Well apparently, according to NBC News‘ Mark Murray, “productivity” is measured by the number of bills Congress passes. Guess there weren’t enough for his liking:
The just concluded 113th Congress was only the 2nd least productive in modern history http://t.co/6iiLqG7tjv pic.twitter.com/TnN2rO3Y8g
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 29, 2014
From NBC News:
Thanks to a rush of activity in its final days, 296 bills were signed into law during the 113th Congress (2013-2014), as of Dec. 19, barely surpassing the all-time low of 283 enacted during the 112th Congress (2011-2012).
Still, a good chunk of the bills signed into law this year alone – more than 50 – accounted for legislation naming post offices or other federal buildings. So hardly the type of work that would make a Daniel Webster or Tip O’Neill proud.
And the combined productivity of the 112th and 113th – in which Republicans controlled the House and Democrats the Senate – is the lowest of any back-to-back Congresses on record.
Yeah? And your point would be … ?
@NBCNews @edhenry Well, that REALLY depends on how you define "productive." Some of think "less is more" when GOV'T is involved.
— Mike Opelka (@stuntbrain) December 29, 2014
Bingo.
And the economy grew. RT @NBCNews The just concluded 113th Congress was only the 2nd least productive in modern history
— RBe (@RBPundit) December 29, 2014
https://twitter.com/lifebythecreek/status/549610897128554496
https://twitter.com/mullrainee/status/549610911921868800
@NBCNews unproductive Congress always equals good news
— JC Barraza (@JCBarraza2) December 29, 2014
@RBPundit We know @NBCNews measures Congressional productivity in laws passed; I measure it in idiocy avoided. Thus an ok Congress.
— S D Winkler (@sdwinkler) December 29, 2014
@NBCNews @edhenry I guess that is how you look at it! I see it as we have more money and more freedoms when they do nothing!
— Steve (@MACHTink) December 29, 2014
@NBCNews @edhenry Measuring a Congress's "productivity" by the num of laws produced just propagates the "big gov cures all" myth.
— Jeremy Coleman (@jeremycoleman) December 29, 2014
@NBCNews Too bad they weren’t first.
— VarkDoc (@BroncosJeff) December 29, 2014
Cross your fingers for next time!
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/549610684661514241
.@NBCNews let's make the 114th #1!
— Scotumnal? (@ScottyNodak) December 29, 2014