How did a Democratic president and a Republican Congress reach agreement at a time of intense partisanship, mutual distrust, and suspicion? How were leaders of opposing parties able to negotiate a good-faith agreement to balance the budget, reduce spending for Medicare, and cut taxes? Does the agreement truly deserve the praise given by its supporters or the criticism dealt by its opponents? Daniel J. Palazzolo answers these questions with a vivid, first-person account of federal budget politics.
In Done Deal? Palazzolo debunks conventional views of Washington politics that portray an antiquated separation-of-powers system hopelessly mired in partisan politics. Applying a realist expectations perspective, he recognizes the possibilities and limitations of the American political system and identifies inherent constraints on policy reform. His careful analysis highlights the system's capacity to adapt to changing circumstances and produce important changes in policy.
Formats Available from CQ Press
| ISBN: 978-1-88911-920-5 |
Format: Print Paperback |
Retail Price: $34.95 |
Price to Bookstores: $27.96 |
New to this Edition
Not applicable: This is the first edition of this work.
CQ Press is pleased to comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act. Please email heoacompliance@cqpress.com for additional information that may be available. Be sure to include your name, contact information, academic affiliation, and the title, author, and edition of the book in question.
Contact us at collegesales@cqpress.com if we may assist you in your book selection or if you have feedback to share. Thank you for your consideration of CQ Press books.
CQ Press, a Division of SAGE Publications, Inc.
2300 N Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20037
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. The Puzzle of Budget Politics
Inevitable Gridlock
Realist Expectations
Realist Expectations and the 1997 Budget Agreement
Plan of the Book
Chapter 2. Budget Choices and Deficit Politics: 1980-96
Budget Basics: Many Purposes, Many Goals, and Many Budgets
Slicing the Budget Pies and Charting Trends in Revenues and Outlays
The Deficit Problem
The Politics of Deficit Reduction
Failed Attempts to Make the "Tough Choices"
Republican Revolution and the Partisan Stalemate
Budget Politics and Realist Expectations
Chapter 3. Aligning the Stars: Governing, Policy, and Leadership
Potential Barriers to Cooperation
Aligning the Stars
Party Leaders and Policy Leaders
A Matter of Realist Expectations
Chapter 4. Tug-of-War
Jump Starts and False Starts
Principles, Politics, and Policy Change
Chapter 5. Bipartisan Deal Making under Divided Government
Getting Started--Again: Details, Deadlines, and Priorities
Not Quite Done
The Devil in the Details
The Consequences of Bipartisan Negotiations
Chapter 6. "Don't Let the Perfect Be the Enemy of the Good"
The Budget Committees
All Politics is Local--Sometimes
Showdown in the Senate
Leadership and Realist Expectations
Chapter 7. Reconciliation Medley
Reconciliation Overview
Budget Reconciliation in the House
Health Programs: Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health
Tying up Loose Ends
Passage on the House Floor
Senate Finance Committee: Major Entitlement Reform
A Mix of Policy Decisions
Chapter 8. The Politics of Tax Policy
Institutions, Policy, and Leadership
Tax Policy on the Ways and Means Committee
Senate Finance Committee
A Test of Party Leadership in the House
Tax Policy and Realist Expectations
Chapter 9. Conference Politics: Staking Out Positions and Restoring Bipartisanship
Overview of the Conference Process
Staking Out Positions
Restoring Bipartisanship and Closing the Deal
Making Divided Government Work
Chapter 10. The 1997 Budget Agreement in Realist Perspective
Governing and Political Leadership
Evaluating the Budget Agreement
Facing the Fiscal Challenges Ahead
Notes
Glossary of Terms
Index
Bio(s)
Daniel J. Palazzolo, University of Richmond
