The 'attention-deficit-disorder' Congress

The ‘attention-deficit-disorder’ Congress
Donald Trump's fondness for flitting from one topic to another is making it hard for lawmakers to focus, too.
By BURGESS EVERETT and ELANA SCHOR
03/12/2018 05:00 AM EDT


Even in peak form, Congress struggles to focus on any one issue for more than a few days. But its short attention span has taken on new meaning in the era of Donald Trump.

“We kind of have attention deficit disorder,” as Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) put it.

Every time it seems the president has zeroed in on an issue, and appears determined to see it through — guns and immigration are just the two latest examples — he moves on to something else. And Congress, which isn’t designed to respond swiftly to national events and the wishes of the White House even in the least distracted of circumstances, simply can’t keep up.

The constant whiplash of priorities is getting on lawmakers’ nerves.

“It’s unbelievable to me,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). “The attention span just seems to be ... it’s a real problem.”

The hyperactive mindset of the Oval Office has had the effect, whether by design or not, of quickly diverting attention from topics big or small. After a bout of attention on gun control in the wake of the Florida school massacre last month, Congress has seemingly moved on already. Before that, it was the plight of Dreamers facing deportation.

In the end, nothing gets done on the issue of the day.

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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/12/congress-republicans-attention-deficit-452221