by jpitney | Nov 12, 2019 | Congress, Deliberation, Oversight, Uncategorized
Casey Burgat at R Street: The legislative branch simply does not have the levels of staff resources, funding or expertise to conduct effective oversight of the executive branch, including—and perhaps even especially—on matters of foreign affairs, intelligence and...
by jpitney | Nov 9, 2019 | Congress, Deliberation, Foreign Policy, Uncategorized
At Foreign Policy, James Goldgeier and Elizabeth N. Saunders explain that legislators have become less and less interested and conversant in the details of foreign policy and national security. Why this decrease? The rise of partisanship is one important reason....
by jpitney | Nov 8, 2019 | Budget, Congress, Deliberation, Uncategorized
A November 6 release from Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY): The Senate Budget Committee today approved bipartisan budget reforms sponsored by Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to fix the government’s broken budget process. The bill, S.2765...
by jpitney | Nov 5, 2019 | Civility, Congress, House of Representatives, Uncategorized
Brian Alexander at LegBranch; In a forthcoming book on congressional norms I am writing, I argue that, despite what we may think about congressional dysfunction and partisan bickering, the norm of courtesy is surprisingly alive and relatively well in the modern...
by jpitney | Nov 2, 2019 | Civility, Congress, Uncategorized
Aubrey Neal and Dean Peterson at R Street: Just as all Americans are more collaborative if they participate in team retreats or other outside-of-work functions, past Congresses have fostered partnerships and productivity by encouraging members to get to know one...
by jpitney | Oct 31, 2019 | Congress, House of Representatives, Mass Media, Uncategorized
Matt Glassman, who teaches in the Claremont McKenna College Washington Semester Program, testified before the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress on “Congress and the Frank:Bringing Congressional Mailing Standards into the 21st Century,” October...
