How can government spur the economy?

On countless occasions, I've expressed my profound doubt about our Government's ability to positively spur the economy. Yet, past events, and the past four year of Obama's presidency have shown that if the legislative systematically obstructs the executive branch, it can prolong recession, maintain stagnation, and above all, create a nagging sense of uncertainty that will paralyze the entire country and its economy.

In that sense, by dealing positively with each others, accepting compromises and seeing beyond their reelection or disabling pledges, our lawmakers can have a huge impact on the economic health of the entire nation. More so in fact, than the president. So why are we turning so much of our attention on the presidential contest, when in fact, most everything happens – or not – inside both houses of congress?