Senators who are going to warn: the current state of the policy is problematic

[ad_1]

"Something does not work," continued the Missouri Democrat. "If we do not have the strength to look in the mirror and fix it, the American people will become more and more cynical."

As senators who were ousted in elections or who decided to retire another term reflecting their time in Congress, many expressed dismay at Washington's division of legislators who were retreating to reconcile to partisan positions that left little room for compromise or common ground.

Most of them spoke during the last weeks of the year. a period largely overshadowed by a burst of last-minute legislative activity and by an unsuccessful effort to avoid a partial shutdown of the government. But the government of about 25% of the federal government seems to have helped to illustrate the general sentiment expressed in many of these farewell speeches: something would have to change for Washington to work properly.

"This is not a normal moment"

McCaskill and Hatch were not the only ones to sound the alarm bell.

"To say that our policies are not healthy is a euphemism," retire Senator Jeff Flake said in his farewell speech. "I believe we all know that this is not a normal moment and that internal and external threats to our democracy are real."

Arizona Republican, assiduous critic of President Donald Trump, went beyond from a criticism of American politics to assert that he believed that an "authoritarian impulse" was experiencing a resurgence

While outgoing senators had unique messages to convey, the general idea according to that there was a problem with the current state of the policy was a recurring theme.

"What happened to the world to civility and humility in the public discourse of our nation?" Senator Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat who lost his seat at the mid-term, asked in his farewell speech

"Tribalism is our problem, and it does not matter. is not corrected, it will destroy our country, "he warned. ]

Year marked by the "loss of courtesy"

The farewell speeches were closed at the end of the last session of the Congress, at the end of December – a punctuated session by a series of bitter and controversial debates Fighting on Capitol Hill.

Senators split almost entirely as one of the parties in the fight to confirm Brett Kavanaugh in the Supreme Court, a battle in which Christine Blasey Ford, a professor at the University of California, testified before the legislator to the effect that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her. in the 1980s, while in high school, the Kavanaugh vehemently denied this accusation

Tensions between Democrat and Republican senators were exacerbated during confirmation hearings. In a dramatic moment, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina accused his fellow Democrats of trying to "destroy" Kavanaugh's life for political purposes.

In the end, only one Republican – Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – objected. the appointment, while only one Democrat – Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia – sided with Senate Republicans to bring Kavanaugh before the Supreme Court.

In his farewell speech, Hatch stated that "many factors contribute to the current dysfunction". but, added: "If I had to identify the root of the crisis, it would be this: the loss of courtesy and true well-being among colleagues in the Senate." a government shutdown at the end of January and ended with another fight in December, when a dispute between Trump and the Democrats over the financing of a border wall triggered a closure partial which began a few days of Christmas.

Do not be afraid of "difficult votes" and other advice

While outgoing senators expressed their concerns in their farewell speeches, many described what they thought had contributed to the highly controversial political climate and what needs to be changed.

McCaskill She urged lawmakers to have the courage to take "tough votes"

"Solving the toughest problems will not happen without hard votes," she said. "We can talk about the most difficult problems … we can discuss them, we can campaign on them, but we will not solve them without difficult votes."

Nelson and outgoing Democrat Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana, who also lost his seat midway, hinted that an influx of large sums of money into politics had had a corrosive effect, arguing a common argument to the Democratic Party.

In his farewell speech, Donnelly said that "separatist rhetoric, political campaigns, More and more funded by tens of millions of dollars, interest "Anonymous

Nelson argued that another problem was that of" constant attempts to deprive voters of their rights and make them more difficult for every American to "

Hatch, meanwhile, was decrying the" politics of identity, "a concept often critically invoked by Republicans, who often blame demos crats to submit to it.

"We must repel divisive politics, starting with identity politics," said Republican Utah, adding that "identity politics is nothing more than a disguised tribalism.This is the deliberate and often unnatural segregation of people into categories for political ends. "

" I adore this place "

In their speeches Farewell, the outgoing senators also evoked fond memories of their time. in Congress and some expressed optimism for the future despite their concerns.

"Despite all the problems I've described, know that I love this place," McCaskill said. "We fought, we cried and we laughed together as in my family."