On the recordJanuary 7, 2015
I welcome you and all of our colleagues back for the start of the 114th Congress. I was encouraged by Speaker Boehner's remarks yesterday calling for all of us to begin this shared endeavor on common ground. I couldn't agree more. As someone who comes from local government, I know firsthand the music that can be made when elected leaders allow their commitments to improve the quality of life for our neighbors to guide their actions rather than partisan ideology. My predecessor in this Chamber was also a veteran of local government. And although we had our share of partisan differences, we both like to say that we belong to the same party, the party of getting things done, a moniker to which this new Congress should aspire. Without question, there will be rigorous battle of ideas, and we should expect nothing less in the arena of elected leadership. But at the end of the day, our constituents expect us to resolve those differences, to accomplish something on their behalf rather than on behalf of our respective parties. Mr. Speaker, when a final tally is taken of this Congress, I hope we do prove the pessimists wrong and show we were a Congress that got things done. ____________________
