Bipartisanship Is Coming – by Jerry Jasinowski
Without question, the two major parties are estranged in partisanship greater than I have seen in my lifetime, reflecting in part the divisions in the country. This schism has been greatly exacerbated by President Trump’s tendency to constantly attack critics, both Republicans and Democrats, in his ill-considered and extravagant tweets.
The continued opposition to Obamacare was always primarily driven by Republicans, but their hastily-conceived reform plan exposed serious rifts in the party and never reached the floor of the House. The vote on Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court was made possible only after the Republicans used the nuclear option of eliminating the possible use of the filibuster for a Supreme Court nominee, the ramifications of which will be felt for a long time.
Without creative intervention, the legislative logjam of recent years seems likely to continue unabated. Clearly, the way forward would be to develop bipartisan coalitions to act in support of essential national priorities. I would argue that we are on the edge of an emerging Bipartisan Coalition Supporting an Agenda for Economic Growth because there simply is no practical alternative. Here are some forces moving us toward bipartisanship:
First, the current stalemate on healthcare and other issues is gradually forcing the Trump Administration to become bipartisan because the Republican Party is at odds with itself. The conflict between Republican moderates and the Freedom Caucus conservatives was just too great to pass a pure Republican health bill.
There is likewise a clear need for both Republican and Democratic votes in order to pass a comprehensive tax reform bill. There has never been in the history of the United States a major tax restructuring that was not bipartisan. The Kemp-Roth tax reform of 1981 was bipartisan, as was the major tax reform passed under President Reagan in 1986.
Second, there are other issues, such as rebuilding our infrastructure, in which strong bipartisan support already exists. Republicans and Democrats are coming together on this issue, a shift that receives common support from both business and labor.
Third, many Democrats certainly lean toward bipartisanship because Democrats are the party that often want to see government get something done. Pro-growth Democrats certainly would be prepared to work with the White House to pass a major boost in spending on roads, sea ports, railways, and a smart electrical grid. The Democrats do not see themselves as simply another party of “no.” They are willing to make deals.
Finally, the overarching demand that the United States substantially increase its rate of economic growth is being articulated by both Democrats and Republicans. All agree there is no way to improve the condition for the working men and women of the country if we don’t jump start economic growth above the meager 2% of recent years. President Trump has made raising growth the top priority of his administration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer likewise has increasingly placed economic growth at the top of his policy priorities.
There are also promising initiatives on the state level where Democrats and Republicans are working together toward shared goals. In addition to the grassroots movement, heavyweights in the business community are putting pressure on Washington to come together. For example, Jamie Dimon, President and CEO of JP Morgan Chase, has offered support for a new emphasis on bipartisanship in his annual letter to stockholders. Finally, the foreign policy action of punishing Syria for using chemical warfare is clearly pushing both parties closer together.
Jerry Jasinowski, an economist and author, served as President of the National Association of Manufacturers for 14 years and later The Manufacturing Institute. Jerry is available for speaking engagements. April 2017
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