Study: Divided Govt. Still Achieves

WASHINGTON (AP) â€” Many of the nation's most important achievements over the past half-century came during periods of divided government, a new study says. <br><br>Without explicitly mentioning the

Wednesday, December 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) â€” Many of the nation's most important achievements over the past half-century came during periods of divided government, a new study says.

Without explicitly mentioning the incoming Bush administration, the study being released Wednesday by The Brookings Institution suggests the closeness of George W. Bush's electoral victory and the practically evenly divided houses of Congress need not be an insurmountable handicap.

Between 1944 and 1999, Congress passed more than 500 major laws that successfully addressed many of society's most important and difficult problems, the study said. No single president, political party or Congress can take all the credit for anything since ``achievement appears to be the direct product of endurance, consensus and patience.''

Topping the study's list of achievements are the rebuilding of Europe after World War II â€” the result of Democratic President Truman working with a Republican-controlled Congress â€” as well as the civil rights movement that included expanded voting rights since the 1960s.

Much later, Republican President Reagan got through a Democratic Congress a five-year $750 billion tax cut similar to George W. Bush's proposal for a $1.3 trillion, 10-year tax cut.

The study's author, Paul C. Light, who heads Brookings' governmental studies program, expressed doubts about whether government efforts over the next 50 years will be as prodigious or successful as in the past.

``To the extent that the nation's leaders avoid the risky issues in favor of safe rewards, the public demands instant gratification instead of long-term diligence, and the media punishes the trial and error so essential to ultimate impact, the list of government's greatest achievements of the next half century will be short indeed,'' he said.

In January, the White House and both houses of Congress will be controlled by Republicans. The Senate will be divided 50-50 â€” with Vice President Dick Cheney able to cast a 51st vote for the GOP when necessary. The GOP will hold a 221-111 edge over Democrats in the House, with two independents and one vacancy.

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Brookings Institution: http://www.brook.edu