4 the respective caucuses on the progress of legislation. The automatic renomination of committee chairmen has done little to associate committee leaders with their party's agenda and has created an environment that is stifling to new ways of thinking. In the rare instances when change has occurred in the leadership of committees, it has been the product of careful campaigns which require first that a nominee be defeated by a negative vote on his/her re-election. This process can breed bitterness and unhealthy committee working relationships. In their recent report, "Renewing Congress", the American Enterprise Institute and The Brookings Institution examined the relationship between the Speaker and committee chairs. While I have offered a different solution, I wholeheartedly agree with their premise: "...strengthening leadership in Congress involves strengthening accountability of committee chairs to the Speaker and the Democratic Caucus." Unlike outside term limits, which would strike down all seniority and empower Congressional staff, my proposed rule change preserves continuity and the institutional memory of senior members. Rather than being forced to leave Congress, a Committee Chairman whose term has expired, remains eligible to lead another committee or continue to serve in a vibrant capacity on a committee he or she once chaired. Before I close, I also want to voice my support for creating a mechanism to insure Congressional compliance with all labor, civil rights and other employment-related laws. 5 We can preserve our Constitutional privilege while demonstrating to our constituents that what's good enough for them, is fine by us. I know the joint committee is hearing considerable testimony on the importance of setting and keeping a legislative schedule, particularly with regard to budget and spending legislation. I'll only say that Congress's inability to meet deadlines is a critical factor in our loss of credibility with the general public. Incredibly, Congress has met its October 1 deadline for completed action on all appropriations only once in the last 14 years. I want to thank the co-chairmen and the members of the joint committee for the opportunity to participate in this forum today and I especially appreciate the positive environment for change that you have established. END TESTIMONY BEFORE THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE REORGANIZATION OF CONGRESS MR. CHAIRMAN: FEBRUARY 4, 1993 I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS WITH YOU AND THIS COMMITTEE. I THINK THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, WHILE DIFFICULT AND STRENUOUS, IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE LONG-TERM STRENGTH AND VITALITY OF THIS INSTITUTION. ONE NEED ONLY LOOK AT RECENT SURVEY RESEARCH TO KNOW THAT CONGRESS IS HELD IN NEARLY UNIVERSAL DISREGARD BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT, I MUST ADMIT, IS NOT WITHOUT SOME FOUNDATION. A REPUTATION THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BOGGED DOWN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ARE CLEAR TO MOST OF US GRIDLOCK HAS BECOME THE STATUS QUO, BOTH INTRA-GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS INTER-GOVERNMENT. AND, WHILE THE WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT HAVE BASICALLY GROUND TO A HALT, THE · POLITICS AS USUAL HAVE NOT. AS A RESULT, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WATCHED THEIR GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY THE CONGRESS, TAKE MIGHTY FINE CARE OF ITSELF WHILE THE COUNTRY SLID INTO WORSE ECONOMIC TIMES, PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS, AND HEALTH CARE COSTS CONTINUED TO SKYROCKET. PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE CAPABLE OF PUTTING OUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER. AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE (AND ONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE PAINFUL PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE HOUSE BANK RECORDS), I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT I BELIEVE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE HAS SHOWN ITSELF CAPABLE OF PERFORMING UNDER ENORMOUS STRESS AND MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS WITHOUT THE TAINT OF PARTISANSHIP. IN MY VIEW, THE ETHICS COMMITTEE SYSTEM FOR POLICING THE HOUSE HAS ITS MERITS AND, AS LONG AS THE COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY, WITHOUT PARTISANSHIP UNDER CAPABLE LEADERSHIP AGREE WITH SOME WHO HAVE ARGUED IN RECENT MONTHS THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO FILL THE ETHICS COMMITTEE WITH NON-MEMBERS AND FORMER MEMBERS. THAT BEING SAID, I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE CAN AND MUST DO TO MAKE CONGRESS WORK BETTER AND RESTORE ITS CREDIBILITY. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH A COMPILATION CF IDEAS OR TO YOU - VIEWS REPEATEDLY HEARD INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY): 1) RESTORING THE IDEA OF PUBLIC SERVICE; NOT SELF-SERVICE PROBLEM: CONGRESS CONTINUES TO APPEAR MORE INTERESTED IN TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN, THAN TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE AND THE NATION IT SERVES; SOLUTIONS: * ELIMINATE PERKS WE'VE STARTED ON THIS TASK BUT THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE, INCLUDING LOOKING AT THE * REQUIRE THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS PAY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH INSURANCE AND HEALTH CARE; - * REQUIRE CONGRESS TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE AND GREATLY * SEVERELY RESTRICT MEMBER "GIFT" TRAVEL - * REPEAL THE MEMBERS' COLA THAT WENT INTO EFFECT * SEVERELY LIMIT FRANKING PRIVILEGES * ELIMINATE PATRONAGE JOBS PROHIBIT MASS PROBLEM: THE AVERAGE AMERICAN BELIEVES CONGRESS IS "FOR SOLUTIONS: - STRENGTHEN ETHICS LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS SHOULD NOT ACCEPT GIFTS, HEALS, TRAVEL OR ANYTHING ELSE FROM LOBBYISTS AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE MUST BE ENHANCED; * CLOSE THE HONORARIA LOOPHOLE ELIMINATE PAC'S OR AT REFORM CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS PROBLEM: THE ARROGANCE CF POWER SOLUTIONS: DISMANTLE THE SYSTEM * LIMIT TERMS FOR ALL MEMBERS * LIMIT TENURE OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS SOME COMMITTEES - * RESTORE THE RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY COMMITTEE * REQUIRE THAT ALL BILLS BE AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS TO READ AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO VOTES; * STRENGTHEN RULES GOVERNING "CONFERENCE COMMITTEES" AND LIMIT THEIR AUTHORITY TO RE-WRITE LEGISLATION AT THE LAST MINUTE; 2) MAKE CONGRESS MORE RESPONSIVE AND LESS COSTLY PROBLEM: DESPITE THE INCREASING SIZE OF GOVERNMENT WE ARE |