Yesterday the 109th Congress adjourned. Thank God! It may have been one of the least productive and most corrupt congresses in American history. Of course, the Republicans couldn’t just submit to the will of the American people and stay away from hot button issues, they decided to throw a “going out of power party” and pass a slew of new legislation.

First, they brought back a number of tax cuts that had expired. Of course it is widely known that the US Government is flush with cash and has no deficit, so we can manage to give away billions of dollars… oh, wait.

Second, they passed a bill that allows additional oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Florida. Here’s an idea, how about we pass a bill raising the fuel standards of cars so that we don’t need any of that oil in the first place! What makes the bill even more ridiculous is that the bill gives Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama 37.5 percent of all future royalties collected from drilling in the Gulf, and increase from the current 2 percent they receive. Over the next ten years that will be billions of dollars (as many as $170 billion over 50 years). Why do those four states deserve all of that money when the rest of us have vital projects that need to be funded as well? It’s not their waters; the Gulf belongs to all of us.

Third, the Congress also failed to pass a new budget for the federal government, instead passing a stop gap, which has become way too frequently used in recent years.

The Democrats took the opportunity to block a Congressional pay raise, saying they won’t take a pay raise until the minimum wage is raised. Good for them. Here in Ohio the minimum wage will be getting a big raise soon, thanks to the passage of Issue 2 in November.

Then of course there was the announcement of the results of the inquiry into Mark Foley. He broke no rules? Did you guys even bother to investigate or was it always the plan to just sweep it under the rug?

Goodbye 109th Congress. You will not be missed.