Legislative expectations were low at the start of this presidential election year. But the economic tailspin prompted lawmakers to tackle a range of issues -- from offshore drilling to home foreclosures and a Wall Street bailout. CQ's Dids and Didn'ts is an interactive guide highlighting the debates that topped the congressional agenda in 2008, and how each was resolved — or not. See what Congress Did ...
Rate how you think Congress handled each issue by clicking on the “thumbs up”, “thumbs down” or “on the fence” icons.
Congress Didn't ...
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Fiscal 2009 Continuing Resolution
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Congress didn't finish any of the eight domestic spending bills or the foreign aid appropriations bill for fiscal 2009, freezing spending for all the programs in those measures at fiscal 2008 levels until March.
32% 58% 10% Reader Results
Comments (1)
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Tax Break Extensions
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Congress didn't enact a permanent change to avoid millions of taxpayers being subjected to the alternative minimum tax.
31% 59% 10% Reader Results
Comments (1)
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Medicare Physician Fee Cut Prevention
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Congress didn't change the Medicare cost containment formula, which, since 2002, has required Congress to take annual action to avoid a cut in physician reimbursement rates.
19% 64% 17% Reader Results
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Climate Change Mitigation
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Congress didn't act on legislation to limit carbon emissions in an effort to slow global warming.
25% 69% 6% Reader Results
Comments (1)
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Tobacco Regulation
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Congress didn't complete legislation giving the Food and Drug Administration broad authority to regulate tobacco products.
27% 64% 9% Reader Results
Comments (1)
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Intelligence Programs Authorization
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Congress didn't reauthorize federal intelligence programs for fiscal 2009.
56% 30% 14% Reader Results
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Conduct of the Iraq War
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Congress didn't set a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
30% 63% 7% Reader Results
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Economic Stimulus Bill
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Congress didn't pass a second economic stimulus bill that focused on the creation of jobs through infrastructure projects.
28% 57% 14% Reader Results
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Free-Trade Agreement
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Congress didn't enact a U.S.-Colombian free-trade agreement.
56% 33% 11% Reader Results
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Wage Discrimination Policy
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Congress didn't expand the rights of workers to file wage-discrimination lawsuits.
27% 66% 7% Reader Results
Comments (1)
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