Beware the post-Red Wave lame-duck Congress

When members of Congress are done with this November’s election, they’ll return to Washington for a lame duck session during which lawmakers will consider a long list of issues that threaten to drive up spending by trillions of dollars. From additional aid to Ukraine, to emergency spending for hurricane damage, and increasing welfare and entitlement spending, members of Congress have set themselves up with a “must‐​pass” bill in mid‐​December.

Lawmakers must not use the threat of a government shutdown during an unaccountable lame duck Congress to push through controversial legislation that will drive up federal deficits and debt—especially now, as the Federal Reserve is taking aggressive steps to control inflation. …

Lame duck sessions of Congress present a further moral hazard because they reduce lawmaker’s accountability to voters. And passing controversial legislation during lame ducks is becoming more prevalent.