Ground Rule for the Washington Movement

"This isn’t just a rhetorical point. It is commonly and accurately observed that no one in the U.S. Congress really deliberates anymore. Congressional “debate” amounts to a series of talking points aimed not at colleagues but at activist audiences, who are perfectly happy to punish a legislator who deviates from their agenda as a result of deliberation or the acquisition of greater knowledge. This leads then to bureaucratic mandates written by interest groups that restrict bureaucratic autonomy."

can't attribute, but is on target for the current state of affairs.

Ground Rule #1 (there are only 10)
You must be able to read and employ the skill of reading for all legislation put before your governing body.  All legislative bills, amendments, actions, call to order etc., must be read. Once read, debated.  If there are no merits to debate then the proposed material does not belong in the assembly's action agenda.

This rule is the perfect antidote to excessive legislating as well as an over-enthusiastic staff and corresponding office holders.  If you can't or haven't read it, you don't know what's in it and that isn't representative governing. 

It's a modern form of blindness.