Editor, Gazette-Journal:

After returning last month from its five-week summer recess, Congress spent less than three weeks in session—just long enough to vote to keep the government funded for a few more months. They are not scheduled to return to Washington until Nov. 12. 

The U.S. House has been in session for roll call votes a total of 92 days in 2014—or 35 percent so far. The Senate has worked even less, holding roll call votes on just 87 days this year. 

In contrast, Americans working a typical five-day work week, with public holidays, would have worked a total of somewhere around 181 days during that time.

Heading up to this election season, Congress has worked even less than it did in the last two election cycles, holding only 515 roll call votes. In 2012, it held 603 votes before the fall break. And in the midterm cycle in 2010, the House held 565 votes. So far this year, Congress has passed just 163 bills into law.

With this work ethic, the average e...