News
With Congress at Low Point, Time for Reform Is Now
Mar 14, 2012Former House Rules Committee staffer and Wilson Center expert Don Wolfensberger lays out a step-by-step plan to restore Congress’ “culture of lawmaking.” Committees—not party leaders—should control legislative work, he says, and campaign finance reforms are needed to shift attention from 24-7 fundraising.
Congress, the Budget, and Us
May 05, 2011In the recent contretemps over funding the federal government this year, the Wilson Center found itself in the same position as scores of other government departments and agencies in our neighborhood. Congress Project Don Wolfensberger shares his perspective.
National Urban Policy: Is a New Day Dawning?
Jan 27, 2010One of President Obama's first orders of business in office was to create a White House Office of Urban Affairs to coordinate the various agencies working on pieces of urban policies. Mercedes Marquez of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and experts outside the government takes stock of the efforts to date.
Members of Congress Catch 72-Hour Bug From Constituents
Oct 06, 2009It's not a new strain of flu, but there is an infectious form of transparentitis that's sweeping the nation. And members are catching it from their constituents, writes Congress Project Director Don Wolfensberger in a Roll Call op-ed.
There's a Better Way to Handle the Torture Controversy
Jun 09, 2009Rather than rush before the TV cameras with sensational testimony, the Senate Intelligence Committee is quietly conducting the most responsible of the inquiries into government detention and interrogation practices, writes Congress Project Director Don Wolfensberger in a Roll Call op-ed.
House Leaders Throw Blue Dogs a PAYGO Bone
May 27, 2009Congress Project Director Don Wolfensberger parses the arbitrary 100-day deadline for Congress's budget resolution and documents the last-minute negotiations that followed it there.
Gun Amendment: Poison Pill or Silver Bullet?
Mar 17, 2009How will the D.C. voting rights bill be affected by the gun amendment? Just look at recent history, explains Congress Project Director Don Wolfensberger in his bimonthly column from Roll Call.
President-Elect Obama Off to a Good Start, Panelists Agree
Nov 18, 2008At a Congress Project seminar, a panel of former White House aides, a journalist, and a congressional scholar agreed that Barack Obama's actions during the White House transition will help ensure him legislative success with Congress.
Financial Crisis Will Limit Options of New President and Congress
Sep 24, 2008Both presidential candidates as well as Congress have begun preparing for the transition to a new administration. But the current market meltdown will shuffle their plans, said panelists at a Congress Project roundtable.
Reflecting on Issues Close to Congress
Dec 03, 2007Three Wilson Center directors visited St. Edwards University in Austin to discuss political, economic, and environmental issues currently being debated in the U.S. Congress.
