Spring break for some, stay of execution for you

When it comes to politics and politicians, the good news/bad news is often the same thing. Especially if you work for, or are retired from, the U.S. government. People like, uh, you.

If you’re one of those junkies that like to watch or follow the action in the House of Representatives and follow gavel-to-gavel coverage of the U.S. Senate, times are tough. Your favorite soap opera is dark. For a while.

The Senate is in recess, and won’t be back until after April Fool’s Day, which is a Friday. The House is due to leave (officially) on Thursday and return April 11. But in fact many members have already gone and some will be out after the 11th. In theory, all House seats are up for grabs. But thanks to gerrymandering by both political parties, only a relatively small percentage of the House seats are seriously contested. Members who aren’t in trouble will join colleagues in other districts and states where incumbents are running against-the-mess-in-Washington, so they can return to it for another two years. About a third of the Senate is up. Those who aren’t facing serious (or any) competition can campaign for colleagues or challengers so their party can keep or take control of the body.

This isn’t the first extended 2016 break Congress has had, even though the year is still young. And it definitely won’t be the last. This mostly good news for federal workers and retirees worried about repeated (and in some cases decades-old) assaults on their pay, benefits, retirement package and work rules. There won’t be any government shutdowns or furloughs this year. And there probably won’t be any action, good or bad, on the legislative front. Which is good for feds.

The legislative operations of groups and unions that represent feds, postal workers, executives and retirees are on guard. Partly because it’s their job, but also because they know stuff sometimes happens. Even in quiet times, like now. Often what they do doesn’t get much credit because it involves — sometimes quietly and diplomatically — blocking some adverse proposal coming from the Congress.

So even if you are not off over the next couple of weeks, enjoy some worry-free time. Because they will be back…

Nearly Useless Factoid

By Michael O’Connell

On March 22, 1621, Hugo de Grote escaped in a bookcase from Loevenstein castle in The Netherlands.

Source: On This Day

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