No one party has the monopoly on good ideas, which is why I am working with members of both sides of the aisle to address some of the most challenging issues our country faces today.

For example, we must address the nation’s looming fiscal crisis before spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid bankrupts the federal government. We simply cannot afford to let partisanship stop us from addressing this important issue.

That’s why I became a cosponsor of the Securing America’s Future Economy (SAFE) Commission Act, which would create a 16-member, bipartisan commission tasked with holding town hall meetings around the country and subsequently drafting a plan to balance long-term spending and revenue scenarios for the nation.

There’s no doubt there will be tough choices to make, but we must deal with our fiscal realities in a frank and honest manner so that we can get back on the road to fiscal responsibility. The SAFE Commission Act takes the partisanship out of long-term tax and spending questions and puts them in the hands of a capable bipartisan commission.

In addition, I recently joined with 27 other members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, to create the Bipartisan Compact on Iraq Debate, which puts forth eight fundamental statements about how members of Congress must approach this debate so that so we can reasonably and responsibly define our involvement in Iraq.

As a part of my ongoing efforts to encourage bipartisanship, I serve as a co-chair of the Center Aisle Caucus. This group was founded in February 2005 by Rep. Steve Israel and Rep. Tim Johnson to bring together Members who can work cooperatively, find areas of agreement across party lines, and agree to respectfully disagree when necessary. Meetings are Members-only and closed to the press to allow for substantive discussion.

This bipartisan group of over 50 House Members is committed to working cooperatively on the issues and achieving a more respectful and civil climate for conducting the nation’s business. We want to show how people of differing philosophies can work together and respectfully engage in civil discourse. Now more than ever we need to join together in a bipartisan way to address the challenges facing our nation.

Co-Chairs:
Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Rep. Tim Johnson (R-IL)
Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS), Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX), Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD)

The Center Aisle Caucus believes:

The level of civility in Congress has reached a new low. Bitter partisanship stands as a real hindrance to the goal of fostering discussion and compromise where possible.

We can disagree without being disagreeable. While we may never come to consensus on certain issues, we can certainly have civil, substantive discussions about them.

Let’s change the tone in Congress. The Center Aisle Caucus is developing substantive recommendations for how to make working in the House more positive and effective.

To create a more respectful climate for conducting the nation’s business, we plan to:

• Seek common ground on issues ranging from energy independence to health care;


• Encourage real debate on the floor, instead of pre-written, partisan speeches;


• Suggest changes in the rules to foster a more productive exchange of ideas;


• Promote civility and discourage personal attacks and insults;


• Foster better relations among members from across the aisle.