Senator Barbara Boxer’s work these past few months
acts as resounding evidence that the Two Congresses at Work, work. She illustrates a lawmaker that possesses the
ability to address the issues and concerns present in her home state of
California, and those of the greater nation.
The wall that prevents Congress from productivity on a larger scale
stems from partisan conflicts within the capitol, not only conflicts arising
between home state and capitol.
As a Senator, with a 7 year term, Boxer has the
ability to enjoy more comfort when supporting certain bills or asserting her
stance on controversial issues because of relatively more insulation from
voters than most other lawmakers. Also
as a Senator, a posed challenge is the fact that she represents an entire
state, not just a gerrymandered district of politically like-minded
voters. Because of this challenge, she
has a larger number of voters to please in order to be reelected. Boxer acts as a Senator that not only pleases
the wants of her constituency of California, but goes above and beyond to
advocate for the well-being of the nation, showing to them that their
leftist-leaning interests align with the country’s interests. This is clear through her leadership on the Environment
and Public Works Committee, especially during the government shut-down. She campaigned to get a continuing resolution
passed to continue funding for the Environmental Protection Administration
which not only raised awareness on the vital work the EPA executes that
contributes to the function of the country, but she also strategically added an
attack on Republicans who she recognized as neglecting to take into account the
ways in which the EPA keeps Americans healthy every day.[1] It may be Boxer’s nearly two decades of Congressional
experience, or it just may be her presentation as a no-BS, liberal Senator that
helps her stay in good standing with voters and remain in Senate leadership
positions. She performs a balancing act like no other. With 72% of California voters saying she is
pointing the state in the right direction and holding two chair positions on
important Senate committees, Boxer is an example of a Senator who works both
Congresses to the advantage of herself as an elected leader, but more
importantly, to the voters and citizens she represents.[2]
The issues with Congress, as displayed by Boxer’s
success as both a representative of her state and as a legislator, is not the
conflict between Washington and state, but between red Washington and blue
Washington. The party divide is what is
preventing accomplishment. As we discovered
in our budgetary committee simulation, the number of bills that die in committee
is a prime example of the immobility of Congress. The government shut-down, a main topic of the
majority of the class blog posts this semester, is an even greater example of
the failures of Congress due to party politics.
Yes, the shutdown is an example of politicians standing their ground on
issues that they campaigned on an ultimately got them elected, but once elected,
the failure was of the parties, mainly through leadership, to incentivize their
party members to compromise. It was absolutely
ridiculous for Republicans to send representatives to Washington voted in on
the single issues to repeal legislation already voted on, declared constitutional
and in the process of being implemented, then continue to have leadership not
check their actions. Shutting down the government
to accomplish this goal failed, but the strife and pain the party conflict
caused was unacceptable – even before it happened![3] Everything
does come together in the end though because gerrymandering allows the cycle to
continue.
With the proper representative, the Two Congresses can
work. The need to please both constituencies does cause conflict within
Congress as far as what is better for the greater good of a state versus the
even greater good of the country. But, it is a combination of factors we
studied this year including party leadership, gerrymandering, campaign funds
and the aforementioned need to please district constituents that lead the
nation to believe we are doomed as a country on a daily basis.
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