Editorial: Congress is gripped by gridlock

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999 | 9:27 a.m.

Unfortunately in recent years there has been a great rhetorical divide between Republicans and Democrats in our nation's capital, which reduces the likelihood of passing important legislation. One battle that could set the tone for other debates in Washington for the rest of the year is the GOP's 10-year, $792 billion tax cut. Even though President Clinton has said he will veto the bill, Congress will try to score some political points by sending the tax cut package this month to the president anyway, adding to the likelihood of legislative gridlock.

Even on campaign finance reform, an issue with bipartisan support, it appears gamesmanship will be used. Despite a pledge by GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert to hold a vote, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay is going to undercut this vow, offering a "poison pill" amendment to the legislation in an effort to effectively kill campaign finance reform. One area that would seem to offer promise is in the area of health care. Key Republicans in the House have agreed with a Democratic plan to reform managed care, including giving patients the right to sue their HMOs if they've been harmed. Sadly, GOP leaders in the Senate seem determined to kill this bill -- despite wide public support for the legislation -- at the bidding of a big campaign contributor, the insurance industry.

The presidential and congressional elections in 2000 are more than one year away, but one of the reasons for the standoff in Congress is that both parties want to better position themselves for the upcoming election by scoring partisan blows, even if it means that little is accomplished. Most of this blame can be directed at the Republicans who control Congress. But there are Democrats, too, who would just as soon see little accomplished. After all, it is much easier to run against a do-nothing Congress than one that has met your party half way. What neither party seems to comprehend is that their bickering and inaction only serve to fuel the public's disillusionment with both major political parties, increasing the cynicism that Washington can't deal with the critical issues of the day.