More 'Green Shoots' on the Hill

Last week, this column noted the avoidance of drama this past fall, when another government shutdown could have occurred, and the fact that in recent weeks, Congress eliminated the much reviled Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (aka the "doc fix")—something that has eluded Congress repeatedly over the past decade—and extended the Children's Health Insurance Program. Both chambers approved budget resolutions as well, and the Senate confirmed a federal judge for good measure: all signs that we may be seeing "green shoots," signs of real legislative life on Capitol Hill. After the column was written but before it was even published, an impasse over an abortion provision was resolved in the Senate. This allowed an otherwise noncontroversial human-trafficking bill to pass, which in turn enabled a confirmation vote for Loretta Lynch to become attorney general—more evidence that the congressional logjam was breaking up. Next up are appropriations measures, with hopes that some degree of self-control will prevent the legislative hostage-taking that has proved so problematic in recent years. None of these accomplishments will go down as historically important; indeed, all of them