EDITORIAL: An end-of-year to-do list for Congress

Picture some water fowl on crutches and you'll have a pretty good notion of how little progress a lame duck Congress is likely to make.

Then consider that Republican congressional leaders dissed President Barack Obama by postponing the Nov. 18 "slurpee summit" - where they were to seek common ground with Democrats - and the already low expectations nose dive.

But there's work to be done and hope springs eternal. So here's our to-do list of which agenda items Congress should be checking off before year's end.

Extend for one year the Bush tax cuts for those earning less than $250,000 a year.

Repeal the discriminatory don't ask don't tell policy and allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

Compensate sick 9/11 first responders.

Ratify the nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia.

Pass a spending bill to avoid shutting down the government.

Pass the Dream Act, so people brought illegally to this country as children can become citizens under certain circumstances.

Give the Food and Drug Administration more power to deal with tainted food.

Head off an unworkable 23 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements for doctors.

That's a lot for a Congress replete with members who lost their re-election bids and are playing out the string until January. But the nation's problems don't stop for succession. Congress shouldn't either. hN