Books in Brief: The Dance of Legislation

The Dance of Legislation, by Eric Redman (Simon & Schuster, 319 pp., $7.95).

Here, minutely and lovingly detailed, is an account of how one bill, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), became law. In 1970, Redman was a legislative assistant to Warren Magnuson, the other senator from Washington. As the liberal Magnuson envisioned it, the NHSC would provide sorely needed medical care for the ghetto and rural poor, with the government, of course, paying the bills. After “Maggie” introduced the plan, it became Redman’s responsibility to shepherd it through the congressional maze and on to the President’s desk. Redman takes us behind the scenes and shows just how it was done. Helped by other legislative aides, he went about lining up support for the bill. After a little compromising, an amazed Redman tells us, Magnuson’s NHSC not only had the support of the good guys, principled liberals, but also penny-pinching “archconservatives.” Eventually, the bill wound up on the President’s desk and, after some suspense, was signed by him into law. However, since the NHSC became law, it hasn’t lived up to the great expectations. Redman blames a confused Administration for this. Magnuson, for his part, busily churns out more “major health bills.”

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Kevin Lynch

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The Dance of Legislation, by Eric Redman (Simon & Schuster, 319 pp., $7.95).

Here, minutely and lovingly detailed, is an account of how one bill, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), became law. In 1970, Redman was a legislative assistant to Warren Magnuson, the other senator from Washington. As the liberal Magnuson envisioned it, the NHSC would provide sorely needed medical care for the ghetto and rural poor, with the government, of course, paying the bills. After “Maggie” introduced the plan, it became Redman’s responsibility to shepherd it through the congressional maze and on to the President’s desk. Redman takes us behind the scenes and shows just how it was done. Helped by other legislative aides, he went about lining up support for the bill. After a little compromising, an amazed Redman tells us, Magnuson’s NHSC not only had the support of the good guys, principled liberals, but also penny-pinching “archconservatives.” Eventually, the bill wound up on the President’s desk and, after some suspense, was signed by him into law. However, since the NHSC became law, it hasn’t lived up to the great expectations. Redman blames a confused Administration for this. Magnuson, for his part, busily churns out more “major health bills.”