By James Maroney
State Sen., D-14
James Maroney
There’s no denying that political relations in our country are at a point rarely seen in modern times. While Democrats and Republicans often disagree, our systems are strengthened when people come together, collaborate and develop something that both sides can be happy with.
Unfortunately, we’re moving away from bipartisan efforts to work together, and the impacts that could have on our country are dire. Disagreement is fine, but when that disagreement festers into more aggressive forms of opposition, the consequences are much worse.
Take our current Congress as one example. There are factions in our national government at odds, which is a tale as old as time. But their disagreements go beyond simple policy discussions – they’re harming the progress of that government itself. According to Reuters, as of March our country had seen more than half a dozen threats of government shutdown in the last year. Each of those threats takes attention away from other bills that could bring aid to people nationwide. Important legislation on immigration, Medicare and Social Security has been delayed, stalled and even “killed” by this lack of direction. Congress passed just 27 bills in 2023.
Where does this leave us as a nation? A worse place. Our systems are not being updated to meet the needs of the modern day. Lack of togetherness leads to less work being done for the good of all constituents. In Connecticut, while lawmakers may disagree about the best way forward, we remain focused on a collective vision: the best ways we can move Connecticut forward.
Last year’s legislative session is a prime example of the benefits of bipartisanship. Our state budget, which provided hundreds of millions of dollars in tax relief? That was worked on, adjusted and approved by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with all but 13 legislators out of nearly 200 voting to approve it. Compromises are sometimes frustrating, but they can lead to better legislation and more constructive conversations as time passes.
The impacts don’t end solely with legislators’ efforts, either. Thanks to bipartisan efforts, that state budget delivered real tax relief to countless Connecticut families this year. Important efforts like gun safety, reproductive health and municipal funding all received improvements thanks to lawmakers working together in the name of supporting our state.
It’s with this mindset that I will continue to work with my many colleagues in the name of representing our state for all of its voters – not just Democrats, not just Republicans, but all of us. Compromise should be a step toward progress, not something disregarded or abandoned.