To say the U.S. Senate has grown dysfunctional is like suggesting water is wet or the nighttime sky is dark. The institution that fancies itself the world's greatest deliberative body is supposed to serve as a cooling saucer that tempers the more hotheaded House, applying weight and wisdom as it addresses the Great Issues of Our Time. Instead, it's devolved into an unsightly mess of gridlock and partisan hackery.
The U.S. House of Representatives may soon see a mass "exodus" of Republican lawmakers who are frustrated with their party's inability to pass legislation and are anticipating Democrats retaking the chamber next year. Multiple Republican lawmakers and aides have said they expect the retirement announcements to start pouring in over the coming weeks, with one insider estimating as many as 20 House Republicans throwing in the towel, according to a recent report in .