For the Love of Bipartisanship

This is a bicameral, bipartisan call for action from our nation’s legislators. The American economy has taken a beating and the citizens are bleeding. Legislative action, in many cases, may be the bandage to mend the wound. However, for those who preach less government, then this proposition is for you as well.

Our government is divided, and despite elector optimism, the great divide only seems to be widening. I failed to recognize the severity of this until recently since having the opportunity to work within the Michigan state legislator. The Senate and the House are controlled by different parties, and the minority in each appears to be treading water to stay afloat. Policy and amendments from either minority flow freely, yet unrecognized by the majority. Jason Mraz must have seen this coming.*

Resolution for such party divide –– gridlock –– is feasible. Resolution, speaking from personal opinion, can prosper with cooperative leadership of both the majority and the minority. It is common sense: The majority will eventually be the minority, and vice-versa. If the current majority fails to cooperate, or at least listen (respectfully) to the needs and requests of the minority, why should we expect a different response when the table turns?

Our state recently proposed legislation requiring state employees to take an allocated number of furlough days. Such action will save the state $22 million, but at the same time requires workers to take time off without pay. I understand this suggestion because it helps the state’s budget, however, our state politicians will continue to work, exempt from furlough.

During session recently, a State Senator stood up and announced that he would be donating six days of pay to his community to replicate the loss of money his constituents would face with the new legislation. He requested his peers in the senate do the same, but found his words to wane into open air.

A call to Democrat and Republic legislatures and constituents alike: This issue has nothing to do with an individual belief on an issue or platform. The issue here has to do with accepting responsibility in an economy scarred with more lesions than ever in American history. At some point, priorities must shift towards bipartisanship, and cooperation must trump resentment towards your colleagues across the aisle.

* "Do you ever wonder what happens to the words that we send? Do they bend, do they break from the flight that they take and come back together again, with a whole new meaning in a brand new sense, completely unrelated to the one I sent."