The Silly Season

It now seems that the President’s State of the Union Address during a Presidential election year starts the beginning of a period  during which very little of substance happens in our nation’s capital. I think Wikipedia is not up to date, since they refer to this US “silly season” as follows:

“In US politics, the silly season is a period from early summer until the first week of October of election years. Primary elections are over at this time, but formal debates have not started and the general election is still many weeks away. Issues raised during this period are likely to be forgotten by the election, so candidates may rely on frivolous political posturing and hyperbole to get media attention and raise money.”

It seems to me this period has been extended unbearably to pretty much the entire election year. Congressional aides confide to me that anything that’s not passed by December of the year before the election probably won’t be taken up until after. There are a few exceptions for small things that go through to make them look like they are doing something. Otherwise no one wants to be on the hook for anything.

The US House is fully re-elected every 2 years. One third of the Senate also comes up as well. Add a Presidential election and well it’s just crazy time. Given all the positive initiatives sitting before the legislature to help smaller businesses improve their access to capital, maybe we could replace the Silly Season with the Sensible Season?? How about just slipping Reg A reform through folks, no? Just me talking.

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