BIPARTISAN: Key to future progress

Congratulations are in order for the hard earned efforts of two bipartisan committees. A standing ovation to the Federal Reserve and its Chairman Ben Bernanke, Republican; Washington State Senator Patty Murray, Democrat; and Senate Budget Chair and House Budget Committee Chair, Paul Ryan, Republican from Wisconsin. They worked outside of today’s accepted political black box playbook and are examples of political breaths of fresh air in the current political atmosphere of non-cooperation and negativity.

Bernanke’s financial marketing skills and his bipartisan economic strategies have jump started the stock market. The results of this bipartisan teamwork has rejuvenated a vote of confidence from the business community at large with reports that the stock market is now standing on its own two feet. Remember, he is a Republican appointed by a Democratic president.

Congress finished 2013 on a bipartisan note of confidence with the approval of a two-year federal budget agreement thanks to Senator Patty Murray, Washington state Democrat, and Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican. Working within a bipartisan framework, they were successful in reaching compromises that were ultimately passed by both Houses followed by President Obama’s signature. Lawmakers in both parties and at opposite ends of the Capital said they hoped it would curb budget brinkmanship and prevent more shutdowns in the near future.

These are positive demonstrations of bipartisan team work that embodies an honest dialogue of give and take. This is what our elected officials are sent to Washington to accomplish. So may this be a wake-up call to start debates with a handshake, dropping the conquer and divide mentality tactics. The lesson to be practiced here is to develop a partnership of goodwill and trust that will assure a quality outcome benefiting all citizens of this country … not just the political parties’ lobbyists’ agendas.

JAMES WALLACE

Hauser