Congressmen Ami Bera, David Cicilline, Rodney Davis and Adam Kinzinger talk problem solving.
Health care ruling is out, but both sides could have benefited from working together
Submitted by Collin Berglund on June 28, 2012
SUPREME COURT RULES ON HEALTH CARE: This morning the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act. The health care law could have been less contested if both sides had worked harder to find common ground on reform in the first place. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled, both sides must move forward and work together to solve America's many problems: William Branigin, N.C. Aizenman, and Robert Barnes for The Washington Post: Supreme Court up-holds health care law, individual mandate
SAME FACTS: Politicians often do not use the same metrics to measure statistics. Using different baselines, timelines and assumptions, the same facts are often spun to fit different beliefs and ideologies. That's why the next proposal to our Make the Presidency Work! action plan focuses on having a nonpartisan leader deliver a fiscal update to both the executive and legislative branches of government: Dave Walker: Different Opinions but the Same Facts
DEALS IN PLACE: On Wednesday, both chambers of Congress agreed on a new transportation and student loans deal. The deal extends the current level of funding for highway and transportation projects through September 2014, as well the current interest rates for student loans for one year. The deal demonstrated the importance of bipartisan problem-solving: Meredith Shiner for Roll Call: Sides Begin Touting Highway, Loans Deal
STABILITY NEEDED: The economy is trying to claw its way out of a hole, but it is not getting much help from our nation's lawmakers. Uncertainty in legislation, such as tax reform, deficit reduction, and healthcare reform, has shrouded the future for many business owners to the point that they cannot be as aggressive as needed in order to give the nation a final boost: Ian Swanson for The Hill: Uncertainty crippling the struggling economy
SENATE SET TO LAUNCH NEW BILL: The Senate is poised to introduce an anti-outsourcing bill next week. Lawmakers across the political spectrum have voiced concern with outsourcing of American jobs, and on July 10 Congress will have to put its money where its mouth is. The Bring Jobs Home Act will test whether Congress can come together for the American people, or will continue to play partisan games on important issues: Seung Min Kim for POLITICO: Outsourcing in Senate's crosshairs
SEERSUCKER THURSDAY: In the '90s, Senator Trent Lott created 'Seersucker Thursdays'. The idea was embraced by both parties, as members of Congress dressed in seersucker and attended an ice cream social. The event was canceled because of the impression that Congress is avoiding serious decisions. Nevertheless, the event allowed members to connect on a personal level, as promoted in our Make Congress Work! action plan: Dana Milbank for The Washington Post: The seersucker bond unraveled
ACTION OF THE DAY: Do you believe your interests should come before special interests groups?Click here to sign our petition to keep pledges out of Washington.
STAT OF THE DAY: 89 percent of voters strongly agree that both parties should work together to solve our long-term fiscal problems. This includes 93 percent of liberal Democrats and 85 percent of Tea Party supporters: Peter G. Peterson Foundation: New poll: Voters are prepared to make compromises and sacrifices to help reduce the debt
Written & edited by Collin Berglund, Lauren Gilbert, John Thornburgh and Jack McCullough
Tips, questions or ideas? Email the Problem-Solver's Daily team at psdaily@nolabels.org or tweet at us (@nolabelsorg).
12 Ways to Make Congress Work!
- 1. No Budget, No Pay
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
- 2. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
- 3. Fix the Filibuster
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
- 4. Empower the Sensible Majority
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
- 5. Make Members Come to Work
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
- 6. Question Time for the President
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
- 7. Fiscal Report to Congress
A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.
- 8. No Pledge but the Oath of Office
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
- 9. Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
- 10. Bipartisan Seating
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
- 11. Bipartisan Leadership Committee
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
- 12. No Negative Campaigns Against Incumbents
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
- 1. No Budget, No Pay
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
- 2. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
- 3. Fix the Filibuster
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
- 4. Empower the Sensible Majority
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
- 5. Make Members Come to Work
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
- 6. Question Time for the President
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
- 7. Fiscal Report to Congress
A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.
- 8. No Pledge but the Oath of Office
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
- 9. Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
- 10. Bipartisan Seating
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
- 11. Bipartisan Leadership Committee
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
- 12. No Negative Campaigns Against Incumbents
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
- 1. No Budget, No Pay
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
- 2. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
- 3. Fix the Filibuster
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
- 4. Empower the Sensible Majority
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
- 5. Make Members Come to Work
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
- 6. Question Time for the President
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
- 7. Fiscal Report to Congress
A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.
- 8. No Pledge but the Oath of Office
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
- 9. Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
- 10. Bipartisan Seating
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
- 11. Bipartisan Leadership Committee
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
- 12. No Negative Campaigns Against Incumbents
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
11 Ways to Make the Presidency Work!
- 1. Regular News Conferences for the President
- 2. Fast-Track Legislative Authority for The President
- 3. Make The Parties Pay for Presidential Fundraising
- 4. A Line Item Veto With A Twist
- 5. Reduce the Number of Appointees Subject to Senate Confirmation
- 6. Identify a "Slate That Can't Wait" of Critical Nominees For Expedited Confirmation
- 7. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments
- 8. Question Time for The President
- 9. Expanded Presidential Power to Reorganize
- 10. Different Opinions, But the Same Facts
- 11. Regular Meetings Between the President And Congressional Leadership
- 1. Regular News Conferences for the President
- 2. Fast-Track Legislative Authority for The President
- 3. Make The Parties Pay for Presidential Fundraising
- 4. A Line Item Veto With A Twist
- 5. Reduce the Number of Appointees Subject to Senate Confirmation
- 6. Identify a "Slate That Can't Wait" of Critical Nominees For Expedited Confirmation
- 7. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointment
- 8. Question Time for The President
- 9. Expanded Presidential Power to Reorganize
- 10. Different Opinions, But the Same Facts
- 11. Regular Meetings Between the President And Congressional Leadership
- 1. Regular News Conferences for the President
- 2. Fast-Track Legislative Authority for The President
- 3. Make The Parties Pay for Presidential Fundraising
- 4. A Line Item Veto With A Twist
- 5. Reduce the Number of Appointees Subject to Senate Confirmation
- 6. Identify a "Slate That Can't Wait" of Critical Nominees For Expedited Confirmation
- 7. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointment
- 8. Question Time for The President
- 9. Expanded Presidential Power to Reorganize
- 10. Different Opinions, But the Same Facts
- 11. Regular Meetings Between the President And Congressional Leadership
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In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, problems with the government process are causing gridlock, immigration bills are at different points and Harry Reid is pushing back the confirmation process for President Obama's remaining nominees.
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