Gridlock is likely to continue

Submitted by Jack McCullough on October 5, 2012
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Problem-Solver's Daily
Congressional Gridlock
Bobby Schilling
Bob Corker
Fiscal Cliff
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STUCK IN GRIDLOCK: Regardless of who wins the presidential election, The Economist argues that neither party will control Congress -- and the gridlock will continue. "In the end, there is only one good reason to imagine that the next Congress will get much done: because it has to," write the authors. Now more than ever, we need to urge our members of Congress to find solutions across the aisle and to look at the proposals set forth in our Make Congress Work! action plan: The Economist: Gridlock Central

SEAL OF APPROVAL: Yesterday, Rep. Bobby Schilling received No Labels' Problem-Solvers Seal of Approval by joining the Problem-Solvers Bloc. “In the gridlocked political climate we face today, we need more leaders like Schilling who believe that cooperation and solving problems are virtues, not signs of weakness,” said No Labels Co-Founder Mark McKinnon. No Labels Co-Founder Bill Galston agreed, “Schilling’s efforts to find common ground on important legislation like the recent farm bill have shown once again his dedication to problem solving and working across the aisle to get things done.” Bobby Schilling: ICYMI: No Labels Gives Problem-Solvers Seal to Bobby Schilling

CORKER WANTS SOLUTIONS: No Labels supporter Sen. Bob Corker believes there will be enough across-the-aisle support for solutions to deal with our nation's fiscal problems in the future, despite the recent inaction. "It's been like watching paint dry over the past two years. We all know what we need to do but we haven't done it. I really do believe there's enough common ground that after this election ... I am predicting here that in the next year and a half we are going to go a long way toward solving our nation's fiscal problems," Corker says. We need more members of Congress to be willing to reach across the aisle like Corker: Richard Locker for The Commercial Appeal: Corker says bipartisan work ahead to solve U.S. fiscal problems

BUDGET PLAN APPROACHING? According to Sen. Johnny Isakson, there is enough support for the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction plan to pass it in Congress. He makes predictions for the upcoming months: "We’ll probably pass a pathway to the future in the lame-duck session, meaning we’ll probably forestall the tax increases from taking place. We’ll probably forestall the sequestration from taking place. But we’ll take some initial corrective steps in spending and regulation to send a signal to the rest of the world that the Americans are finally going to address their problem.” Jeanne Bonner for GPB News: Isakson Says U.S. Will Avoid Fiscal Cliff

FROM THE FIELD: No Labels Digital Leader Mary Beth Dolan is flying from West Hollywood to attend the Meeting to Make America Work! She marks the 24th registrant making the trip across the country from California.

THE DAILY BREAK: After being mentioned in the presidential debate Wednesday, Big Bird has been thrust into the spotlight. Although Big Bird couldn't be reached for comment, a PBS representative said that Big Bird has support from both sides of the aisle and has bipartisan appeal: Katie Glueck for POLITICO: 'Sesame Street': Big Bird is bipartisan

ACTION OF THE DAY: Follow us on Google+, and continue the conversation on how to make Washington stop fighting and start fixing. If you don't have an account, you can create one here.

STAT OF THE DAY: The economy added 114,000 jobs in September, according to the Labor Department, and unemployment fell to 7.8 percent: Patrick Reis for POLITICO: Unemployment dips below 8 percent

Written & edited by Kelsey McLaughlin, Collin Berglund, Lauren Gilbert and Jack McCullough

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