[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2722-H2724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) is recognized for 5 minutes.

[[Page H2723]]

  Mr. FOLEY. Madam Speaker, it has been one interesting week here; and 
if my colleagues read the media and listened to the noise and the 
clatter, one would think that nothing is ever getting done in this 
building.
  I opened the Washington Times today and I found a very thoughtful 
article that I will enter into the Record written by Gary Andres. Let 
me read the headline: ``The Little Engine That Could. Hill 
Bipartisanship Helps Pass Important Legislation.''
  I will read the article: ``The noisy rub of grinding partisanship 
drowns out most other sounds on Capitol Hill these days. Controversies 
about congressional ethics and confirming judges not only threaten to 
jam the legislative gears, but also fuel the media's motor. Yet, a 
closer peek under the lawmaking hood reveals a quietly humming 
bipartisan engine. Despite roaring hyperbole from some Democratic 
congressional leadership offices, a significant number of rank-in-file 
minority party members are joining Republicans to pass an impressive 
list of significant accomplishments.''
  This is maybe why they fear the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and 
tried to characterize him in some of the meanest ways.
  Listen to the scorecard:
  ``So far this year in the House,'' thanks to the leadership of the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), ``50 Democrats helped pass class 
action reform, 112 Democrats voted for congressional continuity, 42 
Democrats joined in legislation repealing the death tax, 73 supported 
the bankruptcy bill, 42 Democrats broke ranks on the Real ID bill'' 
dealing with immigration and driver's licenses, ``and last week, 41 
Democrats joined the Republicans on the final version of the energy 
bill.''
  That is legislative accomplishment. That is legislative leadership, 
and that is provided by this majority.
  I continue: ``This bipartisan `little engine that could' is gaining 
so much momentum that it is causing certain Democrats to wrap common 
sense around their rhetorical axles. Nancy Pelosi's spokesperson was 
quoted in this newspaper last week saying, Republicans were trying to 
`distract' people by passing bipartisan legislation, a novel 
interpretation of what others might consider laudable 
accomplishments.''
  In fact, these are my words, every time we have a bill, people say, 
if they would only work in a bipartisan manner, we would be able to 
help the Republicans pass these important bills.
  I continue with Gary's analysis: ``Being `shut out of the process' or 
Republicans `abusing power,' promoting an `extremist agenda' have been 
central lines in this year's Democratic leadership political prose. 
Yet, if the process is hopelessly flawed and ideologically unbalanced, 
why are so many Democrats voting for this growing agenda of success? 
Part of the explanation is what political scientists call `hyper-
pluralism.' A growing number of liberal interest groups join together 
and making rigid, uncompromising demands on lawmakers. These demands 
are not about supporting an alternative agenda; it's all about 
opposition, all the time.
  ``Hyper-pluralism begets extreme partisanship, meaning Democrat 
leaders get stuck in `just say no' speed. No matter what the issue, 
they oppose. And when they try to shift gears, like Democratic whip 
Steny Hoyer recently did by supporting the final passage of the 
bankruptcy bill, torrents of vitriol rain down upon them from interest 
groups, making breaking out of the opposition lock-step even more 
difficult next time.''
  Let me go on, and I will miss this, but it will be entered into the 
Record:
  ``The major pieces of legislation passed in the House so far this 
year on legal reform, energy, taxes, and congressional continuity are 
not, as some of the Democrat leadership argues, part of an `extreme 
right-wing agenda.' An average of 62 Democrats joined with the 
Republicans to pass the six referenced bills.
  ``Rank-and-file Democrats with reasonable ideas aimed at improving 
the legislative product, as opposed to bogging down the process or 
embarrassing Republicans, will have numerous opportunities to play a 
constructive role. Reasonable Democrats should not miss the chance to 
put their mark on public policy.''
  Now, this demonstrates dramatically that we have been able to 
construct bipartisan legislation to the credit of the majority leader, 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay). He is so successful that the only 
way to beat him is to demean him and to pillorize him, and I can tell 
you one thing about the man that I know. He is a kind, decent, God-
fearing man. And when he is able to construct these kinds of victories, 
it is a result of leading this Congress in the direction that most 
Americans agree with.
  We just heard from the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) talking 
about immigration. That is an issue America cares about. That is one we 
should tackle. I think Americans care about Social Security too, but 
instead of talking constructively about fixing Social Security, we 
demonize the President, we demonize the plan. They are not even sure 
what is in the plan, but they are going to continue to demote and 
demean the plan.
  Now, I believe in my heart that a lot of people came here to do the 
right thing. I know a lot of Democrats and a lot of Republicans want to 
make America better and stronger. We have to get out of the mindset of 
beating, berating, destroying individuals in order to succeed at our 
game. We should not sacrifice any Member of this Congress on the alter 
of personal destruction. We will not allow this process to be bogged 
down by them using one individual to characterize this Chamber or this 
process. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) is a fine, fine 
gentleman. We may disagree on some issues, but he is a fine gentleman; 
and I can suggest to my colleagues, looking at this scorecard where so 
many Democrats joined us on so many bills to reform this process, that 
this is, in fact, a bipartisan body that is working. This is a 
bipartisan body that is producing real product on behalf of the 
American people, and this is a Chamber that has decided to work on 
behalf of the American people to get things done for the American 
people.
  So I salute our leadership. I welcome the opportunity to continue to 
participate in meaningful debates, and I urge everyone to open up the 
Washington Times, read Gary Andres' important observation about this 
process. And when my colleagues read it in totality, and when they get 
the full, rich meaning of the words on this page, they will see exactly 
why we are on the right track to helping grow this economy.

                     A ``Little Engine That Could''

                            (By Gary Andres)

       The noisy rub of grinding partisanship drowns out most 
     other sounds on Capitol Hill these days. Controversies about 
     congressional ethics and confirming judges not only threaten 
     to jam the legislative gears but also fuel the media's motor. 
     Yet a closer peek under the lawmaking hood reveals a quietly 
     humming bipartisan engine. Despite roaring hypebole from some 
     Democratic congressional leadership offices, a significant 
     number of rank-in-file minority party members are joining 
     Republicans to pass an impressive list of significant 
     accomplishments.
       So far this year in the House, 50 Democrats helped pass 
     class action reform, 122 voted for congressional continuity, 
     42 joined in legislation repealing the death tax, 73 
     supported the bankruptcy bill, 42 Democrats broke ranks on 
     the Real ID bill, and last week, 41 joined the Republicans on 
     the final version of the energy bill.
       This bipartisan ``little engine that could'' is gaining so 
     much momentum that it's causing certain Democrats to wrap 
     common sense around their rhetorical axles. Nancy Pelosi's 
     spokesperson was quoted in this newspaper last week saying 
     Republicans were trying to ``distract'' people by passing 
     bipartisan bills--a novel interpretation of what others might 
     consider laudable accomplishments.
       Being ``shut out of the process'' or Republicans ``abusing 
     power'' promoting an ``extremist agenda'' have been central 
     lines in this year's Democratic leadership's political prose. 
     Yet if the process is hopelessly flawed and ideologically 
     unbalanced why are so many Democrats voting for this growing 
     agenda of success? Part of the explanation is what political 
     scientists call ``hyper-pluralism.'' A growing number of 
     liberal interest groups join together and make rigid, 
     uncompromising demands on lawmakers. These ``demands'' are 
     not about supporting an alternative agenda, it's all about 
     opposition--all the time.
       Hyper-pluralism begets extreme partisanship, meaning 
     Democratic leaders get stuck in ``just say no'' speed. No 
     matter what the issue, they oppose. And when they try to 
     shift gears, like Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland 
     recently did by supporting final passage of the bankruptcy 
     bill, torrents of vitriol rain down upon them from interest 
     groups, making breaking out of the opposition lock-step even 
     more difficult next time.

[[Page H2724]]

       Compromise may be the mother's milk of the lawmaking 
     process, but today's opposition leaders believe it curdles 
     fundraising appeals and sours the party base's energy. 
     Today's Democratic leaders take their opposition role quite 
     literally. They do what they think opposition leaders should 
     do--``oppose,'' always. And evidently the media thinks this 
     continuing saga whets public interest.
       But focusing exclusively on the rhetoric and voting 
     patterns of Democratic leaders--as the media often does in 
     writing the conflict story dujour--misses another significant 
     development. For those not charged with daily maintenance of 
     fanning the conflict flames, there are tremendous 
     opportunities to shape public policy. Democratic rank-in-file 
     lawmakers are not politically tone-deaf to their 
     constituents' aversion to constant bickering; their 
     leadership's one-note sonata is beginning to grate. That's 
     why the list of bipartisan accomplishments in the House is 
     expanding.
       The major pieces of legislation passed in the House so far 
     this year on legal reform, energy, taxes and congressional 
     continuity are not--as some in the Democratic leadership 
     argue--part of an ``extreme right wing agenda.'' An average 
     of 62 Democrats joined with the Republicans to pass the six 
     bills referenced above.
       Rank-in-file Democrats with reasonable ideas aimed at 
     improving the legislative product, as opposed to bogging down 
     the process or embarrassing Republicans, will have numerous 
     opportunities to play a constructive role. Reasonable 
     Democrats should not miss this chance to put their mark on 
     public policy.
       The next big test is the Central American Free Trade 
     Agreement. The question is: Will the ``little engine that 
     could'' continue to hum along and will a significant number 
     of Democrats support this legislation promoting economic 
     growth and open markets? Or will they succumb to the fear 
     tactics and threats of leaders more interested in party 
     discipline and consolidating power?
       Clearly, Republicans will be open to accommodate reasonable 
     Democrat amendments and ideas. After all, passing, 
     legislation with 40-60 Democrats is in Republicans' long-term 
     political interest as well. The question is how many 
     Democrats will reject mere nay saying and seize the 
     opportunity to lubricate the engine of bipartisan success.

                          ____________________