Bayh, Graham Ask Senate Leaders to Start Monthly Bipartisan Lunches
Congressional Desk
March 18, 2010
Bringing all senators together could be "fertile soil for problem solving" and "maximize chances for reasoned discourse"
Washington –Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) are asking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to schedule bipartisan lunches on a monthly basis attended by all 100 senators as a way to facilitate a constructive dialogue between the political parties.
In a joint letter sent to Senate leadership the senators wrote, "Our tradition of weekly caucus lunches – with Democrats and Republicans meeting in separate rooms – has accentuated the tensions that pull the two parties apart and limited opportunities for honest dialogue and reasoned exchange."
"We believe the American people would be well served if both parties agreed to sponsor monthly meetings where all senators could gather together to informally discuss pressing issues.
"Bringing all senators together on a more regular basis will maximize the chances of reasoned discourse, and the informal exchange of ideas is fertile soil for problem solving."
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Senator Reid and Senator McConnell:
At a time when challenges of historic import face America, bipartisan cooperation and principled compromise are needed more than ever. Unfortunately, certain Senate traditions run contrary to forming bipartisan consensus. In particular, our tradition of weekly caucus lunches – with Democrats and Republicans meeting in separate rooms – has accentuated the tensions that pull the two parties apart and limited opportunities for honest dialogue and reasoned exchange.
We believe the American people would be well served if both parties agreed to sponsor monthly meetings where all senators could gather together to informally discuss pressing issues. We are under no illusion that such meetings are a panacea that will lead to easy agreement. We do believe, however, that bringing all senators together on a more regular basis will maximize the chances of reasoned discourse, and that the informal exchange of ideas is fertile soil for problem solving.
We urge you to consider changes to the Senate schedule that will allow for monthly meetings of all senators. We recognize that our weekly caucus lunches serve an important party-organizing function. However, at a time when America faces so many challenges, both parties must be willing to place the needs of country above the needs of party. These joint meetings would also send an important signal to Americans who are losing faith in the ability of both parties to solve our collective challenges. We know the American people want us to work together and we should prove to them that we are listening.
We look forward to discussing this idea with you in greater detail and working with you both to improve bipartisan cooperation in the Senate.
Respectfully,
Senator Evan Bayh
Senator Lindsey Graham
Washington –Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) are asking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to schedule bipartisan lunches on a monthly basis attended by all 100 senators as a way to facilitate a constructive dialogue between the political parties.
In a joint letter sent to Senate leadership the senators wrote, "Our tradition of weekly caucus lunches – with Democrats and Republicans meeting in separate rooms – has accentuated the tensions that pull the two parties apart and limited opportunities for honest dialogue and reasoned exchange."
"We believe the American people would be well served if both parties agreed to sponsor monthly meetings where all senators could gather together to informally discuss pressing issues.
"Bringing all senators together on a more regular basis will maximize the chances of reasoned discourse, and the informal exchange of ideas is fertile soil for problem solving."
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Senator Reid and Senator McConnell:
At a time when challenges of historic import face America, bipartisan cooperation and principled compromise are needed more than ever. Unfortunately, certain Senate traditions run contrary to forming bipartisan consensus. In particular, our tradition of weekly caucus lunches – with Democrats and Republicans meeting in separate rooms – has accentuated the tensions that pull the two parties apart and limited opportunities for honest dialogue and reasoned exchange.
We believe the American people would be well served if both parties agreed to sponsor monthly meetings where all senators could gather together to informally discuss pressing issues. We are under no illusion that such meetings are a panacea that will lead to easy agreement. We do believe, however, that bringing all senators together on a more regular basis will maximize the chances of reasoned discourse, and that the informal exchange of ideas is fertile soil for problem solving.
We urge you to consider changes to the Senate schedule that will allow for monthly meetings of all senators. We recognize that our weekly caucus lunches serve an important party-organizing function. However, at a time when America faces so many challenges, both parties must be willing to place the needs of country above the needs of party. These joint meetings would also send an important signal to Americans who are losing faith in the ability of both parties to solve our collective challenges. We know the American people want us to work together and we should prove to them that we are listening.
We look forward to discussing this idea with you in greater detail and working with you both to improve bipartisan cooperation in the Senate.
Respectfully,
Senator Evan Bayh
Senator Lindsey Graham
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