--- title: The 7 Biggest Things That Didn't Happen in D.C. in 2014 description: Sometimes it's the things that didn't happen that are the most notable. Here's some very big things that didn't happen in D.C. this year. canonical: https://time.com/3645445/congress-obama-2014-year-review/ author: Tessa Berenson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-12-23T18:31:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:06:31.817Z article:section: Politics og:title: The 7 Biggest Things That Didn't Happen in D.C. in 2014 og:description: Sometimes it's the things that didn't happen that are the most notable. Here's some very big things that didn't happen in D.C. this year. og:url: https://time.com/3645445/congress-obama-2014-year-review/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3e7fb2a27bc61bf7/698777128e060100374596a0/479731403.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: Commuter, Horse Race Breaks Said to Get Senate Panel Vote og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The 7 Biggest Things That Didn't Happen in D.C. in 2014 twitter:description: Sometimes it's the things that didn't happen that are the most notable. Here's some very big things that didn't happen in D.C. this year. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3e7fb2a27bc61bf7/698777128e060100374596a0/479731403.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The 7 Biggest Things That Didn't Happen in D.C. in 2014 > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. 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Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters.  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Dec 23, 2014 6:31 PM UTC  The U.S. Capitol stands surrounded by fog in Washington, D.C., March 20, 2014. The U.S. Capitol stands surrounded by fog in Washington, D.C., March 20, 2014. Andrew Harrer—Bloomberg/Getty Images  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Dec 23, 2014 6:31 PM UTC Let’s face it: 2014 was no 2008\. As far as politics goes, this year won’t go down in American history as one of the more notable ones. But sometimes it’s the things that didn’t happen that are more interesting. And some very big things didn’t happen this year, even though pundits and commentators once thought they might. Here’s a look at the seven biggest things that didn’t happen in Washington in 2014. **The House never passed an immigration reform bill.** **What might have happened:** In June of 2013, the Senate passed a bipartisan overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws. The House could have voted on that bill or passed its own version. **Who thought it would happen:** Some Republicans. Many party leaders thought Republicans needed to [put the immigration issue behind them](http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/200981-gop-wont-win-white-house-in-2016-without-moving-immigration) in order to win the White House in 2016. **Why it didn’t happen:** House Republicans sat the issue out. Speaker John Boehner never brought the Senate bill to the House floor or offered an alternative. **Could it happen next year?** Not likely. When President Obama deferred deportation for millions on his own in November, Boehner argued that he had [poisoned the well](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/boehner-warns-obama-after-midterms-dont-poison-well-n242831). **There was no big Supreme Court nomination fight.** **What might have happened:** With four justices born in the 1930s, one could have retired, following in the footsteps of former Justices David Souter, Sandra Day O’Connor and John Paul Stevens. **Who thought it would happen:** Some liberal court-watchers suggested that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 81, [should step down](http://articles.latimes.com/2014/mar/15/opinion/la-oe-chemerinsky-ginsburg-should-resign-20140316) to ensure a Democratic-appointed successor. **Why it didn’t happen:** They weren’t interested. For her part, Ginsburg noted that [she’s still capable of doing the work](http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119578/ruth-bader-ginsburg-interview-retirement-feminists-jazzercise) and she seems to be having the time of her life. **Could it happen next year?** Unlikely. The combination of a Democratic president and a Republican Senate would give both liberal and conservative justices pause. **Republicans never settled on an alternative to Obamacare.** **What might have happened:** Republicans in Congress could have gotten serious about the “replace” in “repeal and replace” and introduced an official alternative to the Affordable Care Act. **Who thought it would happen:** Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. In January, he said the party would “[rally around an alternative to Obamacare and pass it on the floor of the House](http://thehill.com/homenews/house/197005-cantor-house-to-vote-on-obamacare-alternative-in-2014).” **Why it didn’t happen:** Election-year politics. An official Republican alternative would have been a sitting target for Democratic candidates. **Could it happen next year?** Not likely. Republicans may now control all of Congress, but as long as they can’t get their plan past the president’s desk, there’s little incentive to produce one. **Congress didn’t debate tax reform.** **What might have happened:** The House Ways and Means Committee chairman Dave Camp’s tax reform plan, [unveiled in February](http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/26/pf/taxes/house-republican-tax-reform-dave-camp/), could have sparked a serious effort to reform the tax code. **Who thought it would happen:** Camp. He argued that Congress has an [“obligation to debate the big issues of the day.”](http://thehill.com/policy/finance/199335-dave-camp-tax-reform-draft-long-overdue) His plan was also praised by Rep. Paul Ryan, who called it a “terrific first step.” **Why it didn’t happen:** Election-year politics. Passing tax reform would mean picking fights with a number of special interests and handing the president a win. **Could it happen next year?** Probably not. Political observers now think the tax reform debate [probably won’t begin in earnest until at least 2017.](http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/26/pf/taxes/house-republican-tax-reform-dave-camp/) **The government didn’t shut down.** **What might have happened:** Conservatives angry over President Obama’s immigration and liberals angry over the repeal of some Wall Street oversight could have shut the government down. **Who thought it would happen:** After last year’s bruising shutdown, no one thought it would happen again, but Congress [came pretty close](http://time.com/3616585/democrats-republicans-house-shutdown/) in December. **Why it didn’t happen:** Both sides punted. The [trillion-dollar spending bill](http://time.com/3630875/congress-government-shutdown-spending-bill/) passed earlier this month funded the government through September, but it left open a fight over immigration funding. **Could it happen next year?** It’s unlikely. Even if conservatives pick a fight over immigration next year, it would only affect one federal agency, Homeland Security. **Obama didn’t become a powerless lame duck.** **What might have happened:** President Obama could have coasted into the final, lame-duck years of his presidency, wary of taking risks that might hurt Hillary Clinton in 2016. **Who thought it would happen:** Some commentators and pundits already said that it had, slamming him for [being passive and uninspiring.](http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323628004578459280757577300) **Why it didn’t happen:** Obama got energized. After Democrats lost the midterms, Obama took bold steps on immigration and reopening diplomatic relations with Cuba. **Could it happen next year?** Certainly. There’s only so much the president can do on his own, so at some point he’ll be stuck either vetoing or approving Republican plans. **Congress didn’t find an intelligence failure on Benghazi.** **What might have happened:** The House Intelligence Committee could have unveiled dramatic, damning findings after a two-year investigation into the Benghazi attacks in Libya. **Who thought it would happen:** Republicans. Despite multiple investigations into the attacks, many conservatives have been certain they’ll find a smoking gun. **Why it didn’t happen:** The House committee didn’t find anything. The report, which was pushed out quietly on a Friday, found [“no intelligence failure prior to the attacks.”](http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/11/21/365803171/house-panel-finds-no-intelligence-failure-before-benghazi-attack) **Could it happen next year?** Unlikely. Rep. Trey Gowdy, who chairs the House Benghazi Committee, [has promised more hearings,](http://www.slate.com/articles/news%5Fand%5Fpolitics/politics/2014/12/republicans%5Fand%5Fbenghazi%5Fwhy%5Fsome%5Fconservatives%5Fwon%5Ft%5Fgive%5Fup%5Fon%5Fthe%5Fscandal.html) but it’s hard to imagine he’ll find anything new. ### See the 2016 Candidates Looking Very Presidential  Sen. Ted Cruz is surrounded by stars and stripes at the 2014 Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C. on September 26, 2014. Mark Peterson—Redux  Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton gazes pensively into the distance at Iowa Senator Tom Harken'a annual Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa on September 14, 2014. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME  Jeb Bush Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush flashes a power watch before giving his keynote address at the National Summit on Education Reform in Washington on Nov. 20, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP  Bernie Sanders waves to supporters after officially announcing his candidacy for the U.S. presidency during an event at Waterfront Park in Burlington, Vermont, on May 26, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  Chris Christie New Jersey Governor Chris Christie strikes a presidential power stance at the ceremony for the opening of the 206 bypass in Hillsborough, New Jersey on October 28, 2013. Mark Peterson—Redux  Former Hewlett-Packard Co Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina listens to her introduction from the side of the stage at the Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 24, 2015. Jim Young—Reuters  Rand Paul Sen. Rand Paul works a crowd during a campaign stop on October 24, 2014 in McDonough, Georgia. Jessica McGowan—Getty Images  Rick Perry Texas Gov. Rick Perry looks powerfully patriotic during the National Anthem before an NCAA college football game on Nov. 27, 2014, in College Station, Texas. David J. Phillip—AP  Bobby Jindal Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal looks to the future during The Family Leadership Summit on Aug. 9, 2014, in Ames, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall—AP  Martin O'Malley Maryland Governor Martin OíMalley ponders decorating ideas in front of his possible future home on CBS's Face the Nation on Feb. 23, 2014. Chris Usher—AP  Marco Rubio Sen. Marco Rubio looks determined the morning after the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. on January 29, 2014. Melissa Golden—Redux  Ben CarsonBen Carson at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference on March 8, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP  Jim Webb Retiring Sen. Jim Webb imitates the presidential wave during a rally in Virginia Beach, Va. on Sept. 27, 2012. Steve Helber—AP  John Kasich Ohio Gov. John Kasich practices his presidential victory pose at the Ohio Republican Party celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio. Tony Dejak—AP  Rick Santorum Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum looks resolute at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 7, 2014. Brooks Kraft—Corbis  Scott Walker Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker practices the presidential point on March 3, 2014 in Milwaukee. Jeffrey Phelps—AP  Mike Huckabee Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee fine-tunes his presidential oratory at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md. on March 7, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP  Lincoln Chafee, Former Rhode Island Governor, poses for a selfie with a student after announcing he will seek the Democratic nomination for president in Arlington, Va. on June 3, 2015. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  Lindsey Graham Lindsey Graham announced his plans to join the 2016 presidential race. Alex Wong—Getty Images  George Pataki Former New York governor George Pataki listens to a question at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Conference in Nashua, New Hampshire, in this April 17, 2015 file photo. Brian Snyder—Reuters ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3645445/congress-obama-2014-year-review/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3645445/congress-obama-2014-year-review/"},"headline":"The 7 Biggest Things That Didn't Happen in D.C. in 2014","datePublished":"2014-12-23T18:31:36.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:06:31.817Z","description":"No immigration reform. No Supreme Court fight. 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