As irritating and potentially destructive as that aspect of our process may be, it is unfortunately also a critical negotation tool, one that is just as important as the "plea bargain" system in criminal justice (imagine how much more "fair" criminal justice would be without plea bargains, but also imagine how difficult it would be for DAs to do their jobs). Both Democrats and Republicans use it, this is just one particularly sensitive example.

In criminal justice, DAs make deals with criminals in which they receive lighter sentences in exchange for admitting guilt. In this bill approval process, politicians can build-in concessions in bills to the "other party" to get the bill passed. Without those concessions it would be difficult for one party to convince members of the other to vote in favor.