House Dems want to avoid votes on "controversial bills" for gays, labor & Latinos next year

Next year is an election year, and Democrats are now officially in full freak out mode. Democrats in the House announced today that they won't touch any "controversial" legislation until and unless the Senate acts first. Among the list of "controversial" topics are gay issues, labor issues, and Latino issues -- specifically, immigration reform, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. That pretty much sums up a good chunk of the Democratic base.

We could use some presidential leadership, but, we know not to expect that.

Don't say we didn't warn you. John has been saying for months that if we didn't get things done in 2009, nothing will happen in 2010 because it's an election year, and that 2011 is the beginning of the presidential primaries, and 2012 is a congressional and presidential election. Things will only get worse. That's just how the Hill usually works. They focus on elections in an election year. You know, those elections where they promise us that they'll pass our legislation if they get our votes and our money. The angst on the Hill seems even worse this year. 2009 has been consumed by health care reform -- and the way that issue has been mishandled by the White House and Hill leaders has left Democrats on the Hill squeamish about doing anything else.

Now we know for sure where we stand. We're "controversial." Si se puede. Or not.

We've got more on this development at AMERICAblog Gay.