Staff Politics in the Republican House: The Case of the Appropriations Committee

Abstract

This article examines recent developments in one of the most important staff units in Congress–the staff of the House Appropriations Committee. We consider changes in staff politics on this committee in light of the competing claims of informational and partisan theories. Drawing primarily on evidence from interviews with current and former Appropriations Committee staff members, and with former chair Robert Livingston (R-LA), we look at the effect of the shift in party control in 1995 on the organization and operation of this staff, which has traditionally been known for providing nonpartisan expertise to the Appropriations Committee and the House. We find clear evidence that changes in the operation of this staff unit after 1994 have caused it to become more responsive to the goals of the majority party. Although we also find evidence of an informational dimension in Appropriations staff politics, we conclude that this case offers stronger support for conditional party government theory.