Norman J. Ornstein: Resident scholar, American Enterprise Institute

Norman J. Ornstein is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. He also serves as an election analyst for CBS News. In addition, Ornstein writes regularly for USA Today as a member of its board of contributors and writes a weekly column called Congress Inside Out for the Roll Call newspaper. In 1997 to 1998, he was co-chair of the president's advisory committee on the Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters with Leslie Moonves, president of CBS Television. Norman is currently leading a coalition of scholars and others in a major effort to reform the campaign financing system; the New York Times referred to him as a scholar "who helped draft the new law" that was enacted in 2002. He is also co-directing a multi-year effort, called the Transition to Governing Project to create a better climate for governing in the era of the permanent campaign. He is senior counselor to the Continuity of Government Commission, to ensure the continuation of our institutions of governance in the event of a terrorist attack on Washington. He is a member of the board of directors of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and of the board of trustees of the United States Capitol Historical Society.

Ornstein has worked with Al Franken as a commentator and pollster for the Comedy Central television network's political coverage and occasionally makes comedy appearances with Franken. His frequent appearances on television include Larry King Live, Nightline, Today, Charlie Rose, Face the Nation and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, where he has a 25-year relationship as consultant and contributor. He served as a founder and board member of the National Commission on Public Service (the Volcker Commission) and as co-director of the Renewing Congress Project, a major, comprehensive examination of Congress that played a major role in the reforms of the past several Congresses.