Readers Write: Dean Phillips' bipartisanship, health insurance, COVID vaccine, Minnesotans and spicy food
If it's easy, it's not enough.
July 10, 2021 — 6:00pm
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I was initially pleased to see the Star Tribune highlighting Rep. Dean Phillips' attempts to bring bipartisanship back to Washington ("Phillips' bipartisanship tested by D.C. reality," July 4). We certainly need more of it. And his predecessor, Jim Ramstad, was a master at reaching across the aisle.
The article, however, was quick to note the congressman's list of extreme colleagues he refuses to reach out to.
While I share Mr. Phillips' disfavor for the far right and far left, effective congressional deal-makers will work with anyone to get things done — and seek out fringe members to bring them toward the middle. It's not easy work, but if Phillips really wants to make a mark in Washington, he should seek to do it. Simply calling oneself bipartisan and teaming with the other side when consensus is easy makes for good headlines but is ultimately inconsequential.