Hmm, maybe because the president can veto legislation and the Senate which only has a tacit and in name only democratic majority is really setting the agenda. It is win win for the republicans in the Senate, they in essence get to block legislation without any blame. Sure the House could keep pumping stuff out but why? I'm not sure it is a terrible idea just for the sake of doing it, ie having the upper hand at election time by saying this and that were blocked, and to have it on the record, but isn't everyone complaining about gridlock and ineffectiveness, didn't Madame Speaker have a mandate to enact meaningful legislation. From what I've seen of her term, she's all about the big picture. As Dubya says, Git 'er done, y'all.