August 7, 2004: Headlines: COS - Somalia: Congress: : The Post Crescent: Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, said partisanship is not new and was at its worst prior to the Civil War. “We are not at that point,” he said. “The fact is, in Washington it is a difference of opinion and very little personal.”

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Somalia: Special Report: Tom Petri: Tom Petri: Archived Stories: August 7, 2004: Headlines: COS - Somalia: Congress: : The Post Crescent: Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, said partisanship is not new and was at its worst prior to the Civil War. “We are not at that point,” he said. “The fact is, in Washington it is a difference of opinion and very little personal.”

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-239-147.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.239.147) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 10:51 am: Edit Post

Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, said partisanship is not new and was at its worst prior to the Civil War. “We are not at that point,” he said. “The fact is, in Washington it is a difference of opinion and very little personal.”

Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, said partisanship is not new and was at its worst prior to the Civil War. “We are not at that point,” he said. “The fact is, in Washington it is a difference of opinion and very little personal.”

Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, said partisanship is not new and was at its worst prior to the Civil War. “We are not at that point,” he said. “The fact is, in Washington it is a difference of opinion and very little personal.”

Lawmakers peg gridlock source

Bipartisan rifts, health care focus at HOV forum

By Roger Pitt
Heart of the Valley bureau chief

KAUKAUNA — Bickering over partisan politics has led to the 108th Congress being one of the least productive in history, Washington Belt Way insiders agreed in rare bipartisan solidarity Friday.

That lack of productivity was chalked up to high “bipartisan rancor … and the presidential election” by Marlene Mielke, Oshkosh, representing Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Milwaukee, at the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce breakfast forum at F & M Bank. “It has led to gridlock,” she said.

Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, agreed Congress has failed to get key bills and budget issues passed.

“The filibuster is a daily occurrence in the Senate and stalls legislation because of the 60-vote rule to stop the filibuster,” he said. “The House has approved a bit more legislation, but has a lot to do.”

Mielke said the only spending bill approved so far has been the $447 billion defense bill.

“That is one of 13 tax bills and there are only 20 days left in this session to approve those bills,” she said. “The prospect is that they will be combined in an omnibus bill and voted up or down with no debate, no comment. That is not good government.”

Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, said partisanship is not new and was at its worst prior to the Civil War.

“We are not at that point,” he said. “The fact is, in Washington it is a difference of opinion and very little personal.”

Bob Schweder, Fox Valley coordinator for Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Middleton, said, partisan politics is not an issue with those representing Wisconsin in Washington.

“They all get along and work for the good of the state,” he said.

Lorrie Shafer of Black Creek, Bob Quasius of Appleton and Ron Van De Hey of Kaukauna posed various questions about health care costs, availability and quality.

Petri said health care is a major issue for individuals and companies because of the double-digit increase in cost.

“It is going to take three to four years to phase in all the Medicare drug benefits,” he said.

Schweder said Feingold has authored a bill to allow pooling of resources to increase bargaining power in negotiating health care.

“It is similar to the five-region plan the state approved,” he said. “It is important to allow Medicare to negotiate the price of drugs to bring costs down.”

Roger Pitt can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 282, or by e-mail at rpitt@postcrescent. com.





When this story was prepared, this was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 This Month's Issue: August 2004
Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny?

Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts."

In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.





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Story Source: The Post Crescent

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Somalia; Congress;

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