Since the events of last weekend, a major focus of the press has been whether Moscow Mitch will call the Senate back into session to deal with gun control.  After all, there are several bills that the House has passed regarding background checks, etc., that would be useful starting points for Senate debate.

It has become pretty clear that Moscow Mitch intends to stay in his turtle shell and hope that — as in the past — other issues will gain media attention and the focus on Republican inaction on this issue will pass.  But there is one thing that Democrats can do to highlight the Senate’s failure and that is for the House to return to Washington to take another look at gun control.

Technically, it’s not necessary because — as discussed above — the House has already done its part.  But, unfortunately, the House passed its bills in the ordinary course of business — meaning that the media paid those bills little attention as they were passed.  The purpose of recalling the House into session is not a need to pass new bills (although we should do that as well) but to demonstrate that the House is doing the People’s business while the Senate is standing in the doorway and blocking up the halls (with apologies to Bob Dylan). Continue Reading...