By Willis Webb | Published Thursday, October 2, 2008
Frequently I have written about the polarization that has taken place in the political process in this country. It has, for the most part, destroyed bipartisanship, which I believe to be essential to solutions to the country's problems. Civility has disappeared, or at least so I thought.
Imagine my delight in reading recently about someone who practices bipartisanship - Republican Congressman Ray LaHood of Illinois. Upon reading further, my delight turned to dismay upon learning that this 14-year practice by LaHood was about to end, as he will retire from Congress at the end of this year.
The article on LaHood was by columnist Ray Shields of Creators Syndicate and he did one of my favorite things, an alliteration, that sums up the lack of bipartisanship. He said hopefully this year voters have had it with "petty, polarizing partisanship of the kind that prizes making political points instead of making tough decisions." Let's hear it from the amen row.
Many candidates campaign and brag about their commitment to bipartisanship but once in office that turns into one-upmanship or worse.
According to many of his fellow Congressmen, LaHood didn't just talk about bipartisanship, he practiced it. One of the most refreshing things I read about LaHood was that he didn't look at members of the other party as enemies, he viewed them as adversaries.
Nothing stated his bipartisanship like his relationship with another Congressman from Illinois, Democrat Rahm Emanuel of Chicago. Most Republicans look upon Emanuel as the devil incarnate.
LaHood and Emanuel co-hosted a series of bipartisan dinners at which House members from both sides of the aisle were able to spend an evening talking policy and politics. They also got to know each other personally, which is a big key to bipartisanship and to solving problems.
The Illinois representative also sponsored bipartisan House retreats and on one weekend 200 members of Congress and 150 spouses attended.
LaHood came into Congress in 1994, the year the GOP gained a majority in both houses. He outlasted such hard-nosed members as Newt Gingrich of Georgia and two Texans, Dick Armey and Tom "The Hammer" DeLay.
Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin said LaHood represents the best in public service. He "believed that heated political debate did not have to be mean or personal. Over the years, party differences never came between us when it came to our friendship and serving Illinois."
Durbin characterized LaHood as "offering a different, more civilized path away from the vicious side of political life."
Congressman Jan Schakjowsky (D-Ill.) called LaHood "someone who can really work across the aisle." Another Illinois Democratic Congressman, Bobby Rush, said LaHood was "an extraordinary person," "very levelheaded" and "a gem" for his state.
A fellow Republican representative from Illinois, John Shimkus, said, "Ray's leadership has also been a benefit to the entire Congress. He has been able to increase bipartisan friendships and camaraderie without compromising his Republican principles. His institutional knowledge of Congress far surpasses nearly every other member of Congress."
LaHood's across-the-aisle influence helped pass expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as well as the Innocence Protection Act, which ensures that death row defendants are competently represented and have access to DNA evidence.
Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama spent time with LaHood in 2004 (following Obama's election to the Senate from Illinois) exploring ways to work together.
Upon announcing his retirement, LaHood referred to his first election to Congress and said that since that time, "I have always maintained that this was not a lifetime job. The time has come to honor that commitment.
"I truly believe that public service is a noble profession .Being chosen by one's neighbors to represent them in Congress is one of the greatest honors free people can bestow on a fellow citizen. I owe a great debt of gratitude to my supporters for this chance to serve."
LaHood rather sums up what many believe to be what our founding fathers intended when they formed this democracy - that we are to have citizen legislators working to solve problems for the rest of us. And, they can do it without all the vitriol and partisanship that we see today not only in Washington but Austin as well.
Viva Ray LaHood, citizen legislator and believer in adversarial positions, not enmity in government.
Willis Webb is a retired community newspaper editor-publisher with more than 50 years in the business. He can be reached by email at wwebb@wildblue.net.
