On Thursday, the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of Democrats in Congress who are “dedicated to the financial stability and national security of the country, notwithstanding partisan political positions and personal fortune” sent a letter to congressional leadership urging both parties to work together and focus on bipartisan solutions that are specific to the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., who is one of the leaders of the Blue Dogs, and U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., signed the letter along with other members of the group.
See below for the full text:
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer:
As this unprecedented public health and economic crisis continues to unfold, it is clear that Congress will have to revisit the evolving needs of our frontline workers, our health care system, our states, and our economy.
In a divided government, the only way Congress will be able to take meaningful action is to put politics aside and pursue bipartisan solutions that can pass a Democratic-led House and a Republican-led Senate, and can then go to President Trump’s desk for a signature. At this point, both parties are guilty of having put forward partisan legislation that, in the era of divided government, would do nothing to contain the spread of COVID-19 or deliver peace of mind to the American people.
With lives and livelihoods on the line, there is no time to waste for partisan posturing. We urge all of you to work together and focus on bipartisan solutions that are specific to the pandemic response. If the partisan posturing continues in either chamber of Congress, our votes should not be taken for granted.
The COVID-19 pandemic will affect the lives of every single American. In this pivotal moment, Americans are uniquely dependent on their leaders to do the right thing and put the country over party. The American people want to see the leaders of both parties talking to one another rather than at one another through the press. It is incumbent on all of us to meet this moment—our country depends on it.
