Most Americans see Congress as hyper-partisan, dysfunctional and broken. But Washington Post columnist David Ignatius writes about some rare bipartisan cooperation on the important House intelligence committee that inspires hope. Who’s to thank for this dramatic turnaround? Maryland’s Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger.
The House intelligence committee used to be one of the meanest snake pits in Congress, a place where members were so busy sniping at each other that they failed to provide effective oversight of the intelligence community. It was a model of what was wrong with Washington.
Amazingly enough, the committee has found its way out of the wilderness under a new chairman and ranking Democrat, Reps. Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican, and C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, who is from Maryland’s 2nd District. With their leadership, the House has approved intelligence-authorization bills by lopsided, bipartisan margins the past two fiscal years, after many years when the committee was too divided to pass such legislation.
Today State Senator Nancy Jacobs becomes the latest opportunistic, out of ideas Maryland GOP lawmaker wishing to abandon permanent minority status in Annapolis by running for Congress. Jacobs announcement confirms that the leaderless Maryland Republican Party will continue to support far right, tea party candidates who put party ideology ahead of middle class families.
Nancy Jacobs has set her ambitions on higher office after 13 lackluster years in the State Senate and three failed terms in leadership, where she oversaw the Republican caucus dwindle to barely a dozen members. Jacobs tenure in Annapolis has showcased her radical devotion to extreme and divisive positions and unwillingness to come together. Jacobs has voted against unemployment benefits, a greenhouse gas reduction plan, a living wage, and balanced budgets.
If allowed to bring her failed obstructionist tendencies to Washington, Nancy Jacobs would actively contribute to the political dysfunction. Jacobs would join the GOP in voting against repairing our roads and bridges, keeping teachers, cops and firefighters in their jobs, giving middle class families a tax cut, and fulfilling our promise to veterans and seniors. That is the last thing Marylanders need.
Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger is a proven and effective advocate for Maryland families. Representative Ruppersberger and Maryland Congressional Democrats seek to bridge the partisan divide and consistently support common sense solutions to move our country forward.
Early starts this Friday October 22, 2010 through October 28th, 2010 (except Sunday!) from 10am – 8pm at any polling place in your county. Visit http://www.mdearlyvote.com/ or www.mddems.org/earlyvoting for more information.
