Events
With Congress at Low Point, Time for Reform Is Now
Former House Rules Committee staffer and Wilson Center expert Don Wolfensberger lays out a step-by-step plan to restore Congress’ “culture of lawmaking.” Committees—not party leaders—should control legislative work, he says, and campaign finance reforms are needed to shift attention from 24-7 fundraising.
‘Vote Pummeling' Can Soften Majority's Hard Line in House
June 4, 2007 By Don Wolfensberger,Roll Call Contributing Writer
Getting Back to Legislating: Reflections of a Congressional Working Group
Congress has changed dramatically over the last half century, from a culture of legislating to a culture of campaigning, according to a new report prepared for the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Wilson Center by Donald Wolfensberger, who is a scholar at each organization. The report finds that this culture is not conducive to bipartisan compromise or serious problem solving and contains suggestions for changes the new Congress could implement to effect a returned focus to legislating.
Omnibus Spending Bills Portend Ominous Consequences
September 25, 2006 By Don Wolfensberger,Roll Call Contributing Writer
Minority Group Leadership in Congress
Racial and ethnic minority group Representatives in Congress play an increasingly important role in the policy process as their numbers grow. This Congress Project seminar explored the dynamics of minority group leadership and how it is changing the face of Congress and national policy debates.
The Politics and Processes of Congress
Remarks of Don Wolfensberger before the Executive Council on Diplomacy Briefing of Foreign Diplomats on "The Washington Roadmap: How Congress Works." April 8, 2004