“There can be no complete and permanent reform of the civil service until public opinion emancipates congressmen from all control and influence over government patronage. Legislation is required to establish the reform. No proper legislation is to be expected as long as members of Congress are engaged in procuring offices for their constituents.” LongGovernmentOpinionInfluenceMembersOfficeCongressExpectedReformPermanentEngagedLegislationPublic OpinionConstituentsCongressmanPatronageCivil Service Author:Rutherford B. Hayes
“... We have seen dog-tired Members of Congress marching lockstep ahead with their eyes fixed only on the end of the 100 Days of the 1995 Republican 'Contract with America' reform efforts. Many of the changes wrought by the House were passed without the benefit of a single hearing, or at best with a minimal legislative record. Is this what Jefferson and Madison had in mind?” MindEndsEyeAmericaHouseEffortRecordsDogInternetRepublicanMembersBenefitsTiredCongressHearingReformFixedContractsFree SpeechMadison Author:John Gibbons
“I came to the conclusion months ago, and I said it to members of Congress, that the only way people are going to fully appreciate what this reform is if we pass it and implement it and it becomes not a caricature but a reality, and I still believe that. So I think it will be easier to sell it moving forward than it was to this point.” PeopleIfsThinkingWayBelieveSaidStillsRealityMovingMonthsEasierMembersAppreciateSellsCongressMoving ForwardConclusionReformKeep Moving ForwardCaricaturesI Still Believe Author:David Axelrod
“I think the legacy was set because the way George Mitchell was the leader enabled Tom Daschle to be the leader he is. It carried on the spirit of integrity and of reform, of also working both with committee chairmen but bringing in the newer members to be able to have a voice and a say and participate in the deliberations, to always look at a modern way of doing it.” ThinkingWayLooksAbleSpiritVoiceLeaderModernIntegrityMembersReformLegacyTomsCommitteesChairmanDeliberation Author:Barbara Mikulski
“Everybody knows that the United Nations is not the Secretary-General; he has an important position, but the United Nations is the states within this organization, and to be frank, most of the people say only the five permanent members; this is the United Nations because they have the veto, they can do whatever they want and they can refuse whatever they want, and if there's a reform that is very much needed for this organization.” PeopleIfsKnowsWantImportantStatesNationsCan DoUnitedFivePositionNeededMembersOrganizationRefuseReformPermanentFrankSecretaryUnited NationsVeto Author:Bashar al-Assad
“The teachers' unions that block school reform have done serious damage to the union brand. The public no longer views unions as their friend, much less their champion. They view them as corrupt, intransigent and more interested in protecting their political clout within the Democratic Party than protecting their members or even school children.” ChildrenDoneSchoolPoliticalViewsPartyTeacherSeriousMembersUnionsDemocraticBlockBrandsReformChampionDamageDemocratic PartyCloutTeachers Unions Author:Juan Williams