As part of the GOP Pledge to America in 2010, they made the following observation regarding suspension votes during the Pelosi Congress (page 34):

The number of House legislative days devoted to action on noncontroversial and often insignificant “suspension” bills is up significantly in this Congress by comparison with the past several Congresses, wasting time and taxpayer resources.  Of the bills considered under the suspension procedure – requiring 2/3 vote for passage – so far during this Congress,
more than half were bills naming federal buildings, recognizing individuals or groups (like sports teams) for achievements, or supporting the designation of particular days, months, or weeks.

Someday I plan to tally up the number of suspension bills that were proposed over the past two and a half years, but there is no doubt that the number comes close or exceeds the level of wasted votes during the Pelosi years.  Some weeks, the majority of legislative days are wasted on these insipid issues, none of which represent good public policy or effective messaging against big government.

This week the House will vote on 9 suspension votes.  Here is a sample of those bills:

H.R. 520 – Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act   

This bill, which is sponsored by Democrat Jackie Speier, would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the history of Buffalo Soldiers in the establishment of national parks.  The study will cost $400,000.  The purpose of the study is to ascertain the feasibility of a plan to create a 200-mile trail between San Francisco and Yosemite National Park in commemoration of the Buffalo Soldiers.  I’m sure there’s a time and a place to commemorate their service, but is this what we need to deal with now?

H.R. 674 – Rota Cultural and Natural Resources Study Act 

This bill authorizes yet another feasibility study to ascertain whether certain forests in the island of Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands should be included in the National Park Service.  Do we need another $300,000 study to decide whether we should add more land to the 660-acre ownership of the federal government?

Hey, I guess it’s better to focus on this stuff than a $1 trillion farm bill or a $6.3 trillion Democrat voter-registration drive.