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Article snippet: WASHINGTON — Most people do not become United States senators to pass a resolution declaring National Lobster Day. But Congress has had to settle largely for small-bore victories since President Trump was sworn into office, ostentatiously failing to pass a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and achieving little substantive policy legislation. The floundering Republican agenda — particularly remarkable in a period when new presidents tend to be most productive with a Congress controlled by their own party — has attracted bipartisan scorn from lawmakers. It has also engendered some pity from those who see Congress as hamstrung by a dysfunctional White House. But within the misery monsoon that has befallen Congress this year lies some potential silver linings. After years of partisan fighting over the health care law that was President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement, Democrats and Republicans now admit that they will probably have to work together to make many of its much-needed fixes. “We’ve realized our limitations,” said Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona. “I think we will work together to get more bipartisan legislation. We’ve just got to.” Republicans are deeply motivated to get a major tax bill passed and signed by the president and have returned to committee chambers — rather than the private back rooms of leaders’ offices — to get the process rolling. Perhaps most important, Senate Republicans have begun to stiffen their spines agai... Link to the full article to read more