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Rule change empowers leaders to silence senators

April 1, 2019  ·  James Wallner
Republicans in the Senate want to change the rules to speed up the confirmation process for presidential nominations. Yet their proposal goes much further. It empowers the majority and minority… Read More

The beginning of the end of the legislative filibuster? The unintended consequence of Blunt-Lankford rule change

April 1, 2019  ·  Joshua Huder
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set up debate this week to limit post-cloture time to two hours on judicial and executive branch nominees (except agency heads and Supreme Court nominations). But… Read More

ICYMI: Top reads on Congress

March 29, 2019  ·  Marian Currinder
Katherine Tully-McManus, “Should Congress spend more on itself to avoid deterioration?” Roll Call: “Civil society groups and former lawmakers are calling on appropriators to boost funding for Congress itself to… Read More

Enhancing expertise and diversity in committees and staffing

March 28, 2019  ·  Michele Swers
To:           The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress From:     Michele Swers, Professor of Government, Georgetown University Reform: Enhancing Expertise and Diversity in Committees… Read More

Fundraising requirements should not be a part of the chair/committee assignment process

March 27, 2019  ·  Marian Currinder
Editor’s note: Over the next several weeks, LegBranch will be posting a series of reform proposal memos by congressional scholars. These proposals will take up a range of topics, including… Read More

Enough of our budget farce

March 26, 2019  ·  Philip Wallach
he Trump administration’s new budget is fake news. That isn’t because it fails to live up to its grandiose title: “A Budget for a Better America: Promises Kept. Taxpayers First.”… Read More

Polarization in the Senate isn’t going away

March 25, 2019  ·  Ryan Williamson
The U.S. Senate has become increasingly dysfunctional in recent sessions, prompting posts like this one from Josh Huder and this one from James Wallner. This institution, historically recognized… Read More

ICYMI: Top reads on Congress

March 22, 2019  ·  Marian Currinder
Jordain Carney, “Senate GOP poised to go ‘nuclear’ on Trump picks,” The Hill: “Senate Republicans are set to hit the gas on confirming hundreds of President Trump’s nominees by muscling… Read More

Letter in support of increased funding for the Legislative Branch in FY2020

March 21, 2019  ·  Marian Currinder
Re: FY 2020 302(b) Allocation for the Legislative Branch Dear Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, and members of the committee: On behalf of the undersigned bipartisan group of civil society… Read More

You can take a congressperson outta Washington …

March 21, 2019  ·  Maya Kornberg
Last week the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress held its first hearing. One of its tasks is to recommend ways to reform congressional procedures. Congressman Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.),… Read More