A promise to work together

Submitted by Kelsey McLaughlin on October 27, 2012
Tags: 
Problem-Solver's Daily
Gridlock
Congress
Fiscal Cliff

PROMISE TO WORK TOGETHER: “No matter which candidate is elected president, all members of Congress — regardless of party affiliation — should be required to promise that they’ll work in good faith with the chief executive for the good of the county, rather than squandering the country’s future to feather their own political nests,” Ken Gormley writes. Instead of working tirelessly to ensure that the other party looks bad, our leaders should be working tirelessly to solve problems for the country. And if they won’t do that, they should be sent home: Ken Gormley for POLITICO: The new pledge that Congress should take

NO CHANGE: Although voters decry the hyper-partisanship of our government today, there’s a very real possibility that nothing will change after Nov. 6, writes Aaron Blake for The Washington Post. While the presidency is still up for grabs, it looks like the House will remain under Republican control and the Senate under Democratic control, with very similar majorities. After this past Congress was so unproductive, will the next one be the same? No Labels' plan to Make Congress Work! offers a solution to free Congress from the gridlock: Aaron Blake for The Washington Post: A status quo election? Could be.
 
SHIFTING POWER IN WASHINGTON: “As polarization and legislative gridlock have worsened in recent years, the nation’s great legislative body has withered, losing not only popular support but the ability to exercise its constitutional powers,” write the editors ofBloomberg View. Because Congress has been so mired in gridlock, the power of the executive branch has expanded to compensate:Bloomberg View Editorial Board: A Congress Too Polarized to Protect Itself
 
LOOMING FISCAL CLIFF: The Washington Post Editorial Board is calling for leaders to make a deal in the lame-duck session to avoid the fiscal cliff. While candidates are avoiding talking about it in on the campaign trail, the economy is already suffering. Our leaders need to begin to deal with our finances: “Only credible action can restore the political and economic confidence upon which our prosperity depends.” The Washington Post Editorial Board: The looming fiscal cliff
 
UNDERSTANDING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: All eyes are on the election for the next 10 days, and many are speculating that the candidates could split the popular vote -- or, less likely, the electoral college. But how exactly does this work? Read more to get a better understanding of our voting system: Bobby Cervantes for POLITICO: How does the Electoral College work?
 
FROM THE FIELD: No Labels Student Leader Mason Garard made the local news yesterday, saying he thinks hyper-partisanship is one of the most crucial issues for his generation. Click here to read more.
 
THE DAILY BREAK: As the East Coast braces for Hurricane Sandy, take a look at all the storms our nation’s capital has endured recently.
 
ACTION OF THE DAY: Forward Problem-Solver’s Daily to two friends and introduce them to No Labels.
 
STAT OF THE DAY: Although gross domestic product (GDP) growth was up to an annual rate of 2 percent in the third quarter, business investment actually contracted 1.3 percent, a potential warning that businesses may be worried about the upcoming fiscal cliff and holding off investment until there is more certainty: Catherine Hollander for the National Journal: GDP Report Suggests Fiscal Cliff, Global Growth Concerns

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