WASHINGTON—Congress increasingly is being defined by what it’s not doing this election year.
The Senate returns this week with a strong majority of Republicans saying no to any consideration of President Barack Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court. No hearings, no vote and, for some lawmakers, not even a meeting with federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland.
Republicans, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), insist that the decision on filling the court vacancy rests with the next president after voters have their say in November’s election.
A bipartisan bill to aid Flint, Michigan, where the city’s 100,000 residents are struggling with lead-contaminated water is being blocked by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who wants to ensure that the money is paid for without adding to the deficit. The dispute over Flint has snagged a far-reaching measure on energy.
In the House, where lawmakers return from their break April 12, conservative opposition probably will make it impossible to pass a budget, in what would be a major embarrassment for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). A GOP proposal to aid debt-stricken Puerto Rico has drawn criticism from House Democrats and conservatives, raising doubts about Congress’ ability to resolve the issue.
The latest Gallup Poll shows public approval of Congress at an abysmal 13 percent. Yet, through a half-dozen state primaries, no incumbent lawmaker has lost.
A look at the issues in limbo in Congress:
The Fight Over Garland
Garland plans to meet with 11 senators in the week ahead, including two Republicans. Democrats are maintaining election-year pressure on the GOP for blocking the usual Senate committee hearings and vote on a high court nominee.
Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) are set to sit down with Garland on Tuesday. Collins is one of just two Republicans out of 54 who are open to hearings and a vote on Garland; Boozman is up for re-election this year. Eager to keep the fight in the news, Democrats say there might be 50 more Garland meetings with senators in the coming weeks, and they plan repeated Senate floor speeches on the issue.
