WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins recently introduced H.R. 5842, the End the Lame Duck Act, in the House of Representatives to prohibit a lame duck legislative session after the general election.

“Passing unpopular, far reaching legislation like tax increases, card check or cap and trade after the general election when the House is no longer accountable to the American people is unacceptable,” Jenkins said. “My commonsense bill provides members of Congress the opportunity to show folks around the nation that we are listening and willing to earn back their trust.”

The End the Lame Duck Act would make the adjournment in the U.S. House of Representatives on the day of the general elections an adjournment sine die, an adjournment without a specific date to return to session. The legislation also provides that any appropriations legislation not made law by that time would be subject to an automatic continuing resolution at the level of the previous fiscal year.  In the case of a national emergency, the Speaker of the House and Majority Leader in the Senate can reassemble members of the House and Senate. H.R. 5842 has been referred to the House Committee on Appropriations and also the House Rules Committee.

Jenkins continued, “The House of Representatives functions best when it is accountable to the American people, and using the lame duck session to force through unpopular and controversial legislation is exactly the type of deceitful Washington gimmicks that folks around the country are tired of. My bill would put an end to that underhanded tactic, and I am hopeful my colleagues from both sides of the aisle will agree and will support my bill.”

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According to reports in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, the Obama Administration and Democrat leaders in Washington are making plans for a lame duck legislative session after the general elections on November 2, 2010.