Walz: Partisan fighting is hurting Congress

If members of the U.S. Congress can get past partisanship and work together through honest discussion, great things can be accomplished during the second session of the 110th Congress, according to U.S. Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota’s 1st District. It can be a hard year or a good year if Congress can put the focus where it needs to be, he said.

Congress should be able to determine if problems are being solved based on the effectiveness of the solution and not based on partisanship, he said Monday to a crowd of about 50 people in the Elks Lodge at the Albert Lea Noon Kiwanis Club meeting.

“It has been an interesting year, to say the least,” the congressman said. “This year there’s been successes and there’s been some great frustrations.”

To determine whether a problem is solved by legislative decisions Walz said Congress should first decide if the issue is being handled properly and if not there should be an honest discussion about all aspects of the issue.

The discussion should bring into account whether enough funding is dedicated to the problem and make sure that funding is spent properly. Then, Walz said, Congress should have the oversight to make sure the problem is solved.

“Just because we spent money doesn’t mean it is going to be spent wisely,” he said.

As an example, the congressman referenced the recent unanimous passage of a bill allocating funds to the Department of Veterans Affairs to adequately fund the VA’s watchdog agency — the Office of the Inspector General. It was a bipartisan bill that was able to pass without the team-gathering of Republicans versus Democrats.

“Which team are we talking about here, your political team or your country?” Walz said.

As a nation, the items that divide the country down party lines can also bring them together, the congressman said, if the nation’s leaders can get past partisanship.

“It’s starting to work itself back out,” he said.

Walz said the ability to deliver on the VA bill can open ideas for passing other bills in a bipartisan manner. It shows things can be accomplished.

“We made progress,” he said, adding he is optimistic but knows at times things can fail miserably.

The nation has combined politics and governance, he said, to the point where the two are now inseparable in the public’s minds when the ideas should be separate.

“We owe it to people to get the facts out and let them decided,” Walz said.

Paige Onstad and Jordan Elleby, high school student speakers at the Kiwanis meeting, said they appreciate the fact that Walz votes according to what he believes and not always along party lines.

“To have both sides brought to light is really important,” said Noon Kiwanis member Judy Verdoorn. So much of what is said about politics, she said, is not the full story.

Noon Kiwanis Club President Vicki Lunning said it is important to have Walz speak to local groups, such as the Kiwanis, to build the connection between government and constituents.

“It’s the most exciting day I’ve had since I took on the presidency,” she said.

The second session of the 110th Congress began Jan. 15 and Walz said three big things on the list this year are the farm bill coming soon, the energy bill that was discussed last week and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.