[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.
____________________