Kerry: Congress Must Tone Down Rhetoric, Get Down To Business
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 1:41PMFollowing this weekend’s tragic events in Arizona, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) told an audience at the left-leaning Center for American Progress (CAP) that Congress must work to eliminate the hyperpartisan atmosphere and rhetoric that has engulfed the process in which America’s government functions.
“In the weeks and months ahead, the real issue we need to confront isn’t just what role divisive political rhetoric may have played on Saturday, but it’s the violence, divisive, overly simplistic dialogue does to our democracy every day,” Kerry said.
The Senator supported House Speaker John Boehner’s decision to suspend the House’s usual business this week but called on Congress to “suspend and end business as usual in the United States Capitol” moving forward. The effects of hyperpartisanship are evidenced in the record number of cloture votes held in the 111th Congress, Kerry said. Additionally, he asserted that his call for bipartisanship should echo through Congress in a time when the nation is mourning and struggling to trust an entity Kerry said shies away from making tough but necessary decisions.
“The big question wasn’t whose rhetoric was right or wrong,” Kerry said. “But whether our political conversation was indeed worthy of the confidence and trust of the American people.”
Aside from toning down political rhetoric on the hill, the Senate Foreign Relations Chair made clear that extreme spending cuts alone would not yield the amount of recovery needed to sufficiently reduce the nation’s deficit. The former Democratic presidential candidate stressed that increasing infrastructure and alternative energy investments will create jobs for America and will keep the nation amid the world’s elite countries.
“In this time of crisis, in this time of mourning, in this time of challenge and opportunity, we all need to commit to reaching across the aisle as colleagues did before us to unite to do the exceptional things that, together, can keep America exceptional,” Kerry said. “That’s our mission and we need to get about the business of accomplishing it.”
Time to CLEAR Out Corruption
Super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff has become the embodiment for all that is wrong and corrupt with American politics, and while what he did was illegal, another type of legal corruption has pervaded American politics--receiving campaign contributions from a company and then giving them preferential “earmark” legislation.
In an effort to stem any conflict of interest, Representatives Paul Hodes (D-N.H.), Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) and Tom Perriello (D-VA) unveiled the Clean Law for Earmark Accountability Reform Act, CLEAR Act. This act would make it illegal for lawmakers to accept campaign contributions from companies and their top executives who have requested any earmarks.
“As lawmakers we are stewards of the public trust,” said Hodes “and we are in a period of time when it is important to rebuild the public’s trust in the government.” He continued on to say, “This law will help lawmakers avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.”
The CLEAR Act would mark a major reform in curbing earmark reform, as it will eliminate all possible ethical and legal dilemmas. Additionally, the Representatives hoped that this act would help to reinvigorate Americans confidence in their elected officials.
“We have tried very hard to break the link between lobbyists and a link between legislators,” said Giffords, as representatives can no longer take gifts, food, or ride in lobbyists private jets.