Twas the

Night Before

Christmas
A Lesson in Bipartisanship
By: Ms. Ramlos 4th Hour American Government Class

Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the House,
Representatives and Senators heard
a joint session was announced.

The hopper was placed

on the floor with great cheer,
In hopes that a bill
soon would appear.

Hopper

The Congressmen were nestled all

snug in their seats,
Strategically plotting their enemys
defeat.
With the Democrats on the left and
Republicans to the right,
Congress settled in for a long
debate night.
The red side demanded one thing
and the blue side demanded more,
There was no compromise to be
found on this particular House
floor.

Speaker Paul
Ryan: Hmmm,
what was that?

Then up in the gallery there arose

such a clatter
The Speaker sprang from his seat to
see what was the matter.
Away from the floor Congress flew
like a flash,
And emerged on Capitol Hill with
one big crash!

When what to their wondering eyes

did appear,
But a man in a suit, radiating good
cheer.
The man was quite tall with a hat
much the same,
They knew in an instant it must be
Honest Abe!

Lincolns voice boomed clearly as

he delivered his decree,
You must all work together,
surely you can agree!

He looked to the leaders from

each political side
And called them by name in
hopes they would abide.
"Now, McCarthy! now, Pelosi!
now Hoyer and Ryan!
On, McConnell! on, Reid!
on, Durbin and Biden!
Reach across that aisle and extend
a friendly hand,

For a House divided against itself

cannot stand.

Giving a nod, Congress promised

to agree
And Mr. Lincoln departed from
Washington D.C.
He sprang to his sleigh and to the
team gave a whistle,
And away he flew like the down
of a thistle.

But Congress heard him

exclaim as he drove out of
sight,

Merry Christmas to all,

and may Congress act
right!