Why Congress keeps letting deadlines pile up and pushing them back

Why does Congress keep missing deadlines and pushing them back, including on some critical funding issues and with President Joe's Biden's agenda?

When asked Monday about whether his sweeping social spending and climate agenda -- the Build Back Better Act -- can pass the Senate before Christmas as he and congressional leaders want, President Joe Biden responded, "As early as we can get it. We want to get it done no matter how long it takes."

And that answer suggests it could be yet another deadline missed.

In the face of numerous reports that the deadline is slipping to January, and comments to that effect from some key Democrats with objections, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told his his caucus in a letter Monday that the goal is still to pass the legislation "before Christmas and get it to the president’s desk."

But even if Build Back Better passes the Senate before lawmakers are taking down Christmas decorations, they are still facing several dates circled in red before the end of 2021, some of which lawmakers have set for themselves and may still be on track to miss.