Dear Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, Minority Leaders McConnell and Pelosi:
We, the undersigned members of Congress, believe that partisan seating arrangements at State of the Union addresses serve to symbolize division instead of the common challenges we face in securing a strong future for the United States.
As we all know, the tenor and debate surrounding our politics has grown ever more corrosive - ignoring the fact that while we may take different positions, we all have the same interests. This departure from statesmanship and collegiality is fueled, in part, by contentious campaigns and divisive rhetoric. Political differences will always generate a healthy debate, but over time the dialogue has become more hateful and at times violent. But now the opportunity before us is to bring civility back to politics. It is important to show the nation that the most powerful deliberative bodies in the world can debate our differences with respect, honor and civility. We believe that it is not only possible, but that it is something that nearly all members of Congress truly desire. To that end, we suggest setting a small, but important, new tradition in American politics.
At the State of the Union address, on January 25th, instead of sitting in our usual partisan divide, let us agree to have Democrats and Republicans sitting side by side throughout the chamber. Beyond custom, there is no rule or reason that on this night we should emphasize divided government, separated by party, instead of being seen united as a country. The choreographed standing and clapping of one side of the room - while the other side sits - is unbecoming of a serious institution. And the message that it sends is that even on a night when the President is addressing the entire nation, we in Congress cannot sit as one, but must be divided as two.
On the night of the State of the Union address, we are asking others to join us - House and Senate members from both parties - to cross the aisle and sit together. We hope that as the nation watches, Democrats and Republicans will reflect the interspersed character of America itself. Perhaps by sitting with each other for one night we will begin to rekindle that common spark that brought us here from 50 different states and widely diverging backgrounds to serve the public good.
With respect and admiration,
Co-signers (list current as of 3pm ET on Friday, January 21th):
| Senate Mark Udall Lisa Murkowski Kelly Ayotte Mark Begich Michael Bennet Barbara Boxer Scott Brown Ben Cardin Thomas Carper Susan Collins Chris Coons Kirsten Gillibrand Kay Hagan Amy Klobuchar Herb Kohl Mary Landrieu Joseph Lieberman Joe Manchin John McCain Claire McCaskill Jeff Merkley Ben Nelson Bill Nelson Mark Pryor Jack Reed Chuck Schumer Jeanne Shaheen Olympia Snowe Mark Warner Sheldon Whitehouse Ron Wyden |
House Heath Shuler Paul Gosar Jason Altmire Charles Bass Sanford Bishop Madeleine Bordallo Dan Boren Dennis Cardoza Russ Carnahan John Carney Steve Cohen Jim Cooper Phil Gingrey Richard Hanna Larry Kissell Dave Loebsack Jim Matheson Mike McIntyre Mike Michaud Sue Myrick Grace Napolitano Thomas Petri Chellie Pingree Laura Richardson Mike Ross Niki Tsongas Tim Walz Mel Watt |
Follow Sen. Mark Udall on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MarkUdall
Brandon G. Withrow: Honoring the Golden Rule With the State of the Union Seating Arrangement
What is the over/under on how much Obama will sell us out IN the State of the Union -
Social Security reduced benefits via changed “cost of living/wage” index
Social Security reduced benefits via retirement age increase
Social Security destruction via change to welfare via “means test”
Social Security destruction via forever reduced payroll tax
Social Security destruction via diversion of payroll tax to individual accounts
Social Security “compromise” that gives “means test” greater benefit to lowest benefit’s being paid
Agreement on spending cuts that stop all progressive laws from being inforced
Agreement on single house Congressional veto of proposed regulations.
Agreement on Health Insurance reform modification on 1099 reporting.
Agreement on Health Insurance reform modification on mandate repeal
Agreement on Health Insurance vouchers replacing Medicaid expansion Agreement on National Security Stealth Fighter program re-start
Agreement on no Pentagon base closings
Agreement on no Pentagon toys for boys reductions without re-purposing the money for other Pentagon waste.
Agreement on no Pentagon reduction in officer staff
cont'd
Agreement on no reduction in corporate welfare for ethanol or corporate welfare Agriculture payments
Agreement on no change in gun laws –with Obama speeches of “moderate” support.
Agreement of Federal Education involvement being limited to forcing testing.
Agreement on cutting the tiny funding for the Arts, for the Humanities, for NPR/PBS.
Agreement on cutting the funding on research – NASA, Medical Research.
Agreement on a military guards force on the Mexican border the size of the Afghanistan commitment.
Agreement on no Afghanistan troop withdrawal this summer -troops “withdrawn” renamed “advisors”
Agreement on more trade treaties like South Korea's that limits our sales of cars to 25000 each for GM/Ford, while they get everything they want.
I can go on of course, but one gets tired of guessing how the fellow “more liberal than Hillary” will screw us next. We only know for sure, at this point, that he will concede on everything the GOP and the rich and corporate want before they enter into “negotiations” and while in “negotiations” ask what else they want, followed by telling us he had to concede that too or the GOP would not have agreed to “insert next must pass item here – say the Federal Debt limit or the Pentagon budget”.
Indeed it may be time for me to have more time with the grandkids and dogs – and wife – so as to clear the mind.
Public employees do not gain anything from a payroll tax cut, but the benefits I paid in for over 20 years when I was private sector will be decreased when you turn around and cut Social Security because you claim it is going broke. WHich we all know is next on your agenda. Give huge tax cuts that did not stimulate the economy before, bten bitch about being too broke to pay your bills. But, can't raise taxes for the weathly who are making money hand over fist. No you need more from the poor people.
This week a Democrat, Marcy Kaptur, introduced legislation siding with bankers in the forclosure catastrophe, limiting citizens rights to protest illegal docmentation. I had my house stolen by a crooked bank two years ago. Now you want to make it legal because god forbid a bank should have to obey state law. Just take away the state'sright to make the law..
Capital loves your viewpoint, as it marches forward, crushing the wage laborers and destroying what little restraints remain on it.
Have all politicians check in two hours ahead of time, get charged for any excess baggage and go through advance screening.
For an extra fifty bucks they can get a seat in an emergency row exit.
We are in a depression.
The cost of security for this dog and pony show has to be a million bucks, given that most of the Government will be sitting in one building.
The President could do what other Presidents have done and simply issue a written report to Congress on the State of the Union and publish it on the Internet. Republicans can then publish a reply.
They could then use the money saved, to fund a scholarship fund in the name of that 9 year old that was shot.
Business as usual.
If the two party political system continues to be dysfunctional and political leaders are not interested in positive changes, to better serve the people they are representing; then, maybe we should start thinking about a better working political system, one or three party system, whatever would work, what do you think?
I don't care where you sit. The country is tired of this governing by gesture and 11 dimensional chess. Just do your jobs.