THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502170559
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONY WHARTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Partisan ``steamrolling'' and unwillingness to compromise are threatening the work of the U.S. House of Representatives, said Congressman Owen B. Pickett, so he has joined a group of other conservative Democrats to restore bipartisan discussion.
``In the last few years, the two parties have become more partisan in the way they've put forward their legislative agenda,'' Pickett - who represents Virginia Beach and much of Norfolk - said Thursday. ``They try to pass legislation strictly with the votes of one party, steamrolling it if you will, without trying to accommodate the often reasonable concerns of the other side.''
A group of 23 House Democrats announced the formation of the coalition Tuesday and invited Republicans to join. They said the group would focus initially on two large issues - fostering fiscal responsibility and creating a flexible welfare system designed to move people from welfare to work.
The growing partisan atmosphere of Congress often comes up as a reason that people distrust politicians and Washington. They feel members of Congress are acting in their own interests, or the party's interests, rather than the nation's.
With purely partisan legislation, Pickett said, ``You run the risk of not having a broad-based program that will be embraced by the public generally.''
Pickett and Rep. L.F. Payne Jr., a Democrat representing Virginia's 5th District, said they actually are looking to strengthen the Democratic Party by moving it to the center of the political spectrum.
``We didn't form because we were angry or mad,'' Payne said. ``What we are doing is reaching out. We have moderates and conservatives in the party . . . and we want to bring them closer to the middle and mainstream, because that's where we feel most of the people we represent are right now.''
Pickett said the effort ``is nothing brand new. It's more or less formalizing something that's been going on in an informal way.''
Pickett is a solidly conservative Democrat who has supported the military, opposed gun control, and voted with Republicans on other issues. He said he has heard no criticism of the coalition from fellow Democrats.
``I've not had any reaction because I don't see any change in my relationship with the party,'' he said.
Although Republicans, who hold a 230-to-204 majority in the House, have displayed extraordinary party discipline so far, Pickett said he has talked informally with several about supporting the coalition.
There are ``certain issues we all want to address,'' Payne said. ``So there's a need for people like us to be able to moderate legislation . . . to reach between parties and get Democrats and Republicans together.'' MEMO: The Associated Press contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Rep. Owen Pickett: House partisanship is blocking ``the often
reasonable concerns of the other side.''
by CNB