During my two decades in Washington, D.C., I have met innumerable current and former Hill staffers. When I mention that I worked for more than a decade at the Congressional Research Service (CRS), I almost inevitably get an ebullient response. “Oh, I love CRS. They have saved my bacon so many times.” These Hill veterans are referring to those moments when their bosses asked them to prepare a briefing or memorandum on an obscure or complex issue. Knowing little if anything about the topic, the staffer would call a CRS expert, who would school them on the subject, then successfully inform the senator or congressperson…. (Read more)