By U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud
(D-Maine)
Turnout in Maine and throughout this country was extremely high in this historic election. More young people voted, and those who haven’t voted in years went to the polls and cast their vote in record numbers.
The results are clear. The American people want change.
Now that the election is behind us, we must look forward and work cooperatively to improve the lives of all Americans. We must restore true bipartisanship in our nation’s capitol. Together, I am confident that we can do this.
I am pleased that the President has signaled a willingness to work with the incoming Administration during the transition over the next few months. For my part, I look forward to continuing my work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what is best for Maine.
Despite what some partisans may argue, the change so many voters support is not owned wholly by one party. It is not Democrat or Republican. It is a change in how business is done in Washington. The American people will not stand for the partisan bickering that has poisoned the Washington of the past. They will also not stand for any overstepping by a new majority.
The millions that turned out on November 4th want Congress and this new Administration to work together to reflect the diverse makeup of our country’s people and ideas. Above all else, they want us to act responsibly, to reject special interests and to once again put our country back to work for them.
I share these goals and am humbled and honored that the people of Maine’s Second Congressional District have sent me back to Congress to represent their priorities. I am hopeful and optimistic about what could be accomplished by a new Congress and new Administration.
In fact, over the years I have seen firsthand what can be done when we work together. While in the minority party during my first term in Congress, I was able to work with the Republican chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee to pass provisions into law that led to the opening of a number of veteran health care access points in Maine.
While in the majority, I worked with my Republican colleagues to pass legislation creating the Northern Border Regional Commission – an economic development body which will be charged with investing in regional priorities that will boost our economy.
I hold out hope that this type of cooperation, with the proper leadership, can be brought to institutions that for too long have found consensus building rare.
But I am not just wearing rose colored glasses. I fully recognize that there is much that needs to be done and that the challenges our country faces are not small. We have an economy in terrible shape. We are fighting two wars. And we have millions of Americans without health care coverage and millions more that are underinsured or going broke trying to pay their premiums.
It is long past time to retire the politics of division and polarization in favor of a more balanced way of doing things. Working together we can make this change happen. I look forward to what 2009 could bring.
