ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE BILL EMERSON

There is little question that the American people are distrustful of government and are deeply concerned about the modus operandi of the Congress. This sentiment led, in part, to the creation of the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress. I was honored to have been appointed to serve on this historic committee and while I voted to report the House Subcommittee's proposals, the package falls short of my vision of Congressional reform. Rather than endorsing the report, my vote was cast to keep the process moving.

With the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress we had, and may still have, a unique opportunity to put before our colleagues a progressive and comprehensive reform program. Despite what the Chairman himself described as an insufficient mark, I looked forward to working with my colleagues to improve our reform package during the Subcommittee mark-up. At mark-up, most of the debate on the Chairman's mark and subsequent amendments was vigorous and beneficial. Unfortunately, the debate frequently turned bitterly partisan and negative. Instead of the truly bipartisan and statesman-like spirit that led to the creation of the Joint Committee, the proceedings turned into a battle for power and turf where no one wanted ``to lose'' and some Members chose instead to torpedo changes beneficial to Congress as an institution. It didn't and doesn't have to be that way.

There is a business training exercise which shows how people look at the same task in different ways. You draw an imaginary line on the floor and put one person on each side. The purpose is to get one person to convince the other, without force, to cross the line. U.S. players almost never convince one another, but their Japanese counterparts simply say, ``If you'll cross the line, so will I.'' They switch places and they both win. Both the Democrats and the Republicans (and the Independent) in the House would ``win'' if the Joint Committee achieves serious reform. Most importantly the American people and representative democracy would win, if the reform has the effect of restoring confidence in the institutions of government.

I believe the time has more than come to make changes and I remain hopeful that the House leadership will bring the Joint Committee's report to the Floor under an open rule. Although I have never been a believer in change ;just for the sake of change, we have much room to improve and strengthen the Congress, not tear it down. In fact, when the Joint Committee first began its work, I was concerned that it would spend too much time dealing with perceptions -- and what are perceived problems -- rather than the real problems and difficulties. The bottom line is that the serious, bipartisan work of the Joint Committee has been inhibited by the resistance of a small, entrenched, and powerful faction in Congress. The rank-and-file in Congress, and some of the leadership, see that change of some sort is on the horizon. I look forward to working with these colleagues to achieve real results which will strengthen the Institution. If Congress does not make serious inroads towards this goal, I believe the voters will respond by changing the membership.

Bill Emerson.