown go elected that the Republicans could filibuster anything, so how about you put the blame where it belongs, on your own party. Theres probably a good reason why they haven't been able to advance these bills and that is because they are just plain stupid and probably will cost the American people even more in higher taxes. I guess they figure that since Trial Lawyers can file Junk lawsuits, they can file Junk Bills. Vote very single one of these morons out of office, and don't be fooled again when they are up for re-election. Make them stand in line at the unemployment office.Better yet, lets impeach them and cut off all their tax payer funded retirement.
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sleepyric replies:
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It IS the republicans you dingleberry...obstructionist, regressive, nazis. What good are they? I hate them all.