To which I reply, "Sure, fair," and also, "The House of Representatives was in session for a grand total of zero days in August and October."

In 2014, we reported that Congress was in session for only 60 percent of weekdays between 2011 and 2014 -- meaning that they were in session for the equivalent of three days a week. Since 1978, the figure is lower. Our analysis of congressional calendars stretching back to 1978 indicates that the figure is closer to 54 percent for the House and 58 percent for the Senate. That's thanks in large part to the dips on Monday and Friday, which Congress-defenders will note are often used as travel days.

The Congress just drawing to a close -- the 114th -- has been a bit better at being in session on Mondays and Fridays. Or, at least, on Mondays. (Notice that this is the count of days in session, not the percentage of days in session.) Credit where due: The House was in session on Fridays a lot more in 2015 than was the Senate.

I again draw your attention, though, to August and October of this year, highlighted on the chart below.

Notice the lack of dark red bars those months. The House was not in session. Perhaps this was because they were out busting their tails in their districts, ensuring that their constituents were getting the service they'd come to expect from their elected officials. Or perhaps it was because they were campaigning.

Why do I say that? Compare the same data from the 113th Congress.

Once again, a big dip in the number of sessions in October of the election year. Curious! I've requested a month off this year to make the case to The Post that I shouldn't be fired; I'll let you know how it goes.

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Note, too, that even the Senate had more time off in 2014 than this year. And that the color of the Senate bars in the 113th Congress is blue, since the chamber was controlled by the Democrats. In the 114th Congress, it was controlled by Republicans, so they held pro forma sessions every three days during October to keep President Obama from making any recess appointments -- say, to the Supreme Court. So if you want to count that as working, too, go nuts.

Overall, the 114th Congress wasn't really in session any more or less than other recent congresses.

It's just that the amount of time spent in session in any recent Congress is often fairly modest.

Not that they're not working! They're working. Many people are saying they're working. And when they're in session, everyone's there on the floor, debating the big issues of the day.