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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2002

"Rather than characterize the record of the now-departed Congress, let me begin by reporting what the people's representatives and senators did and did not do on their final day in session.

The good news: The Senate, without debate or dissent, approved a House-passed bill reaffirming that the words "under God" shall remain in the Pledge of Allegiance. You may recall that a federal court in California ruled last June that those words violated the constitutional separation of church and state. The same court immediately stayed its ruling, pending an appeal, but our vigilant lawmakers were not about to take any chances. For good measure, they reaffirmed that "In God we trust" remains the national motto.

The bad news: Congress quit without passing 11 of the 13 regular appropriations bills, leaving major parts of the government on autopilot at least until Nov. 22 and blocking a variety of important security and domestic initiatives. Congress is supposed to come back after the election and finish up that most basic of its responsibilities, but don't bet on it.

This Congress -- the little engine that couldn't -- is so mired in partisanship that the list of stymied legislation is far longer than that of its accomplishments. . ."

Get the Story:
David S. Broder The Little Engine That Couldn't (The Washington Post 10/23)

Related Stories:
Congress was lots of talk this year (10/22)