Bipartisanship, Civility Needed in Washington

As one who is deeply committed to the ideals of public service, I firmly believe that Americans want and deserve better than the partisanship and incivility that has become all-too commonplace in the United States Congress.  In recent years, Republican leaders have often shut Democratic members - even moderate to conservative Democrats - out of the process for developing legislation.  Just as frequently, Democratic leaders have ordered their members to not work across the aisle on issues such as deficit reduction legislation, as doing so would add bipartisan credibility to issues the Democratic leaders wanted to exploit for political gain.  This blatant partisanship and incivility in Congress by Republicans and Democrats alike has been amplified throughout the country by so-called 527 organizations, or "shadow campaign committees," purposely distorting the public debate on substantive issues.

The new session of Congress, with Democratic leaders now in charge of the United States House of Representatives and Senate, is set to begin on January 4, 2007.  This is a new opportunity for more bipartisan cooperation in the legislative process and a more civil debate about the challenges confronting our nation.  The question is whether this opportunity will be seized by either side.

A good test case in this regard is on the issue of lobbying and ethics reform.  Public service is a noble profession filled with many good people.  However, the recent scandals in Washington have tarnished the integrity of members of both major political parties.  These scandals have seriously and understandably eroded the trust of the American people in Congress.

Real lobbying and ethics reform will certainly help to restore the public's trust.  I was one of sixteen Republican members to cross party lines in support of a Democratic lobbying reform proposal considered by the United States House of Representatives last May.  This proposal would have banned lobbyist-paid meals and gifts, greatly restricted privately-sponsored Congressional travel, and created an outside office to investigate violations of ethics laws.  Unfortunately, the Democratic proposal ultimately failed by only three votes.  As a result of the November elections, the House Democratic leadership is now in a solid position to pass a similarly strong reform proposal.  Hopefully, the Democratic leadership will not waiver from their past support of this critically important initiative.
 
The Democratic leadership has also pledged to implement the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission, reform budgetary rules, and promote energy independence.  These are all issues that many Republican members have worked on for years.  It is my sincere hope that members of both parties will have the opportunity to participate in a meaningful way in the development of such legislation.  It is also my sincere hope that, if given the opportunity, my fellow Republican House members will participate in good faith with our Democratic colleagues.  Where true policy differences ultimately preclude a bipartisan agreement, then the debate over the merits on any particular bill should be civil and honest.

The problems facing our nation, from energy costs to health care affordability to the War on Terror, are formidable and complex.  There will be policy disagreements, and some of these disagreements may fall largely along party lines.  In the end, however, a process that involves bipartisan negotiation and honest debate will best serve our nation's interests in helping to set a course for the future.  After all, the problems we face, we face together as a nation - not as Republican or Democratic or independent voters, but as Americans first and foremost.

Despite the fact that Republicans had a majority of the seats in the House since I was first elected to Congress, I have reached across party lines on a variety of issues because I believed it was the right thing to do.  I have participated in broad, bipartisan coalitions aimed at promoting greater fuel conservation and securing adequate funding for education and health-care research.  I have also worked with individual Democratic members on issues such as enacting line-item veto authority for the President and prohibiting automatic Congressional pay raises.
 
Partisanship and incivility in Congress have been significant road blocks to the advancement of sound public policy.  Such roadblocks are not in the best interests of the American people and must be eliminated.  As I begin a new term in Congress, I am pleased to publicly reaffirm my commitment to working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues alike to advance solutions for the many challenges facing our great country.  I will do my utmost to fulfill the trust placed in me and will always seek to carry myself in a respectful and statesmanlike manner.  The citizens of the 19th District deserve nothing less.