Done Deal?: The Politics of the 1997 Budget Agreement Review

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(More customer reviews)Done Deal? The Politics of the 1997 Budget Agreement explores the 1997 budget agreement in an effort to understand how a Democratic president and a Republican-controlled Congress can reach an agreement to balance the budget in spite of divided government and partisanship. Palazolo not only provides the reader with a detailed account of the months of debate and compromise that led up to the 1997 agreement, but he places this account in theoretical terms. Palazzolo refutes scholars who argue that the deficit problem cannot be solved because of "inevitable gridlock" due to partisanship and interest group pressures. Using a "realist expectations model," Palazzolo identifies the constraints to policy reform and the ability of key budget actors to adapt to these constraints as well as respond to the changing political and economic environment to produce significant policy reform. Palazolo shows that with a political environment ripe for cooperation, a soaring economy, and key budget actors willing to compromise, a bipartisan deficit reduction agreement can occur in an era of divided government. This book is a must read for any student of politics, particularly those interested in budgeting or divided government.

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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.

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