April 28, 2021, 5:00 a.m. ET
President Biden met with a bipartisan group of politicians to discuss the American Jobs Plan in April.Credit.Amr Alfiky/The New York Times
By John Lawrence
Dr. Lawrence, a former chief of staff to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has written extensively about Congress and American politics.
President Bidenâs first address to a joint session of Congress, on Wednesday night, will be scrutinized to assess his commitment to working with Republicans. There is nothing wrong with reaching across the aisle to seek common ground.
But insisting on bipartisanship â given the major policy divide between the parties on economic recovery, tax reform, climate change and health care â usually guarantees gridlock (which promotes voter cynicism) or actions that are watered down and ineffective (which are condemned by everyone, right and left).