After the 2016 election, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., welcomed “the dawn of a new unified Republican government.” Reince Priebus, who was to be President Trump’s first chief of staff, declared that it was time “to put up and show up.” Vice President Mike Pence warned lawmakers to “buckle up.” For the second time since President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the GOP controlled the House, Senate, and White House at the same time.

More than a year later, they have far too little to show for this rare conjunction of executive and legislative control. And now, they’re on vacation.