Leading Republican lawmakers have struggled in recent months to defend Congress’ record of ineptitude. As a simple matter of arithmetic, the last Congress was the least productive since clerks started keeping track nearly a century ago – and the current Congress is significantly worse.

As we talked about last week, the GOP explanation for this has evolved over time. About a year ago, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) tried pure denial, saying it’s “total nonsense” to say Congress is having a “historically unproductive” term. Soon after, Boehner switched gears, acknowledging reality, but saying failure is a good thing: Congress “ought to be judged on how many laws we repeal,” he said, not by how many laws actually pass.

But as lawmakers’ August recess enters its second week, the Republican line has clearly changed once more. Now the right is wholly invested in the notion that the GOP-led House is a law-passing machine, but it’s that rascally Democratic Senate that’s the problem. Reader Jamie McCarthy flagged this National Review piece, which echoed the new Republican talking points nicely....

See? House Republicans love governing! They’re passing bills all the time! It’s no wonder GOP House members are trying to work the phrase “Do-Nothing Senate” into public conversation.