Jennifer Horn: Congress must find bipartisan solutions

11th November 2008

Jennifer Horn: Congress must find bipartisan solutions

The 111th Congress will be called upon to show leadership in the face of some of the most difficult circumstances of our lifetime. We are in a serious recession, and this Congress must take aggressive action to stabilize our economy, gain control of the cost of fuel and renew the faith of the American people in the government, which is supposed to serve them.

The first and most important thing our elected leaders must do is commit to bipartisan effort on behalf of the people. The days of petty bickering must be put to rest. Our leaders have manipulated our divisions for their partisan purposes for too long. It is time to embrace our shared values and commonalities and move toward solutions that will help everyone.

We need a fiscally responsible approach to our economic woes. We cannot afford bigger, more expansive government. The first step to restoring economic stability is to make broadbased cuts in government spending, beginning with redundancies and wasteful pork projects.

We must encourage job growth through tax cuts, fair enforcement of our trade deals and pursuit of new industry. Alternative energies are a natural fit for New Hampshire and could become a prosperous new jobs base for our state with the appropriate incentives and removal of governmental roadblocks.

Fuel is the lifeblood of our economy, and any responsible economic plan must include an aggressive pursuit of energy independence. As long as we allow foreign nations to hold us hostage through our dependence on their oil, we will not be able to completely regain control of our own economy. We must pursue comprehensive energy reform, including accessing our own resources.

Paul Hodes is the representative of an economically, socially and politically diverse district, and those of us who live in the 2nd District will look to him to show leadership in these efforts. His days of following the party line 98 percent of the time must end. He has been granted the incredible privilege of representing all of the people of New Hampshire's 2nd District. He bears direct responsibility for leading the House of Representatives toward bipartisan solutions.

The success of this Congress will be measured by the impact it has on the lives of real people: Americans need good, new jobs, the opportunity to own a home and the ability to plan for comfortable retirements.

Achieving these goals will require an end to business as usual in Washington. It will require putting the people above the party and special interests. And above all, it will require an electorate that remains ever vigilant and holds its representatives accountable.

We are surely in a recession that will last many months, but with responsible leadership, it does not have to last many years.

Jennifer Horn of Nashua was the GOP nominee for Congress in New Hampshire's 2nd District this year.