Washington's election-year paralysis hurts the nation
Produce at the Union Square farmers market in New York City. Credit: Getty Images
A federal food safety law shifting the government's focus from responding to dangerous contamination to preventing it has been heralded as the most sweeping food security reform in decades. But 18 months after the law was enacted, the rules needed to put it into effect are nowhere to be seen.
That inaction is just one example of a disheartening election-year paralysis in Washington. It's one thing for the White House and Congress to stall on famously contentious issues such as tax, Medicare and Social Security reform until voters have spoken on which party's approach they favor. But there's no excuse for leaving routine business undone.
The Obama administration is the bottleneck on food safety. It has blown January and July deadlines for putting out for public comment proposed rules for a new import-safety system, standards for fruit and requirements for food processors. The leisurely pace gives credence to allegations that President Barack Obama is stalling to avoid playing into the Republican narrative that regulation is growing on his watch.
But election-year timidity isn't limited to the administration. Congress hasn't reauthorized the farm bill set to expire Sept. 30, even as crops across a large swath of the country are being decimated by drought. Passing a compromise bill could force conservatives from farm states to vote to end some wasteful farm subsidies. And it could force liberals to vote to cut funding for the federal food stamp program.
Legislation the Postal Service needs to pull itself out of a deep financial hole is also stalled because it could allow unpopular moves like ending Saturday mail delivery and closing post offices.
Even cybersecurity legislation is in limbo. Hardening the nation's defenses against cyberattack should include requiring companies that operate critical infrastructure, such as power plants and water systems, to adopt government-imposed security standards.
In each case, fear of alienating some voters has trumped doing the public's business. Elected officials should have more backbone.
