Trading in problems for solutions

When we debate issues in Washington, people tend to talk about whether they’re for or against something or whether they support or oppose an idea or piece of legislation. This all-or-nothing approach may have its place in some cases, but it’s also at the core of the intense partisanship that has built up over the years and now paralyzes progress.

It often seems we live in a world where you have to choose a side – right or left, conservative or liberal, for or against. In the process, the center has been virtually abandoned. But at least once a week, there is a group that gathers there. They’re called the Problem Solvers Caucus and they want to be the cure for a polarized Washington.

Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) are co-chairs of this bipartisan group of 48 members of the House of Representatives. Though they disagree on a variety of issues, they come together at least once a week over tacos and beer – and without any media ever present – to talk, listen and find areas where they can work together. They want to work together on rules reforms, immigration, infrastructure – even gun safety. They’ve built successful working relationships in the process. Several of the members say their closest friends in Congress have become their fellow members in this Problem Solvers Caucus – on both sides of the aisle.

So the U.S. Chamber reached out to this group because we think finding common ground is important not only for the future of the Congress but also the health of our economy. Instead of gathering as parties, sides of the aisle or caucuses with opposing agendas, we think it’s time to organize and support individuals. Why? Because it’s an opportunity to help members of Congress who want to stop the gridlock and help solve some of the problems the business community is struggling with the most.

Collaborating with this group seems like a great place to start. So on Thursday, we’ve invited the members of Congress from the Problem Solvers Caucus to meet with our key Chamber member companies. We’re trading beer and tacos in for coffee and bagels but our goal is the same - to bring people together as individuals to help build out relationships and find areas where lawmakers and the business community can work together to get things done.

We believe the business community can build out the middle by supporting groups like the Problem Solvers Caucus and we think there are actually plenty of possible areas of collaboration to be found around transportation, education, workforce development and more.

This caucus could be the business community’s best hope of finding members that will compromise and help move legislation forward on key issues that have long eluded Congress. They appear to be willing to step up on hard issues. If we want them to help us, we need to engage them early and often. 

The business community’s top priorities this year require both parties to be engaged and helpful in order to:

1)      Agree on a funding mechanism (such as a gas tax) for a long-term infrastructure modernization bill to address the immense challenge of fixing our nation’s crumbling roads, bridges, power grids and more.

2)      Provide bipartisan leadership and solutions to address our broken immigration system so employers, in all industries, have the workers they need at every skill level.

3)      Secure votes for congressional approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

4)      Promote high-quality, lifelong learning so we have a steady supply of talented and hard working people to do the work of a modern economy so our nation can compete and lead.

At the Chamber, we’re committed to embracing bipartisanship in the work we do too – from the events we hold to changing how we do business. For us that started with re-calculating how our legislative scorecard is tabulated to more fully reward Members for efforts that focus on reaching across the aisle.

The Chamber wants less talk and more action this Congress and we realize that type of action requires us to build up trust with each other and prioritize bipartisan relationships. It will take more time, more work, likely more beer and tacos and coffee and bagels and certainly more free-form discussion of ideas. But this is worth investing in because it’s what creates connections that bring about change. As the Problem Solvers Caucus says – they’re not looking at labels - just ways to get to ‘yes’ on key issues and that is an idea we can all get behind. 

Ashley Wilson is the Vice President of Congressional and Public Affairs and the chief tax lobbyist for the world's largest business federation. In this role, she represents the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions before Congress and the Administration. Connect with her on Twitter @ashleywilsonCOC.