(Washington, D.C.) -- The House Democratic Caucus and the House Republican Conference, in cooperation with the Democratic Leadership Council and the Congressional Institute, are pleased to announce "Congress Debates" - a series of debates between bipartisan groups of Members of Congress.
"Congress Debates" was launched to foster bipartisan debate and discussion of the most important issues facing the country. From how best to stimulate a slowing economy, to the debate over the best ways to assist middle class families, there are real differences between the political parties. Too often, those differences are boiled down to sound bites and partisan talking points. "Congress Debates" is an effort to break through the rancor of Washington and return real policy discussion to the debate between the parties.
"All too often in Washington, partisanship dominates every discussion of every issue. But the challenges facing America - from our struggling economy to our strained military to tens of millions of people without health care - are tremendous, and they deserve serious discussion and attention from both sides of the aisle without becoming a partisan tit-for-tat," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. "These debates will enable Republicans and Democrats to discuss our differences without being disagreeable, and our policy differences without being partisan. I look forward to the battle of ideas, not insults."
"These debates present a unique opportunity for the American people to see an extension of the healthy exchange of ideas that occurs every day on the floor of the House of Representatives," said Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), Chairman of the House Republican Conference. "My colleagues and I are looking forward to a robust discussion of the challenges middle-class families face right now and how best we can address them with solutions that grow the economy, not the government. Carried out in a genuine spirit of bipartisanship, dialogues such as these can help us to fix a broken Washington."
"This is exactly what American politics needs: an honest debate about how best to solve America's big challenges," said DLC President Bruce Reed.
"It is healthy for our democracy when we can have civil and enlightening debate on the issues important to the American public. I think this is the sort of exchange of philosophies and ideas that people are looking for," said Mark Strand, President of the Congressional Institute.
The first bipartisan debate will attempt to answer the question, "How can America foster economic growth and opportunity?"
Participants in the first debate will be: Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI).
The kick-off debate will be held Monday, February 25, 2008, and will be moderated by former Los Angeles Times columnist and current National Journal columnist Ron Brownstein. The debate will take place in the Jack Morton Auditorium at George Washington University, at 8:00pm.
