John,
I participated in a TV interview recently, and I was asked a question I’ve been hearing more and more lately: Isn’t it really just one party - the Republicans - that’s responsible for the gridlock and division in Congress?
It’s a fair question, and I understand why people feel that way given that Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the White House. But in my experience, the truth is more complicated. Both political parties have contributed to the dysfunction we’re seeing in Washington.
Part of the problem is that our politics has turned into a zero-sum game, where one side believes it can only succeed if the other side loses. That kind of thinking doesn’t serve the American people. We’re not opponents to be defeated at all costs. We’re citizens of the same country, and we each have a responsibility to treat one another with respect and elect leaders who are focused on solving problems, not scoring political points.
What’s become increasingly clear is that it’s been so long since Congress functioned the way it’s supposed to that many of those we elect no longer seem motivated to offer bold, forward-looking ideas. Today, winning a majority in the U.S. Senate or House too often seems less about advancing a meaningful agenda for the American people - and more about blocking the other party from doing anything at all.
I'll give you an example that's been on my mind lately.
Republicans maintain a historically narrow majority in the U.S. House right now, and while even that slim majority affords them much of the power to move legislation, being in the minority doesn't mean you’re powerless.
What’s stopping Democratic leaders, or even a group of rank-and-file members, from stepping forward with a blueprint for their own budget proposal? What’s preventing them from introducing a comprehensive plan to reform healthcare or immigration, confront our runaway national debt, or take on any number of other issues that matter deeply to the American people?
The answer is nothing. Too many members of Congress have become so afraid to take a stand, worried it will be used against them in the next campaign, that they end up doing nothing. They say nothing and simply wait for the next election. But to what end? What is the point of running for office, and even winning a governing majority, if your only strategy is to block the other party from accomplishing anything?
The shame in all of this is that it doesn't have to be this way. In my experience, voters tend to reward those who have the courage to put forward bold ideas and clearly explain why they are taking the positions they are. Even when voters disagree, they respect honesty and conviction. The reality is often the opposite of what many in Congress fear.
During my 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican Party was in the minority for most of that time. But that didn’t stop me from advocating for big ideas and working with colleagues across the aisle to move them forward. Congressman Tim Penny (Democrat) and I introduced a budget plan year after year, and each time it gained more support, and in 1997, we passed a balanced federal budget for the first time in nearly 40 years.
Change doesn’t happen overnight, but it is always possible. I believe a major reason the American people have lost confidence in Congress and elected leaders is this persistent pattern of inaction fueled by toxic, win-at-all-costs mentality behind it. Imagine if we could turn that around. Imagine if our politics focused on the best ideas, regardless of where they come from, and on finding real, bipartisan paths to make them a reality.
