Tag: USC Price School of Public Policy

Bipartisan politics takes center stage Two former Congressmen discussed opportunities for bipartisan leadership and how to build political consensus. David Jolly and Patrick Murphy, both former Congressman from each party representing districts in Florida, are working together and sharing their ideas on “Why Gridlock Rules Washington and How We Can Solve the Crisis.” “We’re here to pull the curtain back on some of the challenges to bipartisanship and opportunities to unwrap those challenges,” Jolly said at the panel sponsored by the Bedrosian Center on Governance of USC Price School of Public Policy. “At the end of the day, we’re really talking about how voters can create greater accountability for our elected officials.” Washington has fallen into a stalemate with hyperpartisan politics that stem from long-standing disagreements. And it starts at home where each party has made sure to gerrymander districts to guarantee election results, the two said. Each election official is beholden to their party, making “your pathway to reelection as simple as being a good partisan,” he said. Any compromise with the other side means you’ve failed your party and “your political future comes down a little,” Jolly said. “We had some very similar experiences,” Murphy said. So why are they separating us? This is crazy.” This is the main reason that Murphy and Jolly started their group, aiming at finding united solutions to common issues through bipartisanship. “This generation brings his energy,” Jolly said.