With Congress adjourned for its August recess, Americans can enjoy a brief respite from the steady stream of bad legislation that typically emanates from the Capitol.

But wouldn’t it be nice if Congress stayed out of Washington for a bit longer?

Senator Joe Biden (D‑Del.) recalled a conversation with former Senator Jim Eastland (D‑Miss.) about the way Congress used to deal with the summer heat:

“‘Before we had air conditioning,’ he said, ‘that sun would beat down on that dome, heat up that place,’ he said. ‘It would get too hot and we’d leave Washington, and we’d leave for the year,’” Biden quoted Eastland as saying.

“‘Then we got air conditioning, stayed year-round and ruined America.’”