Problem Solvers determined to build bridges in Congress
A view of River Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
The night after a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol, and less than 24 hours after Congress confirmed the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers had a Zoom meeting on the evening of Jan. 7.
Tensions swirled, anger flared at times. But 40 people listened and gained a better understanding of each other, amid a tumultuous time in U.S. history when working together was, perhaps, never more important.
That was a recent meeting of the Problem Solvers Caucus, the same 50-member group that spearheaded efforts to create the latest COVID-19 relief bill, under the leadership of co-chairs U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) and U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). The Jan. 7 meeting was important, Reed said, in order to understand how members felt about the events of that week and help each other move forward.
"Passions and emotions were raw that day, but we talked for three hours and we stayed in the room," Reed said. "There were moments when there was anger, just like the rest of the country is going through, but there were also moments of common human empathy where we really cared for each other, and we showed that caring for each other by the words we expressed to each other. And what we did is, we stayed in the room."
Reed and Gottheimer shared this and other experiences in a discussion organized by the Cornell University Institute of Politics and Global Affairs, titled, "Bipartisanship in a Time of Crisis? How members of Congress can heal the wounds and find common ground in the Biden presidency”. The Zoom event, moderated by former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, was on Jan. 13, the night of Trump's second impeachment. But much of the discussion looked forward from that day's proceedings, and the two guests said their bipartisan approach to lawmaking remains relevant and can still make a difference.
That will be true during the Biden administration, Gottheimer said, adding it’s important to listen to others and understand the issues that concern them. He noted that with thin majorities in Congress, he tells his fellow Democrats they must be willing to work with the GOP and find compromise. More COVID-related legislation is expected in the opening days of the new administration.
"Democrats are going to have to understand that we must work together, it's the only way it's going to work," Gottheimer said. "We're going to have to talk to each other, and not at the end, in the last minute when it's too late, but we're going to have to sit down up front. And President-elect Joe Biden knows this better than anyone."
The Problem Solvers’ dedication to bipartisanship is not always popular. Gottheimer noted he and Reed regularly get criticism from their own parties for working with the "other side". However, Reed said taking the time to understand other lawmakers is crucial, adding that new members of the caucus quickly find out it works. He's also spoken up during discussions among fellow Republicans, reminding them there are good people on the other side of the aisle who they can work with.
"Most of Congress is made up of men and women that have good hearts, good souls and want to do what they think is the right thing," Reed said. "You've just got to put in that time investment to find them, align with them and open up the door to that dialogue."
Getting the latest COVID-19 relief measure crafted and approved took relentless negotiation, with the American people foremost in mind. That priority compelled Gottheimer and Reed to deliver their remarks in the House together — on the same side of the aisle — after lawmakers came back to certify the election results on Jan. 6.
As the Biden administration nears, Gottheimer said new COVID legislation and an infrastructure bill are ripe for bipartisan action; Reed said the caucus may approach smaller bills related to immigration, health care and the environment after that. Throughout their work, though, it's about keeping the higher goal in mind.
"What drives us is not the politics," Reed said. "What drives us is getting the job done for the American people."
— Gareth Henderson
