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When Republicans and Democrats agree
Just when we thought Democrats and Republicans couldn’t agree on anything, this week brought some great news.
It started Monday when Democrat Bryan Lentz and Republican Pat Meehan, our two most bitter congressional rivals in the state, came dangerously close to complete and total agreement on a piece of legislation. The bill would lump disabled veterans and their businesses into groups that get preference for state contracts, which is more in line with federal law. Early Monday morning, we got a release from the Lentz camp, in which the state Representative said that “when it comes to disabled veterans, there’s no time for partisan politics and self-serving press conferences—there’s only time to do what’s right for our veterans.
Lo and behold, just a couple hours later, we heard a similar line from Meehan, a former U.S. Attorney. “This is a good program that recognizes and rewards service disabled veterans who have created and built their own small businesses,” Meehan said. “More importantly, it recognizes the sacrifices made by so many veterans.”
As if that didn’t make us happy enough, the next day we learned that Democrat John Callahan and Republican Charlie Dent, opponents in the 15th District, actually both oppose the cap-and-trade energy legislation that passed the House last year.
So, all hope for bipartisan agreement is not lost.
Now, if we could just get Joe Sestak and Pat Toomey to agree on an energy policy…
July 1, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Tags: Bryan Lentz, Charlie Dent, John Callahan, PA-15, PA-7, Pat Meehan
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Dem Guy
Jul 1st, 2010
If Joe Sestak agreed with Pat Toomey on much, I’d be voting third party.
Jon Geeting
Jul 1st, 2010
I find this line of thinking seriously irritating. Why is it categorically a good thing when opposite sides agree? Callahan and Dent are both wrong about carbon pricing. Dent is wrong and Callahan adopted his wrong position because it’s easier than explaining how carbon pricing works. But that makes it less likely that we will get carbon pricing, which is a terrible outcome! That, and that alone, is what people need to be concerned with. Outcomes. It’s silly for people to spend time worrying that opposing politicians aren’t getting along well enough. The only thing that should matter to anyone is, who is supporting the best policy outcome?
Dan Hirschhorn
Jul 1st, 2010
Hey Jon,
Fair point. I’m not saying any of these folks are right or wrong. But as a political reporter who is constantly knee-deep in disagreement, I was just having some fun with the rare agreements.
Thanks for reading.
Dan Hirschhorn
Anonymous
Jul 2nd, 2010
In PA-08, Republicans and Democrats agree that Mike Fitzpatrick is a flip-flopper.
FITZFLOP vs. the Socialist … how pathetic. I can’t believe I’ll be voting Libertarian in November (for the first time in my life).
A vet
Jul 4th, 2010
Big deal, I am a vet and everyone knows that both parties support us. It takes little or no political courage to do so.