Five legislative chamber leaders — in Texas, Alaska, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Tennessee — recently won their leadership positions with bipartisan support, Governing Magazine reports.
That trend is intriguing in the state capitol in Lansing for two reasons.
First, rigid partisanship is to blame for much of the gridlock the past two-plus years between the Michigan House and Michigan Senate and their leaders, with some (not all) Senate Republicans especially guilty of playing the ideologue game.
Second, the rising buzz (if not yet fully exercised power) of a new bipartisan caucus in the Michigan House inspired, in part, by the Michigan’s Defining Moment Public Engagement Campaign. Capitol correspondent Tim Skubic recently explained in Dome Magazine… The Bipartisan Freshman Caucus has been formed with 26 Democrats and 18 Republicans. They believe they were sent to Lansing to change the culture — i.e. stop all the partisan bickering and work cooperatively for the citizens and not necessarily for the two political parties. They’ve even signed an agreement that binds them to bring back “integrity and professionalism” to the House, promote “civility and camaraderie even when we disagree,” and they want to be remembered for steering the state “away from economic calamity and unnecessary bickering.”
Freshmen legislators don’t remain freshmen for long. Current House Speaker Andy Dillon won his leadership post after only one term. Imagine if the new bipartisan caucus can define itself by a tough vote or two and steadily grow its strength… They could run the place…
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Resolution for Bi-Partisan Cooperation
2/21/2009
W. Paul Mayhue, Precinct Delegate 3 ward 14 Precinct and Executive Committee Member
Where as; our president while he was campaigning as a candidate for president called for Bi-partisan cooperation to help deal with our financially struggling economy.
Where as; Upon being elected as president of the United States, President Barack Obama has continued to call for bi-partisan efforts in helping to pass a 800 billion dollar financial stimulus package that will help to stimulate our economy and support the states in their essential services,
Where as; We, as activist in the various parties both Democratic and Republican know that the grassroots and precinct level of the parties are where bi-partisan cooperation must start, if it is to happen,
Be it resolve; that out of all of the Republicans in the US Legislature only 3 in the United States Senate saw fit to vote in favor of the Stimulus Package,
Be it also resolved; that out of control spending, lack of regulation of corporations, and the housing foreclosure problems were in existence before the Democratic administration took command,
Be it finally resolved; that the Kent County Democratic Party will go on record on to call for Bi Partisan cooperation at the grassroots level. And that the Kent County Democratic Party will call on the Kent County Republican Party to begin an engagement to discuss issues that we can support in common to further the community’s cause of healing our Country,
Be it ultimately resolved; that this gathering should take place in a designated place in the third (3) district of Michigan at an agreed upon time and shall happen with in the next 3 month period of time and we direct the 3rd District Chairman to make the calls to make it happen and appoint the committee to work out the issues and issue news releases to the public as a progress report.
Sample/ Sample/ Sample
Agreed: Both on the article and the resolution of Commissioner Mayhue. Best of luck and success to the bi-partisan caucus.