It seems as though everywhere you turn some Beltway observer is complaining that the 113^th Congress did not do anything. It’s true that up until their last day in session they had passed fewer bills than any in history. Then in a flurry of activity they voted on just enough legislation to surpass the 112^th Congress, barely.

But those who consider this a “do-nothing” Congress, weren’t watching C-SPAN at the right time.

“We’re totally outraged by this legislative deal, which was done in the middle of the night.”

Congress Says It Has to Cut Pensions to Save Them
Bloomberg BusinessWeek

“[The bill was] released in the middle of the night,” Slaughter said at the beginning of the hearing.

Boehner Ally Admits Omnibus Bill Was Crafted in Literal Cigar Smoke-Filled Back Room
Breitbart.com

That’s why Democrats had to use a parliamentary maneuver in the middle of the night to pass it.

Obamacare & the Gruber Democrats
Real Clear Politics

Remember in 2009 when the Democrats controlled the House and Senate and passed Obamacare in the middle of the night without anyone reading the thousands of pages of the law and over the vehement objections of the American people.

Obama: President or King-Dictator?
al.com

The vote was moved up two weeks in the middle of the night …

Messy Fight for Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Slot
Rollcall.com

If they bring it up in the middle of the night and there are only Democrats there, it is ratified.

Gun Rights Activists Are Worried Obama Could Use Executive Action On United Nations Treaty Limiting Gun Rights  
Westernjournalism.com

“The fact that we have made it legal now…in the middle of the night, days before Christmas…”

Blanche Lincoln Segment on Mike Huckabee Show Full of Nonsense
USPoker.com

“These kinds of backroom deals and changing of the rules in the middle of the night is exactly why Congress has a lower approval rating than cockroaches and traffic jams,” he said.

Nancy Pelosi Says Decision to Delete Reporting Requirement for Free Trips ‘Must Be Reversed’
National Journal

Unlike the criticism Congress received following the passage of UIGEA (which was attached to the Safe Ports Act of 2006 literally in the middle of the night)…

House Judiciary Committee May Hold iGaming Hearing During Lame Duck
NJPokerOnline.net

Apparently Congress worked a lot, but waited until after dark to do it. It also seems the work they did at night was on legislation that no one liked and may have actually been harmful.

The solution seems simple. The halls of Congress should close at the same time as the Georgetown bars.