Every six months, Americans change their clocks, complain about changing their clocks and are assured by politicians that someday we won’t have to change our clocks. Then Congress does what Congress does best: nothing.
The latest attempt is the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent. The House actually passed it in July by a whopping 308-117 vote. And now? Welcome to the Senate. Where bills die.
President Donald Trump supports ending the twice-a-year ritual, but Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton remains firmly opposed to permanent daylight saving time, arguing it would leave children heading to school in the dark during winter. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says there’s currently “no clear path forward” for the legislation.
So, barring a sudden outbreak of congressional productivity, Americans will once again “fall back” on Nov. 1.
The debate will then disappear for several months before returning right on schedule next spring, when politicians will once again bravely announce that changing the clocks is stupid.
See you in March.