Gwen Graham: Paralyzing political gamesmanship from Congress has become the new normal

Dysfunction and paralyzing political gamesmanship from Congress has sadly become America’s new normal. Washington has never been more disconnected from the real lives of everyday Americans.  Members of Congress far too often forget that we send them to the Capitol, not to fight ideological wars or score political points, but to solve the real problems facing our nation.

On even the most pressing and basic issue – passing a budget – Congress is fixated on waging the same old partisan battles which are dividing Americans while solving no problems at all.  It is no surprise that Congress hasn’t passed a budget since Bobby Bowden was coaching at FSU, and now, they are on the verge of shutting down the government.

The dysfunction in Washington is so disturbing to us in North Florida because it is so out of touch with our values. From Panama City to Tallahassee, we are problem solvers: when we encounter challenges in our businesses, our communities and in our homes, we roll up our sleeves and get to work finding solutions.

Unfortunately, Congressman Steve Southerland has shown us yet again why he is part of the problem in Congress: voting for a divisive plan that even Republicans say is jeopardizing a government shutdown – a move that would hurt North Florida middle class families and deliver a self-inflicted wound that our economy simply cannot afford.

Congressman Southerland’s willingness to go along with the shutdown is especially infuriating because Congress has serious work to do. To take just one example, on October 1^st the Farm Bill will expire again – leaving farmers and rural families without the security and stability they deserve. After scuttling Farm Bill talks earlier this summer, Congressman Southerland could have and should have spent this past week working on fixing this problem instead of sending our country spiraling towards a crisis which he helped create.

We cannot allow this dysfunction to continue. In Congress, my commitment to the people of North Florida will be to work with both Republicans and Democrats to focus on solutions instead of partisanship – because these problem solving values are at the core of what makes North Florida and our country great. Simply, enough is enough.  Like you, I am just fed up with it.

In this critical moment as a shutdown looms, I hope that Congressman Southerland will cast aside the dysfunctional norm of Washington politics, stop standing in the way of solutions, and finally get to work fixing this problem.