Function effectively?

I'd hardly consider whatever national does in DC right now anything remotely resembling "effective."

Are you telling me Prater earns whatever exorbitant salary he's paid? Has it gone down commensurate with salaries industry-wide?

Maybe now is the time to "furlough" the current fat cats and get some folks in there who are going to advocate for the rank-and-file, and not their own selfish interests.