Thursday, March 28, 2024

Compromise

Posted

| GUEST COLUMN

The votes are in, and most of the races have declared winners. 2018 has proven once again the wisdom of our founders in drafting the Constitution of the United States of America, some call it the “5000 year Miracle,” that provides a moral and legal road map for maintaining governing in the hands of We the People in a country that remains divided on many important issues, almost 50-50.

Now we again have a divided Congress, the Senate a little more Republican and the House with a new Democratic majority. And a Republican president.

But one of the most encouraging aspects of this year’s elections was the record number of all categories of voters from the young to the less younger, who took the time to express their opinion.

So when all the votes are counted and the winners assemble in Austin and Washington, D.C., they should better appreciate the responsibility they have asked for, and been given for, two, four or six years by a record number of voters.

As I write these words on Wednesday afternoon, after turning off the TV for awhile, there is for me another very encouraging aspect of this year’s elections.

The at least 118 women (99 Democrats and 19 Republicans) who were elected (a record number for the U.S.) and what they have been saying and are preparing to accomplish as to the direction the 116th Congress will take on a lot of issues.

What do their constituents want them to be a part of doing?

They want their government to work again. They want the Congress to fix our much-too-costly health care system. In 2017 26 percent of federal spending (over $1 trillion) was for health care.

They want a new and reformed immigration system that protects our borders, provides for a needed workforce, without demonizing immigrants.

They want us to stop borrowing so much money, particularly the young. They are concerned about our $21.7 trillion debt that will increase by the largest amount in history next year under current law.

We will have new leadership in the House on both sides of the isle. The Speaker and all other majority leadership, as well as all committee chairs, will now be Democrats.

The minority leadership and ranking committee members will have many new Republican faces.

I hope the 116th Congress will adopt the overall governing philosophy I heard expressed by a congresswoman-elect, who had served as a helicopter pilot in the Afghan war.

“When you are flying a helicopter under enemy attack, there are no women or men, there are no Democrats or Republicans, there are just plain Americans trying to get the job done and get home alive.”

A few personal closing observations:

1. Beto O’Rourke lost his race, but he left a positive mark on a lot of others. The record turnout was largely a result of his effort.

2. The Texas Legislature will be a different body next year, though still firmly under a Republican majority. Democrats picked up at least 12 House seats and two Senate seats. That means a little more bi-partisanship is going to be required and achievable. There will be an election of a new speaker where two-thirds of the voters have never had that experience. Texas has our challenges, particularly public education. Some of public education’s biggest adversaries lost.

3. Governing is difficult work in a divided country. We owe ALL those who were elected our guidance and support at least until the next opportunity (election) to throw the rascals out comes around. Which does not start tomorrow!

4. We all need to reread the Constitution from time to time, especially the freedom of religion, speech and the press part.

5. The legislative body has a Constitutional responsibility to provide advise and consent, as well as other oversight of the executive branch of government. No one is above the law.

6. I renew the challenge to anyone to provide evidence of anything that ever passed the Congress or Legislature with only Republican or only Democrat votes that proved to be good for the country or state. Compromise is not a four-letter word!

Charlie Stenholm, a retired U.S. congressman, and his wife Cindy live in Granbury.