Two congresses, one acting as a law
making institution while the second congress constituting a representative
assembly, are ultimately compatible. While these two congresses that are always
“at play” with each other, the home style to hill style decisions Congressman
Denham deployed while serving California’s 10th Congressional
District allowed these two Congresses, albeit different in nature, to be
compatible with one another.
Congressman
Denham serves in a district, California’s 10th, that does not have
an overwhelming majority of registered voters affiliated to one political
party. In fact, 40% of voters are registered Democrats, about 39% of voters are
registered Republicans, and the remaining voters are not registered to a
particular party, although recently, these independent voters have supported
the GOP (District 10). However, Congressman Denham, affiliated and “aligned”
with the Republican Party, votes for Republican sponsored bills 93% of the time
(Open Congress). A man elected in a district where the constituency support is
spread out across the political party spectrum while voting in partisan manner,
in support of Republican ideals 93% of the time, provides evidence in
illustrating these two Congresses, a law making institution on Capitol Hill and
a representative institution on the home front, “working” in a compatible
manner.
Congressman
Denham held true to his Republican title and partisan voting in Washington (93%
of the time) through his stance, lack of support, and “no” vote in not backing
President Barak Obama’s call for a military strike in Syria, as well as through
his stance, lack of support, and “no” vote in determining a budget for the 2014
fiscal year and in avoiding a government shutdown (Cantatore). In fact,
adhering to the Republican Party and thus the Hill front (as only about 39% of
registered voters in District 10 staunchly supported Republican ideals),
Congressman Denham voted strictly among partisan lines on House Resolution 333.
A bill to avoid a government shutdown while prohibiting federal funds for the
implantation of the Affordable Health Care Act, House Resolution 333 passed the
Republican controlled House by a vote of 320-189, with Congressman Denham
voting partisan, in strict favor of the Republican Party (Dinan 2013). Thus, Congressman
Denham catered (in this instance) to the law-making institution, his Republican
Party, and the Hill front over the interests of his constituents and home
front.
Nonetheless,
Congressman Denham has also supported initiatives that represent the make up of
his home constituency, serving in a bi- partisan manner on the Hill while
acting in the best interests of his representative assembly at home.
Congressman Denham championed and became the “…first Republican co-sponsor of a
comprehensive immigration overhaul measure sponsored by 185 Democrats.”
(Dumain) In a district made up of 40% Latino, Congressman Denham’s bi- partisan
support on a Democratic immigration reform bill exemplified his role in
prioritizing the interests and characteristics of his home front (in this
instance) over his Republican Party’s and Hill front (District 10). Moreover,
Congressman Denham continually supported local councils based in his 10th
Congressional District on the Hill, while showing a strong presence back in
California. Congressman Denham continually met with the policy council of San
Joaquin Valley to discuss funding for Highway 99, a highway that needed repair
after deterioration in its core infrastructure, as well as attempted to sponsor
bills for funding of major highways throughout the district back on the House
floor (govtrack).
Congressman
Denham over the course of the past three months illustrated the two Congress’s
working in a truly compatible manner. Congressman Denham was ultimately a
staunch advocate for both the hill and his home front, for his constituency who
elected him to Capitol Hill as well as the Republican Party as a whole.
Congressman Denham voted among party lines while also voting with constituent
needs, evident by his record. Albeit a new politician in Washington,
Congressman Denham indeed illustrated the balance of working between and with
the two congresses.
{every source is
from a previous blog}
Sources
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