Apparently Congress casting symbolic votes in the face of veto threats is the new pre-Presidential Election Year game, as congresscritters push through bills they know That Guy in the White House will veto. (And, yes, the trend starts during the Dubya years, but has grown during the Obama Administration, though part of that effect may have to do with GOP wins in Congress.)
What's also interesting is that the numbers consistently drop the year before off-year elections, rising back up slightly during those election years. That would argue it's not being done to polish Congressional elections per se, but as part of party politics in the Presidential race.
Originally shared by +Kirsten Crippen:
From @TheEconomist article: http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21679797-show-and-tell
