How to Reverse the Trump-Era Brain Drain

An article in the American Prospect cited Lee Drutman's work on congressional capacity.

The need for Congressional staff capacity didn’t start with the Trump Era. As Lee Drutman, Steven Teles, and other political scientists have shown, declines in general staff funding since Newt Gingrich’s speakership have had devastating impacts on Congress’s ability to withstand lobbying pressure, and ultimately on Congress’s ability to “think for itself.” As Drutman and Teles have argued, progressive reformers have the opportunity to open a new front in the fight against the dominance of corporate money in politics by investing in staff capacity. 

If we want to restore a trustworthy and capable government, and design and implement a successful long-term policy agenda, it’s essential to start focusing on people.