IT is time for my scorecard of just how the Congress has done in the past month. My scoring is any negative is a step backwards, positive is a step forward and the no step for a stalled month.

2008 past scores:

Jan–1 step forward

Feb–No Step

Mar–2 steps backwards

Apr–1 Step forward

May–3 steps forward

Jun–4 steps backwards

Now on to the month of July:

1–the passage of the FISA bill–backwards

2–passage of the housing bailout bill–forward

3–override and passage of the medicare bill–forward

4–passage of the AIDS bill–forward

5–Blocking on the oil speculation bill–backward

6–No Energy bill–backward

The tally of the month makes the progress as “NO Step”. Little has changed for the year, the Congress is still moving backwards, a direct opposition than what they promised when elected in 2006. August will be no better–will explain that at a later date.