The term "green shoots" is increasingly being used to describe the first positive signs of growth after an economic downturn. It is now possible to say that we are seeing green shoots on Capitol Hill, signs that the institution of Congress may be becoming a bit less dysfunctional than it has been in recent years. It has a long way to go before it gets back to where it was 30 or more years ago, when it did function reasonably well. Still, as veteran Congress-watcher Billy Moore puts it, "For years, no one in Washington lost money betting against Congress, but this time they might." The first sign that things might be changing was just after last November's election, when a government shutdown was avoided without the pyrotechnics seen in the recent past. More recently, with the deal on the Medicare "doc fix" and extension of the Children's Health Insurance Program, the House and Senate passing budget resolutions and the confirmation of a federal judge, things seem like they are starting to move. Moore - a Democrat who spent more

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