Ripon Forum


Vol. 48, No. 4

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In this edition

According to the latest polls, trust in government is at an all-time low. Depending on who you talk to, this may either be a good thing or a bad thing. For some on the right, it may be a good thing because it is consistent with their core belief that government has gotten too big […]

“We cannot achieve great things alone.”

We need to bridge the ever-growing chasm between the American people and their elected leaders – a rift that has been exacerbated by the Administration’s flagrant executive overreach, a loss of opportunity for middle-class Americans, and a lack of transparency that pervades the federal government.

“Republicans need to show that we can deliver.”

American voters were spectacularly supportive of Republican candidates in this year’s elections. We have 54 Republican Senators and we’ll have more Republicans in the House than at any point since Harry Truman was President. And, it could all be for nothing if we as a Party squander the opportunity we have been given by failing […]

“We can restore the trust and confidence by coming together to find common ground.”

If there is one thing that members on both sides of the aisle can agree on, it is that our country is divided politically. Members of Congress approach issues from different perspectives and come to different conclusions about the best solutions to the problems we face.

“Washington needs to be recalibrated so that it is smaller, less intrusive, and more accountable.”

While it will take substantial time to reverse the problems described above and to restore our country’s exceptionalism, we need to first focus on creating an environment for economic growth. Every piece of legislation and every federal regulation should be judged by its impact on an overarching goal of creating “more jobs and better paychecks […]

Q&A with Michael Dimock

The President of the Pew Research Center discusses the low-level of trust Americans have toward the federal government and how it compares to past years. “The perception of dysfunction in Washington, along with a persistent sense of economic insecurity, is clearly weighing down views of government. And just as with interpersonal relationships, trust in government […]

Want to Improve Trust in Government?

“Should we be surprised that so many Americans hold Congress in such low regard?” The veteran political strategist and former House leadership aide says the public’s view of government is not surprising given the vitriol they are exposed to during political campaigns.

Restore Regular Order

Regular order is Congress doing the basic work of legislating which includes deliberating in committees, engaging with stakeholders, offering and voting on amendments and ultimately passing or rejecting legislative proposals. These cornerstones of the democratic process were not hallmarks of the 113th Congress.

The Michigan Example on Immigration

Our country needs a long-term, comprehensive solution to an immigration policy that everyone knows is broken and continues to hold back our economy. It’s essential that the White House and Congress work together on an innovative approach that will address our country’s present needs as well as those long into the future.

Where Consensus Exists

Was the end of this election the beginning of a period committed to governance or merely the beginning of the 2016 campaign season, with all of the gridlock and divisiveness that implies? More to the point, can the Congress and the White House earn back the trust our citizens deserve to have in their government?

Frontrunners, Dark Horses, and the Presidential Nomination Contest

Frontrunners don’t always win, but presidential nomination contests are rarely wide-open races. Dark horses don’t emerge from the back of the pack. The 2008 winners were in second place in their respective party’s poll.

REMEMBERING BILL FRENZEL

If there are wise men left in Washington, then Bill Frenzel was most assuredly one of them. He was both a scholar and a statesman who served his country in many important ways.

Ripon Profile of Mia Love

“I ran for Congress because I believe this country is in real trouble, and it’s up to We the People to fix things before it’s too late. The people of America want a government that is transparent. Our citizens deserve to know and understand the ‘hows and whys’ for decisions made at every level of […]

“We can restore the trust and confidence by coming together to find common ground.”

Capito_HIGH_RES_new_head_shotIf there is one thing that members on both sides of the aisle can agree on, it is that our country is divided politically. Members of Congress approach issues from different perspectives and come to different conclusions about the best solutions to the problems we face.

The American people delivered a strong message on November 4, 2014, casting their votes to say that they expect leaders in Washington to work together to solve the problems facing our nation. Voters rejected the current makeup of the Senate – and with that, the way that the chamber has operated under Democrat control.

It’s no secret that the approval ratings of Congress are abysmal, but we can restore the trust and confidence of the American people by coming together to find common ground.

In the most recent Congress, there were glimpses of bipartisanship that we can build on in the years to come. I served as a conferee on the bipartisan Water Resources Reform and Development Act, which became law earlier this year and will improve our nation’s ports and inland waterways. The broadly supported Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act will help more American workers gain the skills they need for jobs in their local communities.

These two pieces of legislation passed with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate because members – and leadership – were willing to hear each other’s concerns, engage in a robust debate in their respective chambers, and negotiate on final legislation.

The American people will not, and should not, have confidence in a Congress that seeks only to preserve itself.

Unfortunately, these bills were anomalies in the 113th Congress. Too often, however, Congress has avoided making the tough choices that are necessary to reduce our deficit, build our infrastructure, and preserve entitlement programs for future generations.

The U.S. Senate failed to consider dozens of jobs bills passed by the U.S. House of Representatives – good pieces of legislation that would have helped to create jobs, spur investment and grow the economy.

The Hire More Heroes Act would exempt businesses from the Affordable Care Act employer mandate to encourage the hiring of more veterans. It passed the House with overwhelming support – 406-1 – but was never considered in the Senate.

The Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act would grow our economy by allowing for increased exports of liquefied natural gas. It passed the House with the support of 46 Democrats but was never brought up for consideration in the Senate.

Even more significantly, the Senate screeched to a halt because of the Democratic leadership’s decision not to allow votes on scores of amendments – including amendments filed by Democrats – in order to protect senators running for reelection from making politically difficult choices.

The American people will not, and should not, have confidence in a Congress that seeks only to preserve itself.   By opening the Senate floor to debate and amendments, we can restore the institution’s role as the world’s greatest deliberative body. Congress must earn back the trust of the American people by functioning as the Founders intended, offering a robust debate on the issues that matter to the American people, and ensuring them representation in the crafting of the laws of our land.

Shelley Moore Capito will be sworn into office as U.S. Senator from West Virginia on January 6, 2015. Since 2000, she has represented the 2nd District of West Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives.