Americans view the federal government. And then a conversation on how to restore Public Confidence in the government and the democratic process. From the Brookings Institution this is about two hours. Well, ladies and gentlemen, let me kick this event off. Im bill gallstin, a senior fellow in governance studies here at the Brookings Institution. Id like to welcome all of to you this event and congratulate you all on braving what in some parts of the country is record cold. And pretty cold here in washington, d. C. This event will be on the topic, the dissatisfactioned public, what can congress do . And that title contains a truism and a surprise. The truism is that the American People are dissatisfied. The the surprise is the possibility that the congress could do anything about it. But well find out what that might be. Im also please pleased to tell the audience that we are joined by cspan. So for those of you who care about such things this will be a great time to tighten your ties,
Distinguished professor of government our Panel Includes normal, a scholar at the American Enterprise institute, a contributing columnist for the atlantic and senior and awardwinning Congressional Correspondent at sea is cnn. And or third panelist, got here just in time. Sarah bender, senior fellow and government studies at the brookings institution. Good morning. I would like to thank the u. S. Capital and visitor center, Historical Society and david barker from the center for congressional president ial studies putting together a balanced program with different views on the separation of powers. Our panel is one that will be primarily focused on Party Polarization and president ial congressional relations although i am sure the courts may come up. We have had some discussion of the topic, earlier. Especially the last panel. I would like to begin by asking the panelists be on the rise of partisanship, Political Polarization and gridlock, why has Congress Lost its power, so much power
Topic has already been discussed to some degree, but folks here will have plenty to say, is uncertain future, party polarization, and the legislative executive balance. Our Martin Reader is james serber and founding director for the president ial studies, which he directed from 1979 to 26. The 2016. Panel includes a contributor and columnist for the National Review and atlantic and the chairman of the Campaign Legal center, as well as a senior and awardwinning congressional correspondent. Our third panelist oh, she got here just in time, sarah binder, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and professor of Political Science at George Washington university. Good morning. Theso would like to thank u. S. Capitol visitor center, the u. S. Capitol historical society, and david barker from the senate for congressional president ial studies putting together a balanced program and different views on the separation of powers. Our panel is one that is going to be primarily focused on party a
reagan before him, reagan is the only other president i know who got this right. they understood that macroeconomic policy is a very broad instrument and it takes a lot time. so you have to do the tough, ugly stuff. in your first year. and so, clinton did that. but the first budget deal embrace reconciliation deal. so did reagan with his first project deal. a 1984, it was morning in america and i remember this well because i was working for walter mondale and that was a pretty depressing campaign to work in. and they made to 96, we had incredibly low unemployment and all sorts of things that incumbent presidents ought to have good so doing the tough things are related is really the most important thing. and then of course getting used to writing a government. in my book i talk about casey and i went last between al gore and bill clinton and was one of those awkward things where there were a lot of people in the oval office and they all went off into betty curry s office on th
people from across the aisle. which ted kennedy had done on many occasions. and president bush had done in texas. grew the no child left behind policy. there can be issues about whether that was the best policy for education. outpoint was about reaching to the other side, and the other side accepting the outreach and moving on from there. after the tax cuts, the top priority and that principal priority was the no child left behind act, for which president democratrtners were george miller in the house, and democrat ted kennedy in the senate. many people will recall that when 9/11 happened, laura bush was on the hill. she was with ted kennedy preparing to do a hearing on the no child left behind act. the act did get egypt adopted an ted kennedy was there in the rose garden, but the country with any different direction. in addition without the wonderful display of the handwritten note to president bush, it was also a painting. ted kennedy was a amateur artist. he gave that pa