Reviews

Below you’ll find reviews of Fixing Congress by media, former Members of Congress and readers.

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This is American and the World

Dennis Wholey’s review of Fixing Congress: begins “If you want to know how Congress works – or doesn’t work – Fixing Congress – is an amazing book with its mission to save us from those we elect to the legislature. Fixing Congress is packed with facts and figures, theory of what the Founding Fathers had in mind (and what’s possible), insights about why it’s broken, and yes, not so farfetched solutions to fix the mess – including some that never occurred to me, make sense and are really worth debate.” Continue at Wholey.

Washington Examiner

April 11, 2024

David Mark’s review begins: “Fixing a broken Congress: A pair of Capitol Hill veterans offer unconventional recommendations on how to improve.

“House Democrats, in the minority by a slim margin, routinely pan Republicans for their inability to pass routine government spending bills, aid to Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia, and a range of other proposals. That’s not particularly surprising since it’s the minority party’s job to complain about the majority’s performance and argue how it would do better if voters gave it power.

“But Democrats are frequently joined in outrage by high-profile GOP colleagues who, for starkly different reasons, are upset with Republican leadership. It’s all led to the messiest Congress in recent memory. The national legislature’s shambolic performance, of course, didn’t happen overnight. Decadeslong roots to the problems span congressional majorities.

“At the end of this Congress, in early January 2025, Democrats and Republicans will have held power in the Senate nearly equally for the prior 44 years. Across the Capitol in the House, starting with the 1980 elections, the parties will have held the majority for exactly 22 years each, with the majority changing five times from the 1994 elections on — three in Republicans’ favor, twice for the Democrats, and with the 2024 fight for House control now effectively an electoral jump ball that could go either way.

“A pair of Capitol Hill veterans, Michael S. Johnson and Jerome F. Climer, offer a penetrating diagnosis of what’s gone wrong, and how to fix it, in their new book Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People (Morgan James Publishing). Johnson worked on President Gerald Ford’s White House staff and was press secretary and eventually chief of staff to House Minority Leader Bob Michel, an Illinois Republican, followed by a Washington, D.C., private sector career. Climer was a congressional staff member for 20 years before creating the Congressional Institute, where he served as president for two decades before retiring in 2007.

“Their book is particularly timely six months after the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy — with “former” being the key word in describing the 17-year House Republican from California. McCarthy was pushed out after nine months in the chamber’s top job, second in line of presidential succession behind the vice president, by a renegade group of House Republicans dissatisfied with his leadership style, along with a united House Democratic Caucus that refused to throw McCarthy a political lifeline.”

The Washington Examiner concludes their review with this observation: , “These ideas (in Fixing Congress) will have their supporters and detractors. But considering the sad state of Congress now, they’re at least worth debate and consideration. The proposals come in good faith in an important book that should be required reading….” see the Washington Examiner for the full review.

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Morgan James Publishing, upon the release of

Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People, said:

A preponderance of evidence indicates the public is very unhappy with the US Congress. Fixing Congress is a behind-the-scenes look at how Congress really functions and why it doesn’t.

This powerful resource educates and empowers engaged citizens who want to participate more fully in the process of self-government and regain more control over it.

Beginning with a closer look at members of Congress and their staff, as well as the structure, procedures, and culture, this groundwork gives citizens a greater understanding of Congress and the tools they need to make it better. It recounts the history of the institution, the intent of the Founding Fathers and the historical currents that have driven the country to its state of gridlocked government and suffocating polarization.

With the context set, Fixing Congress delves into special interest clout, questionable campaign financing, campaign abuses, partisan congressional district maps, ideological and partisan extremism, the role of parties, the overwhelming influence of the media, and the multitude of forces that make the average voter feel like a tiny cog in the gigantic wheel of governance.

This prolific resource provides numerous solutions that citizens can advocate in their communities and with their members of Congress. The final chapters propose reforms, strategies, and tactics to restore Congress to its intended purpose as a representative body. These proposals include redefining the distinctions between the Senate and House, reducing the size of congressional districts, limiting outside campaign financing, and urging the media to report objectively and with balance.

Is it possible to make Congress more productive, accessible, and answerable to the people? Yes. Fixing Congress is an essential part of the solution.

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Hon. Ray LaHood, Member of Congress (Retired)

Illinois 18th District 1995–2009

US Secretary of Transportation 2009–2013

Mike Johnson and Jerry Climer combine decades of Congressional experience, knowledge, and years of day-to-day working on the important debates and policies that shaped American domestic and foreign policy. Fixing Congress is an encyclopedia of the rules of regular order that enabled America’s representatives to debate and solve complicated fiscal issues. Fixing Congress is a must-read for every Member of Congress, Congressional staffers, scholars, and lecturers, but most importantly, for American citizens who want a more responsive Congress.

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Hon. Robert L Livingston, Member of Congress (Retired)

Louisiana 1st District 1977–1999

Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations (1995–1999)

No two people could collaborate more ably on Congressional history and procedure than Jerry Climer and Mike Johnson. Staffers, writers, and educators have between them the wisdom and knowledge to convince a conservative Congress of the imperative of fiscal integrity through Regular Order. Our nation is in fiscal peril. Citizens can have a greater influence on the Members of Congress who can save us from economic disaster if they have the right tools to do it. Fixing Congress provides those tools and more.

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Hon. Ed Bethune, Member of Congress (Retired)

Arkansas 2nd District

Few people get an opportunity to learn firsthand about our Congress.
The authors offer a readable summary of all they have learned in their years working in the trenches and at the highest levels of congressional staff. Take time to consider the thoughtful recommendations they make, and you will be better off for the effort. There are no overnight cures, but there are things we must consider if we really want to fix Congress. We the people have the power, but we must awaken and be bold. The authors, thankfully, give us a road map to ponder.

Amazon: 5.0 out of 5 stars Great summary of issues to consider.

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Phil McClendon

Retired senior VP and general counsel

of Lafarge North America Inc.,

a New York Stock Exchange-listed company

I have known Jerry Climer for many years and have observed him in his career as a dedicated professional in American politics and government. He has always been dedicated to improvement, with knowledge of the system and using that knowledge and experience to give us thoughtful, creative ideas. Fixing Congress, which he co-authored, is an excellent culmination of his career in public service. Climer & Johnson’s book is a good, thoughtful reading for the corporate world, where success depends on making decisions based on consistency. That factor has not been available for some time from the government regulatory and legislative process because of the “discombobulation” of the current system. Fixing Congress gives a detailed historical background of where we have been and where we are now and is an excellent pathway to reform in the future. The corporate world should promote the necessary reforms suggested in the book, making their decisions more confident and predictable in the future.

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Robert H. Quinn

Retired, President/Owner: Fiberstock Inc.,

Philadelphia, PA; NC Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Like many friends, I have lost confidence in our votes making a difference. Fixing Congress provides a thorough analysis, explaining reasonable and understandable causes of the disconnect. Explanations and solutions are based on the author’s incredible Congressional experience, their grasp of history, population changes, and the effect on the representative-to-voter ratio. Fixing Congress provides credible, sensible analysis with substantial ideas for solutions to real problems we face. It gives me hope.

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John Kornacki, PhD,

High School Advisor and Retired College Teacher, Northern Virginia

The Legislative Branch is both misunderstood and disrespected. These issues are deeply related, and the situation is only getting worse for the Congress and the people it represents during an election year when greater understanding and institutional cooperation seem impossible. Into this fine mess comes a fresh look at common sense ideas and practical reforms. Johnson and Climer offer a manual for action and reform for this Republic, as Benjamin Franklin once wondered, “if we can keep it.”

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Cy

Your book is a very important addition to making the electorate really aware of the issues facing our ability to govern in a Democratic Republic! I thought the structure of the book was logical, and the history, I’m sure, will be an eye-opener no matter where you sit on the partisan spectrum. Unfortunately, our populace is poorly educated, and what they take as fact or history is usually bent in one direction or the other, depending on the source. The section on potential solutions is clear and well stated, again, no matter where one’s political views emanate.

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Learn for yourself why readers offered these comments by reading: Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People.

Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People is available from Morgan James Publishing, Target, Amazon, Walmart, Books-a-Million, and most online bookstores, as well as through some local libraries.

“Both young people and working adults need a better understanding of an often-dysfunctional Congress that seems to have reached rock bottom in public esteem. Fixing Congress is a must-read for new voters and community leaders looking for solutions, not scapegoats.”

John Kornacki, PhD