ARCHIVE

Capitol Hill Workshop

The 102nd Congress - Archive Edition

January 22-24, 1992

The Office of the Secretary of Defense Presents
CAPITOL HILL WORKSHOP:
A Seminar on the Legislative Process
Held at The Capitol Hill Club.

The roots of democracy are everywhere to be seen on Capitol Hill. Congress is the sounding board upon which clashing viewpoints reverberate; decisions are made and decisions are avoided. Contentious issues confront the 102nd Congress and the general confidence inspired by our stunning victory over Iraq has been somewhat tempered by world events. The early 1990's are witness to intensifying debate on U.S. public policy and the capability of our legislature to effectively define, prioritize and address current domestic and international items on its agenda.

This workshop will look closely at the role Congress will play in the effort to successfully mobilize the support and financing required to achieve our domestic policy goals without bringing the nation to the brink of fiscal disaster. Problems in the infrastructure of the nation are contributing to a growing unease on Capitol Hill - the decay of transportation and communication networks; the high cost and inadequate distribution of medical care; the increasing evidence of the failure of American public education; the persistence of homelessness; the devastation of national health tied to both legal and illicit drugs; and environmental concerns from toxic waste to global warming. It is certainly possible that continuing economic problems will constrain not only defense spending but domestic programs as well. The wild card will certainly be whether or not the nation will address the deficit question and be able to quickly recover from a lingering recession.

Resolving concerns about international issues could be equally difficult. On August 2, 1990, President George Bush delivered an important address that urged a reevaluation of the major assumptions of United States foreign policy. Citing the significant changes that have taken place in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, as well as the resurgence of local and regional issues, the President declared that the United States must develop new programs and strategies to cope with an increasingly interdependent world.

The degree in which Congress cooperates or impedes with the Executive Branch and how adequately it copes with key national issues will inevitably be questioned. The debate will continue to intensify regarding the partisan composition of Congress, the effectiveness of Congressional rules and procedures, port-barrel politics, and the way in which members of Congress are elected. The Capitol Hill Workshop is designed to separate these disparate elements by identify and analyzing the politics and issues that animate Capitol Hill.

To misjudge the moods of Congress or to fail to grasp Congressional psychology can create friction and difficulty for OSD executive personnel. It is, therefore, crucial that our senior managers and executives possess a clear understanding of the institutional dynamics of Congress and how future legislative policies will shape and define the mission of OSD in the years ahead.

Speakers & Topics

The Evolution of Power in Congress: Walter Oleszek, Senior Specialist in American Government, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; Author of Congress and Its Members

The Media and the National Interest: Sid Davis, Program Director, Voice of America; Former Senior Washington Correspondent, NBC News.

The Soviet Union and the Death of Communism: Implications for the United States: Melvin Goodman, Soviet Specialist and CIA Civilian Faculty, National Defense University, National War College.

Defense vs. the Domestic Agenda: The Economic and Fiscal Realities: Lawrence J. Korb, Director, Center for Public Policy Education, Brookings Institution; Former Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Reagan.

Politics on the Hill: A Personal Assessment: Ralph Nader, Consumer Activist

The Art of Lobbying: Tom Korologos, President, Timmons and Company; Former Deputy Assistant to the President for Senate Relations

National Security and the 1992 Budget: New Rules and Old Problems: Allen Schick, Professor of Public Policy, University of Maryland School of Public Affairs; Guest Scholar, Brookings Institution; Author of Congress and Money and Crisis in the Budget Process.

Leadership in the 102nd Congress: Representative Mickey Edwards (R-OK), House Committee on Appropriations; Subcommittee on Foreign Operations; Republican Party Leader

Covering Congress: The Legislature and the Press: Eleanor Clift, Congressional Correspondent, Newsweek Magazine