Staff Reports
In a recent ranking, Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate secured the top spots as the most bipartisan members of Congress. However, they also claimed the last positions on the list. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania and Sen. Susan Collins from Maine were recognized as the most bipartisan members in their respective chambers.
On the other hand, Rep. Jim Jordan from Ohio and Sen. Katie Britt from Alabama were rated as the least bipartisan in the House and Senate. The ranking focuses on lawmakers’ efforts to garner support across party lines for their bills, rather than the quality of the legislation.
Republicans at top and bottom of list of most bipartisan members of Congresshttps://t.co/EKxyi0zvax pic.twitter.com/Pu2QhB8bFH
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 14, 2024
According to the Lugar Center Policy Director, Dan Diller, bipartisan cooperation in legislation was below historical standards in 2023, although there were slight improvements in scores from the previous Congress. The sharp partisan divide in Congress has hindered its functionality, particularly evident during the dispute over former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s removal.
The struggle for bipartisanship is reflected not only among Republicans but also Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York and Sen. Patty Murray from Washington, who scored poorly in terms of bipartisanship.
Dean Maria Cancian of the McCourt School of Public Policy emphasized the need for tools like the Bipartisan Index in these divided times. The index offers an evidence-based and nonpartisan approach to measure policymakers’ ability to work across the aisle.
Lawmakers who are dissatisfied with their scores are encouraged to be more open to considering good ideas from colleagues across the aisle, as suggested by the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy.
The top 10 most bipartisan House members include Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Marc Molinaro, Rep. Chris Pappas, and others. In the Senate, Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Maggie Hassan, and others are recognized for their bipartisan efforts in Congress.
