Study suggests lawmakers too overwhelmed to legislate effectively

Published August 8, 2017 6:50pm ET



A new survey says senior congressional staffers believe most lawmakers are overwhelmed and unable to carry out their duties as legislators in the current political environment, according to a Tuesday report by the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit that studies the effectiveness of Congress.

“We may be beyond a tipping point where there are just too many people, too much communication, too much pressure, and too many crises for senators and representatives to manage without some serious rethinking of congressional operations and capacity,” Kathy Goldschmidt, author of the report, said in a statement. “The cornerstone institution of our democracy must be equipped to respond to the challenges we face. Congress must adapt in the face of social transformation so it can effectively govern and lead.”

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