tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post8666045770666671279..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Complicated GameJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-47137470484091833492011-03-28T14:53:14.165-05:002011-03-28T14:53:14.165-05:00I believe Nelson would have replied: Non-sequitur!...I believe Nelson would have replied: Non-sequitur!<br /><br />Of course it's still transformative -- compare the final ACA vs. Obama's proposed reforms. Real, legislative work still happens. It's just that Congress at work is no longer (only) Congress in committees; it's also Congress in leadership's offices, and in task forces when the leadership employs them, and in (especially in the Senate) ad-hoc negotiating groups.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-35514519446703772392011-03-28T14:45:00.311-05:002011-03-28T14:45:00.311-05:00Ygelsias is doing the textbook. That simply isn...Ygelsias is doing the textbook. That simply isn't as relevant any more. Plenty of things get introduced on the floor as amendments that never see the light of day (or are defeated!) in committee or subcom. House/Senate differences mean that the final bill is sometimes the product of a conference committee, and ends up just getting an up-or-down vote in both chambers at the end. And that's if everything is on the up-and-up. The majority party leadership will jump in this process all the time these days. <br /><br />Honestly, I truly wonder if Polsby's description of Congress as a transformative legislature is truly accurate any more. In important ways, it still is---and isn't.Matt Jarvisnoreply@blogger.com