Executive Director Gregg Nunziata spoke at Yale’s Institution for Social and Policy Studies, championing pragmatic and principled government.
Gregg discussed with Danny Werfel, former IRS commissioner, how government’s primary duty is productivity in the public’s favor. He asserted that Congress, “should be the driving institution of American governance,” and that “leadership in Congress should be about doing work, not seeking attention.” The process of disagreement and principled compromise makes that work possible. “One way in which government works is for it to simply be a playing field on which we can have productive disagreements with each other.” He highlighted the vital role that staffers and lawyers play in fulfilling this standard. Junior staffers, by building expertise in specific policy areas, can drive effective governance. “Staff can play an important role in advising what’s possible.” Lawyers, driven by their professional obligations, can restrain political overreach and ground elected officials’ leadership in the rule of law.
Loyalty to principles, grounded in a respect for the rule of law, is what defines effective public service. “Put some reins on your ambition,” he said. “Understand that this is public service. And if your ambition starts champing at those reins, then do something else.” The ultimate goal is to preserve our constitution and democracy for the next generation, as stewards. “I love the word stewardship. I think it’s the most important word in politics.”
Read the article here.
