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Reality bits
- Apr 3, 2009
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Former Members Appeal for Bipartisanship
Oct. 4, 2010, 4:44 p.m.
By Steven T. Dennis
Roll Call Staff
Former Members Appeal for Bipartisanship - Roll Call
A bipartisan group of more than 130 former Members of Congress is appealing to this years candidates to stick to the issues and push for common ground if elected.
The ad hoc group, called Former Members of Congress for Common Ground, is led by former Reps. John Porter (R-Ill.) and David Skaggs (D-Colo.). They accused Congress of a hyperpartisan atmosphere that has prevented action on a host of problems facing the country.
Rome is burning and Congress has been fiddling, Porter said in a conference call Monday.
Porter said the primary process and legislative redistricting have driven the two parties to ideological extremes and have made it harder to compromise.
He pointed to a lack of bipartisan action on jobs and the economy, huge deficits, education, and dependence on foreign oil as Congressional failures resulting from excessive partisan bickering.
The group signed a letter urging candidates to campaign with decency and respect toward opponents, to be truthful in presenting information about self and opponents, to engage in good faith debate about the issues and each others record, to refrain from personal attack, and if elected, to behave in office according to these same principles.
Listen to Porter and Skaggs as they answer questions from C-Span callers (real people across America, like you and me):
Congressional Bipartisanship - C-SPAN Video Library