Filter Content
Every congressional office should pivot to constituent service during COVID-19
Consider: The recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) is 247 pages long and quite complex.The threat of coronavirus has led legislators in both the House… Read More
Podcast: Filibuster or filibusted?
Listen here. This week, Julia Azari, Lee Drutman, and James Wallner consider the filibuster. What purpose does it serve? Have its consequences gotten worse as the Senate has… Read More
Governance: What does the public think?
In early February, 2020, George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, Department of Political Science, and Graduate School of Political Management sponsored a nationwide poll of 1,200… Read More
How do we measure what Congress has accomplished?
With approval ratings somewhere below Nickelback and root canals, Congress is hardly America’s favorite institution. The American public certainly seems to view gridlock and shutdowns dimly, and there’s a popular … Read More
The exasperating politics of pensions and trust funds
Across the United States, myriad pension and trust funds are in trouble. Serious trouble. The U.S Postal Service’s retiree health benefits fund is underfunded by $70 billion, and will… Read More
Podcast: What are the politics of the coronavirus pandemic?
Listen here. This week, Julia, Lee, and James ask special guest Philip Rocco about the politics of public health emergencies. Philip is an Assistant… Read More
Coronavirus shows why good budgeting matters
Amid the worsening coronavirus outbreak, it’s no secret that the recent flurry of emergency measures are going to drastically worsen the federal budget outlook when there already isn’t much slack… Read More
In Congress, assembled: A virtual Congress creates more problems than it solves
The coronavirus has disrupted life for millions of Americans. People across the country have altered their daily routines in a bid to slow its spread. In many states, bars, churches,… Read More
Fiscal policy in a time of crisis
Download the PDF version. Key points: 1) Congress is poised to act, but not all action will make things better2) Relief that is timely, targeted and temporary is… Read More