Could a majoritarian Congress be more bipartisan?
John Sides has a characteristically smart critique of my Newsweek article, taking issue with my contention that “getting rid of the rules meant to ensure bipartisanship may actually discourage partisanship.” As Sides argues, we already have a majoritarian body — the House of Representatives — and it’s anything but an oasis of bipartisanship. It’s a fair objection, and one I’ve thought a bit about. As you can see in this interview with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, this interview with political scientist Barbara Sinclair, and this graph tracking polarization in Congress, politicians and political scientists alike date much of the increase in obstruction and polarization to the 1990s. That was when Newt Gingrich advocated obstruction and opposition to end the Democrats’ 40-year hold on the House of Representatives, and Senate minority leader Bob Dole, who wanted to run for president in 1996, happily partnered with him. That partnership was important: The Senate is where the minori
