I jab at the majority Republicans in Congress when they don't do their job, so I should give them credit when they do.
A five-year highway bill has been sent to the president. That's something Republican Congresses since the 1990s (and the Democratic ones in 2007-2010) have found difficult to do. Up next is an education bill. Legislators have had revising or replacing No Child Left Behind on their to-do list for years. This Congress is getting it done.
If only the rest of this Congress' record was as solid.
The continued backlog in the Senate on dealing with Barack Obama's judicial and executive-branch nominations continues to be a disgrace and a significant failure of competent government. Another problem is the lack of tough and constructive oversight of government. Instead, we have plenty of partisan "investigations," whether it's the Select Committee on Benghazi or the new Planned Parenthood committee or Representative Lamar Smith's efforts to harass scientists. Nor has Congress done its job on foreign affairs. It has still failed to pass any authorization for the war on Islamic State (or, alternatively, to forbid that war).
When it comes to taking on new challenges, the record is dismal. Whether it's climate change or mass shootings or health care or economic growth or immigration or other important challenges the nation faces, this Congress has either ignored them or offered only conservative platitudes, without any real effort, let alone legislation, to address them.
Still, something is better than nothing. So good for Republicans for ending this congressional session on something of a positive note. Let's hope they resolve to improve their record next year.
------------v------------
Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg View columnist covering U.S. politics.
Editorial on 12/08/2015