Testimony of BPC Resident Scholar Donald R. Wolfensberger to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs

“Despite my skepticism that any particular reforms of Congress will restore the faith of the people in the institution or its ability to perform better, I nevertheless think the reform process serves the useful purpose of pointing the way for our political actors to live-up to their institutional responsibilities. Put another way, it serves as the proverbial two-by-four on the stubborn mule: it gets the attention of Members. At the same time, we should be wary of making brash, bold and ill-considered changes in Congress that could have the unintended consequences of further damaging, diminishing and demeaning it in the eyes of the people.”