Editor’s note: This essay is part of Deseret Magazine’s cover story “How to heal America’s partisan divide.”
“We disagree in politics — but not in life.”
That’s what the late Republican Sen. John McCain said about his bond with my uncle, Mo Udall, a longtime Democratic congressman from Arizona. And it’s a sentiment I hope can guide us moving forward — because we’re going to need to work together to tackle the big issues facing the country.
Finding common ground with those you disagree with is hard. But during my service in Congress, I saw that it’s possible — even on the big issues.
We’re going to need to work together to tackle the big issues facing the country.
As we confront a period of intense division, I believe that the fundamental barrier to progress in Congress is the flood of powerful, special interest money drowning out the voices of the American people. That’s what promotes extremism and prevents compromise.
The large majority of elected officials are good people stuck in a broken system. The real reason for obstruction is the special interests that have figured out how to game the system to inflame our partisan divisions and punish compromise.
Bipartisan cooperation is possible — but it is still too hard in today’s Congress.
Not all issues in Congress are stuck in partisan gridlock. Indian Country’s priorities have historically been addressed in a bipartisan manner, with senators working together for better health care, education, housing and other resources for Native communities. The federal government’s obligation to uphold its trust and treaty obligations is sacred. Some of my proudest achievements have been the result of working with Tribes as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Most recently, a bipartisan coalition in the Senate passed legislation that strengthens the principles of Tribal self-governance, provides Native entrepreneurs the resources they need to grow businesses and economies, and secures investments in Native language revitalization.
The lesson is: Bipartisan cooperation is possible — but it is still too hard in today’s Congress. We must reform our democratic system and return the real power to the hands of the American people. And we must remember that while we disagree in politics, we do not disagree that we all want a brighter future for our children and our nation.
Sen. Tom Udall served as U.S. Senator from New Mexico from 2009 until this month. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District from 1999 to 2009 and was the Attorney General of New Mexico from 1991 to 1999.
This story appears in the January/February issue of Deseret Magazine. Learn more about how to subscribe.