“We urge you to work as a member of a Congress virtually without party lines or selfish motives”
An OPINION by Steve Sprague
It was a beautiful Wednesday morning in the Southern Tier. But wherever you are in America — clear skies or gray, cold or hot, still or windy — there’s a noticeable breath of fresh air present.
The lessons of yesterday’s midterm elections are vivid and encouraging. American voters rejected the billionaires’ attempts to buy repeat majorities in both Houses of Congress. Voters scoffed at obnoxious and heartless “win at any cost” ads. They identified the person responsible for their loss of healthcare, their inability to buy groceries or gas and did their best to rob the thief of his mindless gang of enablers.
No, not all of the enablers were cast out of office. Some, as in this congressional district, will return to Washington in January. But on a national scale, he’ll find himself without the absolute power to let bad policy and corruption go unchallenged.
The new majorities in both Houses only have two years to prove they can undo the worst of the policies of he past two years. They can’t mimic the vengeful pattern set by the now-lame duck President. Instead, they need to start unraveling the pain we all feel by reversing the mindless policies foist on America since January of last year.
They can start by imposing the legal control on this President’s power to conduct war without Congress’ authorization. They can work to kill off the tariffs that added cost to thousands of the daily needs of American families. They can insist private healthcare providers are limited in profits they now gouge from families and return Medicare eligibility to the millions who watched that funding go to the richest in the Nation.
They can bring common sense and control back to ICE. And they can stop the long list of vanity projects this self-consumed chief executive has pursued. Maybe even divert the anticipated $100 million earmarked for an ugly and useless arch to the veterans who need medical and home care.
The list of good the new majorities can do is a long one, made far more difficult by a narcissist with the veto power. But here’s where the returning, now-former enablers can work toward their own redemption in the next two years.
Assuming the Republicans who return to office have the ambition to stay in office after the 2028 elections, there will be plenty of chances to earn that privilege. Now that their emperor has been proven to be naked, the former enslaved enablers are free to work for the people they represent.
Somewhere along the path to this beautiful fall morning, the majorities-now-gone compromised the Constitution’s primary duty of Congressional service: pass laws that help Americans, secure this Nation and fuel the perpetual light of Freedom admired worldwide.
If the lucky few who get to return to their office on Capitol Hill are now willing to work for the people who sent them there instead of the party label they adopted, we may find it worthwhile to consider them worthy to stay in that office in the next election. Their place there is never guaranteed.
This southwest corner of New York has forever been a bright red swath of Republican soil. But in 1976, I was asked to go to Congress with a Democrat. Stan Lundine was elected on the tail of the Watergate scandals but stayed there for five terms until he decided to leave. A Democrat CAN be elected here and represent the people here to their satisfaction.
To the returning Republican in the 23rd District, congratulations are due. But don’t think it’s a lifelong privilege. You now have two more years to prove you care about your constituents more than your party. Reinstate in-person town halls and support programs and policies that help constituents afford food and housing.
We urge you to work as a member of a Congress virtually without party lines or selfish motives. Be a hero to the people you represent.
You’ll sleep better. I know. I was there once myself.
Steve Sprague is a Steuben County political pundit using knowledge from years as a Congressional staffer and career in the federal government. You can reach him anytime, sgsprague@yahoo.com
