By U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud
(D-Maine)
With the election behind us, and as we prepare to usher in a new Congress, it is my hope that we can get down to business and do what the American people expect us to do. Congress needs to put partisanship behind us and roll up our sleeves to do everything we can to improve our economy.
Mainers’ message on Election Day was clear: they want to grow our economy, create jobs and restore fiscal sanity to our government. This does not get done by party leaders recycling tired old talking points for political gain. Nor does it get done by legislative obstruction intended to score political points. The American people are frustrated with politics as usual, and they want Congress to work together to get things done. Only then will they begin to restore their faith in their government.
I am optimistic that Congress can work together because it’s happened before. Despite being in the minority my first term, I was able to work with the Republican chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to pass bills to advance important policies for our veterans. And when I took over as the Chairman of the Veterans Subcommittee on Health years later, I made it a priority to hold hearings on bills referred to my subcommittee regardless of whether they were introduced by a Democrat or a Republican. But even then, I was asked why I was doing it. My answer was that no one party has a monopoly on good ideas.
Maine’s priorities aren’t Republican or Democratic – they transcend party politics. For example, fixing our state’s truck weight problem is a bipartisan priority for Maine’s delegation. Pushing for robust investments in our infrastructure and our clean energy future are not partisan issues. Working to save freight rail service in northern Maine is not a Republican or Democratic cause – it’s an economic one that’s important to our state. Promoting increased shipments through our ports and paving the way for broadband deployment is something that will boost business and enjoys wide support. Working to hold countries like China that violate international trade rules accountable has been a bipartisan effort that is already working to help our economy in Maine. And the research and development investments I’ve supported at the University of Maine are creating new technologies like their “bridge in a backpack” initiative, which is opening up new opportunities for commercialization, creating jobs and saving the state and federal government money on infrastructure improvements.
But despite this collaborative work locally, there will not be agreement on everything and there won’t be easy solutions to many of the big issues of the day. Good governing is attainable, and it takes hard work. But we need to get our fiscal house in order, change the tone in Washington and pass smart policies that will lead to additional job growth and economic expansion. This will require replacing campaign slogans and talking points with constructive dialogue. I believe this can happen. It simply has to. Our families, our businesses and the future of our country depend on it.
