January 4, 2008

Compromise in the New Year

By Congressman Joe Pitts

The New Year is always a good time for reflection and contemplation over the past year.  We often look at what went well, what didn’t, and most importantly, what should be done different in the coming year.  Then, we make New Year’s Resolutions.  In keeping with this tradition, perhaps the Democratic leaders in Congress would do best to reflect back on 2007, their first year as the new majority in Congress, and make some resolutions of their own for 2008.

During the first year of the new Democrat-led Congress legislative accomplishments were few and far between.  Early in the year, Congress passed an increase in the minimum wage, which turned out to be the only major accomplishment that was actually signed into law for much of the rest of the year.  On many of their other legislative priorities, Democratic leaders butted heads with Republicans in Congress and President Bush.  The result was that little was accomplished, including even the funding bills for the federal government, the most basic of legislative duties assigned to Congress.

The Democrats’ own target adjournment date of October 26 came and went with no end to the legislative year in sight.  October 31, the end of the fiscal year, also came and went, with only one of the 12 appropriations bills having been sent to, and signed by, the President.  Months went by with little to show for legislative action besides naming post offices and congratulating sports teams.  So Congress found itself in session the week before Christmas, attempting to make up for a year’s worth of inaction on the most pressing needs of the country.

With their backs against the wall, Democrats were forced to consult with Republicans, both in Congress and at the White House.  The result, after compromise on both sides, was legislation to fix an impending tax hike on the middle class, funding for our troops in the field, a bill providing funding to operate the federal government, a new energy bill, and legislation to extend the popular State Children’s Health Insurance Program.  The lesson to be learned here is that, like it or not, Democratic leaders in Congress will accomplish the most when they work with, not against, Republicans. 

The realities of a divided government, and the rules of the Senate allow the Republicans to put their foot down when they have not be consulted in crafting legislation.  True, we won’t agree on everything, but we will most likely agree on the need to act on many of the important issues facing the country.  There is room for compromise, but it isn’t going to happen if the Democrats simply leave Republicans out of the conversation.

So, based on this observation of last year, my suggested New Year’s Resolution for the Democratic leadership in Congress is this: sit down at the table with Republicans and work together in order to solve the problems Americans reasonably believe their elected leaders should be solving.

There is a lot of work ahead of us in the new year.  American families are facing record high prices at the pump and increasing healthcare costs.  The economy is still reeling from the credit crunch in the housing market.  These are times that call for serious, genuine leadership, not lopsided partisanship.  The Democrats tried for much of last year to ram their agenda through Congress, only to meet road blocks in the Senate and the White House.  They now have a choice to make.  Return to Washington and continue trying to ramrod their agenda through Congress without Republican input, likely to end again in further stalemate; or sit down at the legislative table with Republicans in Congress and the White House and start figuring out a way to solve problems for the American people.     

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