About this item
Highlights
- "In 1995, the budget standoff between Democrats and Republicans forced the federal government to shut down.
- About the Author: John L. Hilley worked in the White House as senior adviser and head of legislative affairs to President Bill Clinton from February 1996 to January 1998.
- 290 Pages
- Political Science, Political Process
Description
About the Book
"In 1995, the budget standoff between Democrats and Republicans forced the federal government to shut down. Two years later, the parties joined forces to pass the first balanced budget in a generation. In The Challenge of Legislation, John Hilley, the Clinton adminis...
Book Synopsis
"In 1995, the budget standoff between Democrats and Republicans forced the federal government to shut down. Two years later, the parties joined forces to pass the first balanced budget in a generation. In The Challenge of Legislation, John Hilley, the Clinton administration's chief liaison to the Republican-controlled Congress, tells the inside story of this dramatic turnaround. Hilley weaves together a detailed narrative and vivid portraits of the key players--including then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, Senate Republican leader Trent Lott, and President Bill Clinton--in this comprehensive account of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Equally at home with the complexities of the legislative process and the realities of political combat, he offers unique insight into the highly charged relationship between party leaders and their rank-and-file, the interplay between elected officials and their professional staff, the delicate art of partisan negotiations, and the role of uncertainty and surprise. The result is a compelling look at how public policy is made, rich in enduring lessons for both policymakers and students of legislative politics. Ten years ago, bipartisanship triumphed against daunting odds. The Challenge of Legislation shows how it happened and what it will take for bipartisanship to succeed again.
"Review Quotes
"This book is an insider's recollection of the processes that led to the 1997 crafting of the nation's first balanced budget in decades.... All of the characters appear in vivid color. Recommended." -- "CHOICE"
About the Author
John L. Hilley worked in the White House as senior adviser and head of legislative affairs to President Bill Clinton from February 1996 to January 1998. In this role, he oversaw and participated in the negotiation of all major legislation. Before moving to the White House, Hilley served as chief counsel for Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, chief of staff for Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, and majority staff director for Senate Budget Committee Chairman Jim Sasser. In the private sector, he has served as executive vice president of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and as chairman and CEO of NASDAQ International. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University.
