Local congressmen promise practical agenda
Say political retribution will not be goal of the new Democratic majority
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

Rush Holt

With Democrats holding the majority for the first time in 12 years, three of the area's representatives in Congress said they won't let politics get in the way of advancing their legislative agendas.

Democrats Rush Holt (D-12) and Frank Pallone (D-6) said rather than feuding with their Republican counterparts, they intend to concentrate on the legislative agenda they believe the people elected them for. Both emphasized how much easier they feel it would be to concentrate on just getting legislation passed, which they acknowledged requires bipartisan support.

"Obviously we want to be conciliatory because we feel that wasn't the case with the Republican majority, which was one of the reasons we didn't get as much done. And given the government is divided and we have a Republican president, we have to come up with things we can agree on," said Pallone.

Holt agreed, saying that pragmatism should trump ideology, as well as any impulses toward retribution on the now minority Republicans. This did not prevent him, however, from taking a small swipe at them.

Frank Pallone

"I think we are really interested in moving legislation for the benefit of the American people," Holt said. "The last Congress, you know, was criticized as a do-nothing Congress - rarely in session, and when it was in session, often passing legislation that was never going to pass the Senate, never going to become law, was doomed to failure, just for show to score some ideological points."

Pragmatism will also be extended into legislative tactics as well, according to both representatives. They expressed sentiments that the goal of this Congress should be on practical legislation that will affect the way everyday people live their lives, instead of trying to focus on promoting a particular ideology.

"We're not really ideologically driven, so I don't think we have this left-wing bloc that's trying to push everything. I don't think, realistically, that's going to go on because people are just more practical and the public wants us to address things in a practical way," said Pallone.

Holt said this feeling also extends to the party leadership, especially new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Mike Ferguson

"She wants, and I think we all want, to pass practical, common sense legislation, and so she is not going to be under the sway of ideologues for the left or the right. Extreme ideology does not make good legislative solutions and I think she understands that," said Holt.

Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-7) has similar feelings about the necessity of being bipartisan. From a practical standpoint, he said, cooperation across the aisle is vital to getting anything important done, and he is optimistic that he can work with the Democrats to advance his own agenda.

"I know from being in the majority that there was never anything big or important that we did as Republicans without some significant input and help from the Democrats, whether it was rolling back taxes or pursuing prescription drug benefits or protection for the country from terrorism," Ferguson said.

He said that he plans to take on a tone of conciliation and cooperation between himself and the new majority in order to try and advance legislative that is important to him. For example, he said he supported the minimum wage increase as well as the implementation of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. Overall, he said he wants to find common ground where he can.

"I think everyone has a different style. My style is one ... of working together to find solutions and build consensus, and I think that style will serve me and our district well," he said.

"There will certainly be other things they want to do that I will be supportive of and for those I will be first in line to work and prepare with them and find a common ground," said Ferguson.