23.8% = Underperforming
After a year as Senate Majority Leader, Senator Daschle has little to show for it.
Senator Daschle's year as Senate Majority Leader has been a year of delay and obstruction. With no budget, unable to outline priorities, and an inability to pass legislation, Senate Democrats have failed to lead. While the House of Representatives is addressing the President's compassionate conservative agenda for national, homeland, and economic security, Senate Democrats continue to ignore their responsibility to the American people.
- As Senate Majority Leader, Senator Daschle has a 23.8%* job performance rating. Working Americans across the country know that if they had such a poor job performance rate, their job would be in jeopardy.
- The House has approved 50 substantive bills that have yet to be either approved or rejected by the Senate. The Senate should act on the Daschle-50.
- Senator Daschle pledged to pass a budget by Memorial Day, but no budget has been passed in the Senate. Failure to pass a budget in the Senate would mark a historic first since the Budget Act of 1974 began requiring them.
- In the midst of a judicial crisis, only 27% of the President's initial federal judicial nominees have been confirmed.
- Nominees for executive branch positions who are still waiting confirmation include U.S. Attorneys, U.S. Marshals, and Ambassadors.
Part of the Daschle-50 are critical pieces of legislation dealing with anti-terrorism, taxes, pension security, and corporate accounting reform that have passed the House of Representatives and are stalled in the Daschle controlled Senate.
Anti-terrorism
Anti-hoax Terrorism Act (H.R. 3209)
- Makes it a felony to report a false biological, chemical, or nuclear attack.
- Forces people convicted of making false terrorism reports to pay for the cost of investigation their hoaxes.
- Received in the Senate on December 12, 2001.
- Has been awaiting further action for 163 days.
Terrorism Risk Protection Act (H.R. 3210)
- Lessons the economic risks of terrorism by creating a temporary industry risk spreading program.
- Program takes effect when the Treasury Secretary determines the attack will result in losses between $1 billion and $20 billion.
- Placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar December 3, 2001.
- Has been awaiting further action for 172 days.
Coast Guard Authorization Act for FY 2003 (H.R. 3507)
- Authorizes $4.2 billion of Coast Guard operations including funding for modernizing vessels, aircraft and offshore facilities needed during the war on terrorism.
- Received in the Senate on December 2, 2001, and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar.
- Has been awaiting further action for 173 days.
Taxes
Taxpayer Relief Guarantee Act (H.R. 586)
- Makes tax reductions permanent to guarantee long term economic growth and stability.
- Protects Social Security and Medicare.
- Received in the Senate on April 18, 2002.
- Has been awaiting further action for 36 days.
Pension Security
Pension Security Act (H.R. 3762)
- Provides new protections for workers and options for workers and gives employees the ability to sell company stocks and diversify their investment options.
- Bars company insiders from selling their own stock during "blackout periods".
- Received in the Senate on April 15, 2002, and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Has been awaiting further action for 39 days.
Accounting Reform
Corporate and Auditing Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency Act (H.R. 3763)
- Protects investors and increases supervision of accountants.
- Strengthens corporate responsibility and increases transparency of corporate financial statements.
- Protects employee access to retirement accounts.
- Received in the Senate on April 25, 2002 and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Has been awaiting further action for 29 days.
Small Business Interest Checking Act of 2001 (H.R. 974)
- Allows banks to provide interest-bearing checking accounts for small businesses.
- Changes the calculation of the Federal Reserve to allow banks to loan out monies at a higher rate than currently exists based on the checking account reserves of small business.
- Has been awaiting further action for 415 days.
Additional highlights of the Daschle 50:
- H.R. 3210 - Terrorism Risk Protection Act (172 days)
- H.R. 1209 - Child Status Protection Act (350 days)
- H.R. 3391 - Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act (338 days)
- H.R. 2341 - Class Action Fairness Act of 2002 (71 days)
- H.R. 3231 - Immigration Reform and Accountability Act of 2002 (28 days)
Breakdown of the Daschle-50 languishing in the Senate:
- Over 400 days: 9 bills
- Over 300 days: 4 bills
- Over 200 days: 10 bills
- 100-200 days: 13 bills
- 0-99 days: 13 bills
*Senator Daschle's Performance Review:
- Job Category % Complete Rating
- Daschle's "Must-Do Agenda" 44% Unsatisfactory
- Daschle-50 0% Unsatisfactory
- Original 11 Judicial Nominees 27% Unsatisfactory
- Budget 0% Unsatisfactory
- Permanent Tax Relief 0% Unsatisfactory
- Executive Branch Nominees 72% Unsatisfactory
Total: 23.8% Unsatisfactory
- Congressional Quarterly, May 8,2002
- http://freedom.house.gov/library/economics/dasch50.asp
- http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/judicialnominations.htm
- Senate Conference Resolution 100
- H.R. 586
- RNC Research