An empty gesture

Congress wastes time on resolution to support ICE

What’s next from the House Republicans, resolutions in support of the FBI, NASA and maybe the Bureau of Land Management?

Republicans seem to think that federal agencies are there to be supported or opposed, depending on their partisan leanings.

Thus, President Donald Trump appoints Cabinet secretaries in education, environmental protection, energy, and consumer finance who consider it their sworn duty to knock the pins out from under their agency.

Meanwhile, majority House Republicans recently introduced a resolution of support for an agency — Immigration and Customs Enforcement — as if the agency’s ability to do its work depended on these occasional and meaningless votes of confidence.

The measure passed 244-35, with 133 Democrats simply voting “present.”

Congress has one vote of confidence, and that’s the budget, and it has lost control of that process. Congress is unable to pass a balanced budget, even though Republicans control both chambers and the presidency, and have long promised a balanced budget.

Congress is unable to pass an annual omnibus appropriations budget, constantly throwing the country and the government into a tizzy about whether the government will be funded for another month.

The measure of support for ICE was an unnecessary use of Congress’ time. Republicans who voted “yes” deserve no credit from the voters for their courageous stand in favor of the government doing its job.

Democrats who voted “present,” including U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, DForest Hills, did the right thing. It was a resolution that had no content worthy of Congress’ time. (Democrat Rep. Conor Lamb of Mt. Lebanon voted in favor of the bill, as did Rep. Keith Rothfus, the Republican from Sewickley. The two will face off in November in a newly formed congressional district.)

Those who voted “no” on the resolution would have been better off voting present. It borders on disloyal for a member of Congress to vote against a resolution of support for a law enforcement agency that is doing the difficult work authorized by Congress.

Democrats and Republicans in Washington are playing political games at an ever-dizzying rate, and members of the voting public are disgusted.