On Wednesday, in a symbolic vote, Democrats in the Senate approved a proposal that would extend the Bush tax cuts for income up to $250,000. And it was done with 51 votes.
Sounds good, right? Well...
"Sadly, the more I reveal about this shocking turn of events, the less amazing it will become," Washington Post columnist and Morning Joe regular Ezra Klein writes this morning.
Why the pessimism?
The bill stands little chance of passing the Republican-controlled House, and Klein notes:
"The legislation was the Democrats’ proposal to extend the Bush tax cut for income up to $250,000. And tax laws have to originate in the House. “The only reason we won’t block [the bill] today is that we know it doesn’t pass constitutional muster and won’t become law,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said. “What today’s votes are all about,” he continued, is “showing the people who sent us here where we stand.”
The Morning Joe panel discussed the 112th Congress today, and Joe Scarborough asked the panel:
"Between the Republican House and the Democratic Senate…has there ever been a more worthless Congress that’s done less? Can you think of a time? They do nothing; they’re worthless."