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Common Cents: A Retiring Six-Term Congressman Reveals How Congress Really Works-And What We Must Do to Fix It
Drawing on twelve years of experience in Congress to explain what is wrong and how to fix it, a former congressman from Minnesota reveals the hypocrisy, double-dealing, and power plays that have rendered Congress impotent. 25,000 first printing. Tour.
262 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1995
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May 24, 2018
I didn’t live in Minnesota when Tim Penny served six terms as a US congressman from Minnesota. But I remembered my conservative father-in-law speak in glowing terms about this unconventional Democrat. So when I stumbled across Common Cents in the library, I knew I needed to learn more about this man.
I have to say that, while I don’t agree with him on every political issue, I appreciate his public servant’s heart and his ideas about how to make Congress a responsible, productive branch of government again.
Perhaps what surprised me the most was his non-partisan approach to tackling difficult topics like the federal budget. With unusual common sense, he laid out his efforts to cut federal spending while forming alliances with congressmen and senators from across the aisle. He calls out hypocrites from both parties, and he spells out many problems with how the House and the Senate function that need to be completely reformed (hint - chairmanship of powerful committees MUST be rotated and not allowed to stay in the control of a single senior senator or representative. Chairmen of committees are literally controlling spending and what bills can even be voted on by the full house or senate. Not very Democratic.)
Ultimately, this book gave me a lot to think about and helped me to better understand the political gridlock that has consumed Congress. I’d recommend this book to anyone wanting to get a clearer picture of the forces at work in our legislative and executive branches of government.
I have to say that, while I don’t agree with him on every political issue, I appreciate his public servant’s heart and his ideas about how to make Congress a responsible, productive branch of government again.
Perhaps what surprised me the most was his non-partisan approach to tackling difficult topics like the federal budget. With unusual common sense, he laid out his efforts to cut federal spending while forming alliances with congressmen and senators from across the aisle. He calls out hypocrites from both parties, and he spells out many problems with how the House and the Senate function that need to be completely reformed (hint - chairmanship of powerful committees MUST be rotated and not allowed to stay in the control of a single senior senator or representative. Chairmen of committees are literally controlling spending and what bills can even be voted on by the full house or senate. Not very Democratic.)
Ultimately, this book gave me a lot to think about and helped me to better understand the political gridlock that has consumed Congress. I’d recommend this book to anyone wanting to get a clearer picture of the forces at work in our legislative and executive branches of government.
Displaying 1 of 1 review