Congressional Seniority

[billroper]

I'm sure that many people have made this observation, but it struck me this morning that the biggest problem with the Congressional seniority system as used to determine committee assignments and chairmanships is that the most extreme members of each party end up controlling the show. In order to accumulate seniority, you need to be around for a while and the best way to be around for a while is to be from a "safe" district (or state, in the case of the Senate). And those are the seats that tend to have the most partisan representatives.

Not a good thing, I'd think, if you're anywhere near the center of the political spectrum.

Comments

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

The ones who keep getting elected have spent the most time living in a bubble world, where their input is from lobbyists and government officials, and this diminishes their understanding of how the real world works. They're also the most adept at deal-making to buy votes.

Maybe so.

They're also the only ones with actual experience trying to write legislation that does what the legislators intended, rather than being twisted by big money's clever lawyers.

The lawyers have *lots* of experience. Probably a good idea that their opponents in this one-sided game at least have some experience of their own.

[billroper]

My impression is that legislators never write legislation. That's done by their staff.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Surely legislators still decide what is well written enough to propose and vote for, and what has to go back for rewrites because it is unclear or might be twisted to cause harm?

Otherwise, maybe we should be electing the staff(s).

[billroper]

Honestly, I really don't think so. God knows that they didn't think various provisions of the health care bill through. They certainly didn't read it. :) (I mean, certainly, if you read the comments of various legislators in the press.)

But here's an interview with a Democratic member talking about the subject. It appears to be a right-wing news site, but the full text of the interview is posted. I'd believe that if he were inaccurately quoted in that full text, there'd have been consequences.

Here's Senator Max Baucus quoted on the same subject.

And here are a bunch of lawyers discussing the subject on The Volokh Conspiracy.

[madfilkentist]

And what is it the legislators intend?

There's a perception, maybe more common than I realize, that members of legislative bodies and the special-interest lobbyists all around them are in conflict. That the lobbyists are fiendishly aiming for free markets, while the legislators try to thwart them with government control.

The fact is, the lobbyists of big interests and the legislators work hand in hand. The legislators create laws which benefit their supporters, and pass them off as "public interest" legislation. The supporters make sure they get the positive publicity and money that will keep them in office. The more experienced the legislators are, the better they are at playing this game.

Notice that out of "health care reform" last year, we have a legal requirement that people do business with insurance companies, whether they want to or not. You may even have persuaded yourself that this benefits you. From the same legislation we have a legal requirement that more tiny little business transactions than ever be reported to the government. This is an action against "big money," of course -- according to the standard propaganda. What it actually will do is drive more small businesses and nonprofits into giving up, since they can't keep up with the paperwork. This works to the benefit of the large, government-connected businesses.

Keep believing that the people running your life and taking your money are your friends, and that all they need is more experience in fighting the lobbyists they have lunch with every day. It's a pleasant delusion.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Notice that out of "health care reform" last year, we have a legal requirement that people do business with insurance companies, whether they want to or not.

Here is a quick rundown on why that is necessary.

(eyeroll) I am well aware that some politicians are crooked. That is part of why I am a member of the League of Women Voters. But requiring people to purchase health insurance is not part of that.