The Association of Former Members of Congress interviewed 31 Members who left Congress in 2018 and 2019, from both sides of the aisle. The results are n a publication we’ve entitled “Congress at a Crossroads.”
At The New York Times, Carl Hulse summarizes:
The study ticks through familiar themes when it comes to assessing the sorry state of Congress: the lack of any real across-the-aisle relationships, a schedule that limits opportunities for interaction, too much power concentrated in leadership, constant fund-raising demands, discouragement of bipartisanship, the negative influence of round-the-clock media, the fact that the most important election for lawmakers is often their primary, and the shutting out of minority-party voices. It also warns that the shifts toward a more virtual Congress as a result of the pandemic, such as a new system of proxy voting in the House that allows lawmakers to cast their votes without traveling to Washington, could exacerbate the existing problems. If the idea of a remote Congress takes hold, the report suggests, it would be a serious setback to efforts to enhance bipartisan interaction. “Because of the pandemic, Congress was forced to conduct much of its business virtually, and we certainly understand why,” the report said. “But as much as that may have been a necessity, it should not be interpreted as a virtue.”