Bipartisanship as a breakfast talk

CHANDLER - In an era of ever more rancor between the parties, it seems increasingly rare to see Republicans and Democrats doing anything together or even appearing in the same room at the same time, unless that room is the House or Senate chamber and it's to vote against each others' bills. It can feel a little surreal, then, to see two legislators of opposing parties, who hold sometimes vastly different approaches to governing, not only share a stage but take genuine pleasure in the event. 

That, however, was exactly the scene today as, for the second year in a row, U.S. Reps. Jeff Flake (R-6) and Harry Mitchell (D-5) appeared together to address constituents not as rivals separated by party, but representatives of a common region.

The East Valley Partnership hosted the continental breakfast and talk, which was followed by a question-and-answer session. The event ranged from good-natured ribbing to serious policy discussions. While the congressmen don't see eye to eye on every issue, they both engendered a willingness to hammer out differences in a civil and respectful way - and got in plenty of cross-aisle kidding.

"We all have statue envy," said Flake, referring to Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn's introduction of the congressmen when he made mention of the 35-foot-tall statue of Mitchell in Tempe, where he was mayor. "I can't even get anybody to request an earmark to make something named Flake."

Mitchell for his part said he liked having Flake in Congress, and would even go so far as to "endorse his opponent" to keep him there - and see if he could get Nancy Pelosi to do so as well.

On a more serious note, Flake spoke about his opposition to the budget the Democrat-led Congress recently passed, which Rep. Mitchell also voted against. He drew applause from his home district crowd (Chandler is in CD6) by saying that part of what he opposed in the budget was the assumption that the Bush tax cuts would be repealed. "I don't think that's the proper thing to do," said Flake. "With the economy as shaky as it is, the last thing we need to do is give some uncertainty to investors."

He also pointed to an increase in spending as one of the reasons he didn't support the bill, and laid blame at the feet of his party for at least some of profligacy. "I'm sorry to say we didn't do well as Republicans," Flake asserted. "I think that's largely why we're in the minority today." He also criticized both Democrats and Republicans for a bipartisan farm bill that he says includes far too many subsidies.

"We are subsidizing our farmers far, far, far, far too much," said Flake. "I say that with a little experience - I left the end of my right index finger in an alfalfa field at age five."

Flake has been an outspoken critic of earmarks, and reiterated his stance today, claiming that while many are legitimate, the process can "lead to corruption" and "prevents us from doing proper oversight on the rest of the federal budget."

Mitchell spoke about issues that have been signature for him as well - primarily care for veterans.

"There's no one I've ever talked to that was opposed to veterans," said Mitchell. "But when it comes to provide what veterans deserve, what they should have, it gets held up." Though he generally praised the level of medical care veterans receive while in the service, he said that after they are discharged the level of care can drop significantly.

"One of the signature wounds of this war is PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder]," he said. One of the committees on which he sits, Veterans Affairs, "found that there was a waiting time of up to 90 days to be seen for PTSD," claimed Mitchell.

The most eloquent part of the former high school government teacher's address, though, was on the joys of public service and the need for more cooperation in Washington.

"Sometimes in Washington its seems there are two tribes, the red tribe and the blue tribe," said Mitchell, "and the goal of each is to try and destroy the other rather than to find out what is in the best interests of everyone."

"As someone who has dedicated his life to teaching the ideals of government, I find that very disappointing."

"We have to do better as Democrats and Republicans," he continued, "and I think that the only way we're going to be able to solve and address the serious issues of this country is by doing it together."

Flake likened the relationship between the parties to the Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog cartoons. "They punch out at the end of the day and walk off buddies, but the next morning they're right back at it." 

Members of both congressmen's staffs spoke about the real regard Mitchell and Flake have for each other. The two often fly to and from Washington together and, along with the rest of the Arizona delegation, try to get in breakfast together once a month.

"They genuinely enjoy each other's company," said one staffer.

The audience seemed appreciative of the spirit of bipartisan cooperation as well. One member seemed to sum up the general mood.

"We were so impressed by your civility," he said, "we were wondering if there was any way we could clone you."