New Year’s Resolutions for Congress – and the Country

Every January 1st, many Americans face their failings and resolve to do better by making New Year’s Resolutions. Wouldn’t it be delightful if Congress would do the same? According to Gallup, half of all Americans currently have very little confidence in Congress. And while confidence in our government institutions is shrinking across the board, Congress is near rock bottom. With that in mind, here is a list of resolutions Congress could make and keep, which would help to rebuild public trust in Congress and our government institutions. Let’s start with:

1 – Working for the American people. We elect our senators and representatives to work on our behalf – not on their behalf or on behalf of the wealthiest donors, but on our behalf. There are many issues on which a large majority of Americans agree but Congress can’t. Congress should resolve to address those issues.

2 – Working together. No institution works well when the members of that institution pick sides and refuse to work with the other side. This is true in companies, in laboratories, in houses of worship, and in the arts. Collaboration is essential to a quality work product. Members of Congress should resolve to work with each other – to listen to each other – to stop attacking each other. According to Public Agenda, 93% of Americans want to reduce political divisiveness. And two-thirds of Americans believe doing so is “very important.” One way to begin to do this in Congress could be for members to direct their staffs to work together – to have them jointly identify issues, seek facts, and select and interview witnesses. Another way is for members to visit the districts and states of members of the opposite party – with those members. They can try to see issues through another member’s eyes – and the needs of another member’s constituents.

3 – Returning to the normal legislative process, something we call Regular Order. It’s been years – even decades – since Congress followed the regular order in passing legislation and appropriations. No school, company, house of worship, small business, PTA – no organization could survive long if it fails to address its budget and prepare for the coming year’s finances. Board members would be derelict in their duty if that were to happen, but Congress routinely lets the established order of the budget process and appropriations process slip so that, in the end, either all the bills are bunched together by the leadership at the last minute, and no one knows everything that’s in them, or the government shuts down. As they say – “that’s no way to run a government.” Congress should resolve to follow the normal budget and appropriations process — hold hearings, take public and expert testimony, have committee mark-ups (where bills are considered and possibly amended), issue committee reports explaining the contents of the bills, and allow for full Senate and House consideration in a timely and inclusive manner. This would be a big one.

4 – Balancing the budget or at least bringing the deficit within range. Again, no company, social organization, or religious community could survive under the mountain of debt that Congress has allowed the nation to accumulate. To achieve fiscal sustainability, tough decisions have to be made. The discrepancy in wealth that has been allowed and that grows each year is intolerable. And Congress must – based on facts and not partisanship -- direct its attention to separating the wheat from the chaff in our federal programs.

5 – Supporting government watchdogs. Agency inspectors general and the Government Accountability Office were established by Congress to help identify and address waste, fraud, and abuse. They should be fully funded, kept out of political influence, and have their budget-saving recommendations adopted. That’s called being responsible.

6 – Stopping the name-calling. There was a popular book many years ago titled “Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” One such “thing” is to be polite and not call people names. It’s embarrassing for our grandchildren to hear the words some of our leaders use to describe a fellow human being. Decency and respect go a long way to building trust, and trust can yield accommodation and accomplishment. Congress should resolve to follow decorum and speak with decency and respect.

This is just a start – but how different our country would be if Congress would adopt these resolutions and stick to them!

Linda Gustitus served for 24 years (from 1979 to 2013) as Staff Director and Chief Counsel for Senator Carl Levin (D-MI).