""We've done studies showing the reason a lot of people are leaving is because it's not functional, because of death threats, because they're not getting anything done," she said in an interview. "The polarization is just dramatically different from even from the 'good old days' when you had the Clinton impeachment, but you got things like welfare and tax reform done," said Comstock, who was a congressional staffer in the 90s and served in Congress from 2015 to 2019."
""More than a dozen former House members told NPR they see significant challenges for lawmakers and the institution of Congress. "I don't think anybody wants to have a job where you can't get the job done," said Illinois Democrat Cheri Bustos, who helped recruit candidates to run for office when she led the party's House campaign arm. "Right now," she said, "it's increasingly difficult to""
Congress is ending the year after the longest government shutdown and with a growing reputation as the least productive in modern history. A record number of lawmakers are leaving ahead of next year's midterm elections, pursuing other offices or retiring. Legislative stagnation and low morale have been building over time. Factors driving departures include heightened polarization, death threats, dysfunction, and an inability to pass legislation. Historical eras that combined intense partisan conflict with major governing achievements stand in contrast to the current period. Recruitment and retention are faltering as many view the job as untenable when they cannot accomplish results.
Read at www.npr.org
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