Capitol Journal
Capitol Journal
17.19.13--Former Rep. BARBER CONABLE (R-NY) says that the Democrats have been in control for too long, from an institutional point of view. A change would allow Democrats to prune out the deadwood of the party and Republicans to learn to compromise and govern. Says that Tip O'Neill is forced to be a partisan in the media because he can't get his party united in advance of meeting with Reagan. Rep. ROBERT MICHEL [minority leader] says that the Republicans are losing experienced legislators because they don't see any hope of being in the majority or becoming committee chairmen. Discusses how he tries to lead in Congress. TOM FOLEY discusses how the Democratic Party makes decisions, not through dictatorial caucuses but through communications. 17.26.09-Ornstein says that the longstanding dominance of one party in the House is to the detriment of both parties and the function of Congress. Says that efforts to take power away from Congress and give it to the President are shortsighted. John White addresses the idea that party turnover is a good thing. Says that experience in being the majority party is also a benefit. A man from audience asks if the rise of partisanship relates to the recent predominance of budgets on Congress' agenda, or to the fact that the Democrats control only the House but not the Senate or White House, effectively meaning that both parties are "the opposition party". 17.33.35-Ornstein says that the strange phenomenon of the "split Congress" is a factor in partisanship. Says that Reagan's intransigence with Congress is also a factor in the partisanship. TOM FOLEY agrees that both parties in the House are acting like the Minority Party. 17.37.55-OUT