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GOP House Can Get Off to a Great Start – If They Don’t Blow It
Decades of institutional self-neglect have left Congress dysfunctional and unfit to fulfill its constitutional role as the most consequential branch of government. Government of the people has morphed into government by bureaucrats, by the executive, and by the courts. The decision-making mechanisms of the People’s House are broken.
If you were fortunate enough to be educated in “civics,” you may remember being told of the process by which a bill becomes law. It is introduced by sponsors, assigned to committees, vetted with testimony and amended, referred to the whole body if approved, debated and amended again, passed out and then sent to the corresponding legislative body if successful.
Known as Regular Order, the process can be tedious but it has a purpose: to ensure a free, fair process in a lawmaking body where input from all is accepted and the final vote reflects the informed decision of a majority of members.
When the Freedom Caucus first organized in 2015, my perception was that they were a group of overly conservative troublemakers. They rebelled against House leadership, took controversial stands, and raised havoc overall. But lately my perception has been changing. The Freedom Caucus may be just what this country needs.
