[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 20 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E292-E293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 1998

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert my Washington 
Report for Wednesday, March 4, 1998 into the Congressional Record.

                     Misconceptions About Congress

       One thing I have found over the years is that people aren't 
     hesitant to tell me what they think about Congress. Many of 
     the public's comments and complaints are very perceptive and 
     right on the mark. People are quite right, for example, that 
     Congress has difficulty thinking long-term and that our 
     campaign financing system is a mess. But often what I hear 
     shows an inadequate grasp of what Congress does and how it 
     works. Misconceptions about Congress can erode confidence in 
     government and weaken civic involvement.
       Some Examples: The criticisms of Congress are numerous.
       Ethics standards: People will often say that Congress' 
     ethics standards have declined and that large numbers of 
     Members are dishonest and corrupt. Certainly some Members 
     engage in improper conduct, yet most experts on congress 
     would say that congressional ethics has improved considerably 
     over the years. When I came to Congress, there was no House 
     ethics committee, no written code of conduct, and no 
     financial disclosure requirements. Members could accept 
     lavish gifts form special interests and convert campaign 
     contributions to personal use, and were rarely punished for 
     personal corruption. None of that would be tolerated today.
       Special interest money. Americans hear all the stories 
     about the enormous amount of fundraising Members must do 
     today and believe that Congress is a ``bought'' institution. 
     It is clear that the ``money chase'' has gotten out of hand, 
     and that we ignore this problem at our own peril. I would be 
     the last to say that contributions have no impact on a 
     Member's voting record. But there are many influences that 
     shape Members' voting decisions--including their assessment 
     of the arguments, the opinions of experts, their party's 
     position, and, most importantly, what their constituents 
     want. Members know that if they don't vote the way their 
     constituents want, they simply won't be re-elected.
       Impact of Congress: People will often say that Congress' 
     actions have little or no impact on their daily lives, even 
     as they receive their Social Security checks, drink safe 
     water, drive on the interstates, attend college through 
     student loans, or use the Internet. Many aren't aware of the 
     overall spending priorities of Congress, thinking that most 
     federal spending goes to welfare, foreign aid, or defense, 
     when in fact the biggest chunk, by far, goes to programs for 
     older Americans like Social Security and Medicare. Such 
     misconceptions can make national policy debates all the more 
     difficult.
       Members out of touch: Most Americans feel that Members 
     don't pay much attention to what their constituents want. My 
     experience is that most Members are acutely aware of their 
     constituents' views. They are in constant contact with 
     constituents and go to great lengths to solicit their views. 
     They return home most weekends, and closely follow local 
     opinion through staff reports, polling results, and local 
     news reporting. Indeed, the reverse contention may be closer 
     to the mark, that Members today pay almost too much time 
     noticing every ``blip'' in the public opinion polls and 
     thinking about what will play well in the next election 
     rather than what would be good for the country.
       Perks and pay: Many people complain about Members always 
     looking out for their own perks and pay, enriching themselves 
     at the taxpayer's expense. Almost daily someone will contact 
     my office upset that Members receive free medical care or 
     don't pay income taxes or contribute to Social Security--none 
     of which is true. Suffice it to say that Members are acutely 
     aware that their pay and benefits are highly sensitive 
     politically. Over the years Congress has eliminated many 
     special benefits, and it should continue to do so. People are 
     surprised to hear that since I've been in Congress, Member 
     pay has not even kept up with inflation. My current pay is 
     $20,000 less than if my 1965 pay had been adjusted to 
     inflation.
       Slow, messy processes: People don't like Congress' slow, 
     messy, ponderous processes, which allow bills to be buried in 
     committee or stalled through lengthy floor debates. We 
     certainly need to streamline the operations of Congress, but 
     we misunderstand the role of Congress if we think it should 
     be a model of efficiency and quick action. The founding 
     fathers never intended it to be. They clearly understood that 
     one of the key roles of Congress is to slow down the 
     process--to allow tempers to cool and to encourage 
     deliberation, so that unwise or damaging laws are not enacted 
     in the heat of the moment.
       Constant bickering: One of the most frequent complaints I 
     hear about Congress is

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     that Members spend too much time arguing and bickering. There 
     clearly has been too much partisan wrangling in recent years, 
     but people often don't understand that Congress is designed 
     to allow contentious debates on the major policy issues of 
     the day. In a country as large and remarkably diverse as 
     ours, one of the key roles of Congress is to act as a 
     sounding board for all the diverse groups in our society. 
     Allowing all sides a chance to be heard as we try to reach a 
     consensus on a long list of difficult issues means that the 
     debate may at times be contentious, but it also helps to keep 
     our country from coming apart at the seams.
       Conclusion: Public misconceptions about Congress aren't 
     simply of interest to academics. In our representative 
     democracy they have a major impact on how well our system of 
     government works. They lead to public feelings of mistrust 
     and alienation, and give rise to cynicism about government in 
     general and Congress in particular. Restoring confidence in 
     government requires both improved performance by government 
     and improved understanding of its role.
       Congress is a complex, important, and fascinating 
     institution, with both strengths and weaknesses. I am 
     impressed almost daily with the way it tackles difficult 
     problems and acts as a national forum in developing a 
     consensus. I am particularly impressed with the role it has 
     played in creating and maintaining a nation more free than 
     any other. Ensuring that the American people have an accurate 
     understanding of Congress' role in national governance and 
     its strengths and weaknesses is one of our most important 
     challenges in the years ahead. We need to get Americans to 
     think twice about the role of Congress and its impact on 
     their lives.

     

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