[ronald_reagan]

One major reform that the Democrats promised if they were given control of Congress was more days spent working on Capital Hill, who who can blame them. I'll admit that Republicans did a horrible job while there in 2006. Here is a basic outline of the 2006 year:
January: In session for 1/2 hour on Jan. 31.
February: In session for 2 days for 3 weeks. 6 days total
March: In session for 9 days
April: 6 days of work followed by "Spring Vacation" from the 6th-25th
May: 13 days of work
June: 16 days in DC
July: 12 days
August: ZERO days
September: 14 days
October: 4 days
November: 2 days
December: 5 days

But then again, the schedule for this year made by the Dems with their major changes to work still allows for 20 weeks off including no work after Oct. 26! Not bad for someone making $162,500 a year. But they do need to get some work done!!

If congress would get on the ball and do their job and stop 'condemning actions', naming highways, making holidays, applauding sports teams, ect... things would get done. Lets get some stuff done!!! And my friends here, the democrats aren't going to do it.

But beef, Let me respond to your numbers that you posted above. For 2nd year congresses, its about on par, and above so in some areas.

According to the congressional quarterly (the numbers you use) and doing custom math upon them we arrive at the following:

Senate Average work days, since 1995 (earliest record) = 156 days total, 137 for second year congresses, and 133 for the 109th congress (2nd year year).

Combined total bills introduced in session for 2nd year congress since 1995 (3701 per session, the congress you mentioned was in session for closer to 4600 hours) roughly 25% more than the 12 year running average.

The point I'm trying to make is that the house and senate only have as much power as they do support from the american people. And when you have 19% support, its two fold... the americans don't support your ideas, and because of your inaction, they WONT support you.

We need to look at the big pictures, not the small numbers.