All-nighters in Congress create dysfunction after dark

Late-night votes are an age-old pressure tactic for congressional leaders in both major political parties. Yet overnight sessions have become increasingly common in Congress as the House and the Senate struggle to govern. Lawmakers say it’s a symptom of a broken Congress that often has to resort to extreme measures to pass major legislation and is often careening from one crisis to the next. In just the last few weeks, Congress has done much of its work in the middle of the night, leading to confusion and chaos in both chambers. Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota says, “The dysfunction is getting worse.”