The Politics of Distraction Hurts Every Floridian

The Politics of Distraction Hurts Every Floridian
By Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

As I enjoyed the Fourth of July with my family this year, I thought about what an incredible nation we live in, a bold experiment in governance by the people that has lasted 230 years and, for the most part, has served Americans well.

But I'm also having problems reconciling the celebration of Independence Day with the agenda of Congress the last few weeks in June.

Congress, as laid out by our Founding Fathers over two centuries ago, is the body of our government where our legislators should set an agenda that moves our nation forward. Congress has the constitutional responsibility to discuss, to debate, and to resolve the real problems facing our nation. .

As a member of Congress, I am always mindful of this responsibility. As I sit down to write this column, I am disturbed because Congress is not paying attention to the issues that matter. Instead, Congressional leaders are playing the politics of distraction because they have lost their way forward and can't explain what they've done in the past.

I came to Congress to represent South Floridians and fight for the issues that they really care about in their daily lives - issues such as rising gas prices, rising health care costs, spiraling deficits, immigration reform, and a real debate about Iraq.

These are the issues that matter most to the people I meet when I am out buying groceries. These are the issues that parents talk to me about when I go to pick my kids up from school.

But, sadly, because the Republican Majority controls what Congress debates, these critical issues fall by the wayside. Because the Majority has failed on these issues, leaders in Congress must change the subject, and they resort to the politics of distraction.

South Floridians, though, see through it.

When he leaves for work, the father of four does not first worry about whether or not a flag might be burned somewhere in America. He worries about whether he'll have enough money to fill up his gas tank.

When she wakes up every morning, the mother of a son or a daughter fighting on our nation's behalf does not pray that her child will be able to recite "under G-d" in the Pledge of Allegiance. She prays directly to G-d that her baby will be safe and come home alive.

But instead of debating how we might raise wages in this country, or lower the cost of health care, or create more jobs, the Senate and House of Representatives are more concerned about re-writing the First Amendment to deal with flag burning and the Pledge. While it is important to recognize how deeply Americans feel about these topics, there is no crisis in our streets or our communities concerning these two issues.

Meanwhile, gas prices are at record highs and wages are at record lows. The number of people without health insurance is at a record high while the stock market hit its low for the year. Americans are dying at a rate of three a day overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, while at home violent crime is on the rise and our immigration system is broken. With all these things going on, did Congress, as your duly elected representatives, do anything to address these matters?

The answer, sadly, is no. No, we did not do anything to address these matters, but we did debate burning the flag and "protecting" the pledge of allegiance in schools - two measures that failed in each chamber.

And so, when I sat with my family and celebrated 230 years of American independence, I couldn't help but reflect upon the fact that a democracy only works if the elected representatives address the needs of the people. Right now, in Congress, we are not doing that.

But know that I will never give up. I will keep fighting on your behalf against the politics of distraction and for an agenda that will improve the lives of all Americans. For our democracy to continue to grow, we must all never give up.

http://www.house.gov/list/hearing/fl20_schultz/060701PoliticsOfDistraction.html