2006.12.19: December 19, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Somalia: Politics: Congress: The Capital Times: John Nichols writes: Congressman Tom Petri ought to consider making a party switch from Republican to Democrat
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2006.12.19: December 19, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Somalia: Politics: Congress: The Capital Times: John Nichols writes: Congressman Tom Petri ought to consider making a party switch from Republican to Democrat
John Nichols writes: Congressman Tom Petri ought to consider making a party switch from Republican to Democrat
Republican Tom Petri been told by party bosses that they don't approve of his willingness to work with Democrats to address major issues. "Maybe I'm missing something," jokes Petri, perhaps a bit bitterly. "Sometimes I think you can be more effective by working with people." Petri's spokesman, Niel Wright, is blunter. After the Wisconsinite was passed over for the Transportation Committee chairmanship, Wright said, "It was pretty clear that those making the decision wanted a more confrontational and less bipartisan approach to the committee." It is, by now, abundantly clear that Tom Petri is not going to be given an opportunity to play a major role in Congress by his fellow Republicans. That's bad for his agenda, which is characterized by practical concern for advancing sound education and transportation policies. And it's bad for Wisconsin, since Petri is a senior member of the House who is being prevented from delivering for his home state. If Petri were a Democrat, he would be a committee chairman, and no doubt a highly effective and successful one. That's just one reason why the congressman ought to consider making a party switch. By crossing the aisle to the Democratic caucus, Petri could strike a powerful blow for bipartisanship. He would be welcomed by Democratic leaders, who would unquestionably treat him more respectfully than do the current Republican leaders. And he would be able to finish his tenure in Congress in a position to be a responsible and effective legislator, as opposed to just another victim of crude and increasingly dysfunctional Republican partisanship. Congressman Tom Petri of Wisconsin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Somalia in the 1960's.
John Nichols writes: Congressman Tom Petri ought to consider making a party switch from Republican to Democrat
John Nichols: Petri deserves better than the GOP
By John Nichols, Dec. 19, 2006
A decade ago, at the height of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's "Republican revolution," when partisanship was beginning to infect every corner of the Congress, the 1996 Almanac of American Politics described Wisconsin Republican Tom Petri as a rare member of House who specialized in "thoughtful and original solutions to problems" that "cut across ideological and party lines."
Now that Gingrich is gone and the "Republican revolution" has degenerated into such a morass of cruelty, cronyism and corruption that polls tell us Americans are experiencing Republican revulsion, Petri remains the odd man out within his party. A moderate who is about to begin his 14th term in Congress, Petri frequently parts company with his party on issues ranging from stem cell research to the continued funding of the war in Iraq. More significantly, he has a steady track record of working well with Democrats, even liberal Democrats, to craft sound legislation and get it enacted.
GOP leaders do not approve.
The fact was emphasized once more this month, when Petri was elbowed aside in his bid to serve as the ranking Republican on the powerful House Transportation Committee.
It was not the first time that Petri got the cold shoulder from Republican leaders in the House. Despite the fact that he is widely viewed as one of the top experts in Congress on education funding and student loan issues, Petri's fellow Republicans rejected him six years ago when he bid for the chairmanship of the Education and the Workforce Committee.
What's the problem that House Republican leaders have with the congressman from Fond du Lac?
Petri been told by party bosses that they don't approve of his willingness to work with Democrats to address major issues.
"Maybe I'm missing something," jokes Petri, perhaps a bit bitterly. "Sometimes I think you can be more effective by working with people."
Petri's spokesman, Niel Wright, is blunter. After the Wisconsinite was passed over for the Transportation Committee chairmanship, Wright said, "It was pretty clear that those making the decision wanted a more confrontational and less bipartisan approach to the committee."
Though Petri's approach is extremely popular in Wisconsin, where he won re-election without opposition this year, Wright explains that the congressman is seen by Republican caucus leaders as "too independent and too much of a maverick."
It is, by now, abundantly clear that Tom Petri is not going to be given an opportunity to play a major role in Congress by his fellow Republicans. That's bad for his agenda, which is characterized by practical concern for advancing sound education and transportation policies. And it's bad for Wisconsin, since Petri is a senior member of the House who is being prevented from delivering for his home state.
If Petri were a Democrat, he would be a committee chairman, and no doubt a highly effective and successful one. That's just one reason why the congressman ought to consider making a party switch.
By crossing the aisle to the Democratic caucus, Petri could strike a powerful blow for bipartisanship. He would be welcomed by Democratic leaders, who would unquestionably treat him more respectfully than do the current Republican leaders. And he would be able to finish his tenure in Congress in a position to be a responsible and effective legislator, as opposed to just another victim of crude and increasingly dysfunctional Republican partisanship.
John Nichols is associate editor of The Capital Times. E-mail: jnichols@madison.com
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Headlines: December, 2006; RPCV Tom Petri (Somalia) ; Figures; Peace Corps Somalia; Directory of Somalia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Somalia RPCVs; Politics; Congress; Wisconsin
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Story Source: The Capital Times
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