The notion of the smooth operating machinery of government was always a myth at best, but today it has become a dream of another era. There was always partisanship in Congress, but there was also respect for the institution and its responsiblities. This is no longer the case: party and ideology take precedence above everything else. The traditional rules and norms of conduct that made policy-making balanced and effective are no longer being followed. Getting results - ends justifying the means - is the only thing that matters today.
Respected policy wonks and congressional observers Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein have been watching the broken branch for decades, and in this book they give an excellent history of its demise as a respected institution. They assert that both parties are responsible for its downfall; however, they emphasize that things have gotten much worse since 1994, the year the Republicans took control. Even though the Democrats were high-handed and arrogant toward the end of their reign, the Republicans have since gone far beyond.
One of the most famous examples of violation of congressional conduct was the disregard of the "15 minute" rule by Jim Wright back in 1987. Congress was allowed 15 minutes to vote on bills, but Speaker Wright kept the vote open for an extra 10 minutes since they were short one vote on an important piece of legislation. The Democrats got their vote, but there were howls of disapproval from the Republican minority.
Fast forward to 2003. With the passage of the Medicare prescription drug bill hanging in the balance, congressional Republicans are holding the vote open for 3 hours applying all sorts of pressure and barely legal coercion to get the required votes - and this was taking place at 3 in the morning. The sad part is that this is no longer the exception, this is how bills are now passed.
Aside from the policy-making process turning into an excercise in arm-twisting and bribery, the role of Congress as a check to presidential powers has also suffered under Republican stewardship. The leaders of Congress have become nothing more than yes-men for the executive branch. The detrimental consequences are becoming more obvious by the day. Not only are we mired in a poorly planned and executed war in two countries, we have an administration that can get away with torture and warrantless wiretapping. Lack of congressional oversight is putting it nicely, dereliction of duty would be more accurate.
Mann and Ornstein elaborate on a number of reforms that need to take place in order for Congress to reclaim its honorable tradition. Now that the Democrats have retaken control there is the hope that they can do some of these reforms before they too take for granted their position of power. Unfortunately optimism was also present when the Republicans gained power in 1994. The adage about power corrupting still applies and the Democrats should take note. Mann and Ornstein call upon Congress to rise above petty partisanship and once again become a strong and respectable institution that can temper a powerful and aggressive executive branch. This book is a timely contribution to much needed congressional reform.
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