EDITORIAL: Why Joe Kennedy Matters and Ed Markey Doesn’t

Thursday, December 05, 2019

EDITORIAL

Congressman Joe Kennedy III

Many frustrated Americans are disgusted with the two political parties being unable and unwilling to work across the aisle. Each plays to its base and each has become experts at divisive and destructive politics.

For the rest of us, we look to our public servants to find solutions to healthcare, immigration, infrastructure, and many other critical issues. It matters that the two parties have refused to work together to find solutions.

It was unexpected to hear Joe Kennedy talk about his success and continued efforts to work across the aisle to pass legislation and find solutions.

In an interview with GoLocal Live, Kennedy was anything but sanctimonious and partisan.

Kennedy outlined how he believes his approach to getting things done is more effective, and spoke to what he said has been his success working on bipartisan legislation -- even during a time when the Senate is controlled by Republicans and President Donald Trump is in the White House.

“If you believe in the urgency of this moment, that there are people that are shut out, left out and locked out from a system that needs their concerns to be addressed immediately, then we're going to have to find a way to actually advance those issues immediately. Today I've been the lead Democrat on over a dozen or so bills since I came into office, some of which I have led and some of which Republicans have led, but I was the lead on most of them,” said Kennedy.

“Almost half we're done under an Obama administration about half we're done under a Trump administration and all of that time, I have needed Republicans, substantial Republican support in order to move my bill through a Republican-dominated House or to get it approved by Mitch McConnell and now Donald Trump. There's a way to do that not necessarily on everything but there's a way to put a marker down about the type of change you believe in," Kennedy said.

Kennedy’s words and actions stand in stark contrast to so many who are now serving in Congress on both sides of the aisle. In contrast, sitting U.S. Senator Ed Markey has served in Congress since the 1970s and has perfected partisanship and stagnation.

America is missing the critical legislative leadership who care far more about country than party.