'Center Aisle' Civility

often in their conversation, but they both know that earlier efforts to encourage cross-party friendships by such devices as occasional weekend "family retreats" largely failed to improve the atmosphere. "We have to change more than the rhetoric," Israel said. "We have to change the rules and change the culture."

The rules changes they have in mind mirror those suggested earlier by some Democrats. They are designed to assure all members, but especially those in the minority party, access to information about the issues coming up for action and their right to participate in shaping the result.

Changing the culture of the House will be more difficult, because it im-

plies changing the gerrymandered districts that virtually guarantee victory for one party or the other and make it a priority for most members to satisfy the most rabid partisans among their constituents.

But Johnson and Israel say that leaders of their parties have done nothing to discourage their efforts -- and, at least in some cases, have been encouraging. "I get flak from the far left of my caucus," Israel said. "And I do from the far right," Johnson broke in to say. But both find that the constituents who hear about what they're doing are supportive of their effort to make the House once again a place where people can talk to each other.

davidbroder@washpost.com