Governing Differently

As congressional lawmakers return this week to get things done for the American people they were elected to represent, there is a lot of hope that this year will be different. In particular, there’s great optimism that it will be a year marked not by governing from crisis to crisis but instead governing by regular order.

Toward the end of last year, we began to see hints of such progress. At the end of October, Paul Ryan was pressed into service by his colleagues and was enthusiastically elected as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming majority of the Republican Conference. Then with the support of his leadership team, both chambers finished out the year by working together to pass vital legislation, including bills to fund the government, make many tax extenders permanent, invest in surface transportation and repeal damaging education policies that concentrated too much power in Washington. Each of these accomplishments served as proof that even when the government is divided, good faith negotiations and a willingness to compromise can result in meaningful work done on behalf of the American people.

This concept of governing by “regular order” is one that has been tossed around in conversation, news reports and by lawmakers quite often—especially lately. But beyond the understanding that it sounds like a good idea, what are the markers of a government that is actually functioning under it and how will Congress keep up the momentum toward achieving it?

Regular order is thoughtfully and decisively operating under established procedures, reasonable timetables and processes that allow policymaking or simply open discussion and collaboration. To the majority of the American people, regular order is seen as a government that isn’t broken, operating in the last minute or perpetually in crisis mode. For lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, it means having a voice that is welcomed, heard and respected and a process that is both fair and transparent. To be clear, this is not synonymous with either side getting everything it wants—even the majority party. However, it is synonymous with finding common ground and in so doing getting things done for the American people.

Furthermore, regular order is the benchmark for the most basic and fundamental responsibilities of our Republic. Members of Congress are elected to run the government, not shut it down. They are elected to debate and thoughtfully consider the formulation of public policy, not to obstruct the process when they don’t get everything they want. And they are expected to have the manners and decorum we would expect from any small business owner, teacher or CEO—not those of petulant children. I am confident that under the steady hand of Speaker Paul Ryan, the House will reflect these values and we will be able to accomplish productive policies for the American people.

At the top of that list this year, there will be the task of writing, introducing and passing a balanced budget proposal early in the spring. That budget will then be able to guide lawmakers in the Appropriations Committee to draft, consider and pass legislation to fund the nation’s most important priorities. Rather than relying on another massive “omnibus” spending package, I am hopeful that we can instead pass each of the 12 government funding bills one by one, allowing time for more debate and producing a better end product.

At the end of the day, regular order is meant to guide the process and give birth to meaningful American solutions in a reasonable matter of time. It doesn’t mean we’ll get there immediately or without some work, but I believe we are on the right track to do so this year.