In a highly recommended discussion, Donald R. Wolfensberger was joined John Milewski to explain the American Congress through his publication “Changing Cultures in Congress: From Fair Play to Power Plays”. The author defends new book and its explanation for why the United States Congress is gridlocked, separated, hyper partisan, hectic, and do-nothing. Furthermore, he discusses how the recognized dynamics behind Congress devolution to a body overwhelmed by a “whatever it takes” mentality of legislating and a culture of everlasting campaigning.

The book divided into seven chapters critically looks at the way rules are made in congress, procedural Triage for Health care Reform, Congress and the Iran Nuclear deal and many others. In his additional comments during the conversation, Wolfensberger “explains the institutional dynamics behind the House of Representatives transformation from an institution primarily focused on legislation and governance to one plagued by a culture of perpetual campaigning”.

More details on Milewski’s book can be found here. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. was formed to “conduct important and timely research and promote dialogue at all perspectives; they talk on serious recent and developing challenges confronting the United States and the world”. The center is a United States Presidential Memorial established by a 1968 act of Congress and is a part of the Smithsonian Institution. Here is a brief description of the event from the invite:

In both a historical and present-day account of congressional dysfunction, Wolfensberger explores the causes of legislative standstill and the methods used by majorities and minorities that have led to today’s policy paralysis. He describes how Congress has gradually abandoned its commitment to fair and neutral procedures that safeguard both majority rule and minority rights in favor of “power House rules”―procedures and processes that advantage the majority party’s electoral goals as opposed to neutral rules that preserve minority party and individual member rights to full participation in the legislative process.

Through historical sketches and case studies from the past decade under both Republican and Democratic majorities, he shows how both parties have gamed what the founders intended would be an impartial set of legislative rules into a system that advantages majorities and marginalizes minorities. Digging deeper than superficial partisan explanations, Wolfensberger gives a thorough and persuasive explanation for our legislative leaders’ inability to find substantive policy solutions that are in the national interest.

The discussion lasted for about 15 minutes. Take a look: