Bipartisanship beyond the buddy system

If the 112th Congress is truly interested in civility and passing meaningful legislation, it must get serious about bipartisanship. This should extend well beyond swinging at the political piñata – earmarks – and the made-for-TV buddy system practiced at Tuesday’s State of the Union speech. Shows of bipartisanship accomplish nothing. This country wants and needs acts of bipartisanship.

Republicans and Democrats can start by resisting the urge to legislate from the fringes and explore commonground on issues like energy and education. With energy prices on the rise again, moderates from both parties should pursue a balanced agenda, beginning with increasing production of natural gas and nuclear energy, while investing in renewable energies of the future. Most members understand that solving the current energy crisis will take more than just “drill, baby, drill” and keeping our fingers crossed that the sun is shining and the wind is blowing.

On education reform, many Democrats and Republicans are advocating for greater support for charter schools and bolstering funds for performance-based programs, like the Teacher Incentive Fund. With the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind looming, education leaders from both parties can eliminate the law’s unpopular one-size-fits-all approach that hinders teachers and students.

The problem is that the vast majority of members in today’s Congress have no experience with real bipartisanship. Sadly for our nation, many of the Old Bulls are gone, and with them went key bipartisan relationships that are critical to forging agreements when the Congress grinds to a standstill.

Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) forged a relationship that brought about the most meaningful piece of energy legislation in the last decade. The pro-drilling Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act they co-authored garnered an astounding 71 votes when it passed the Senate as a stand-alone bill. Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) enjoyed a deep bond that helped make the landmark Children’s Health Insurance Program a reality.

Perhaps the most unlikely bedfellows were Sens. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Jesse Helms (R-N.C.). From their seats on the Foreign Relations Committee, Biden and Helms shepherded through Congress a 1999 law that established a set of benchmarks for United Nations reform.

These examples demonstrate that the Senate can be a collegial body – in practice and not just in clichéd description. This is bipartisanship that makes a difference and should serve as a model, especially for new members.

However, with preparation for the 2012 presidential and congressional elections already under way, the opportunity for principled compromise may give way to thirst for more seats, and thus more power. Middle ground will also be increasingly tough to find as key moderates may be compelled to move away from the center to fend off primary challengers who will be waging campaigns from the extreme ends of the political spectrum.

If our elected leaders really want to tackle the challenges facing America, it does not begin with House and Senate Leadership. It starts with those in Congress whose personal convictions and political positions don’t jibe with caucus talking points and who have no interest in repeating the things they hear on cable news and radio talk shows. It starts with those in the middle having the courage to not just hold the center, but to cultivate partisan-proof relationships that ensure bipartisanship is not something our children have to read about in a history book.

Aaron Saunders is the former Communications Director for Republican Sen. Ted Stevens and Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu. He now works at Dezenhall Resources, a public relations firm in Washington, D.C.