Congressman Joe Barton Visits the Rotary Club

Posted by Margaret Felty on Aug 19, 2016

The photo shows Rotarian Bobby Dyess, Congressman Joe Barton and Rotary President David Hill

This is one of the recess seasons of Congress so Congressman Joe Barton is visiting his district to gain the views and answer questions of his constituents. He is holding town hall meetings and visiting organizations such as the Rotary Club of Waxahachie to meet with as many people as possible.

He is finding the frustration you would expect with people wanting to know why nothing is getting done in Washington. In Waxahachie or Ellis County if there is a problem or opportunity it is addressed, voted on and if a simple majority approves it is passed.

In Washington, D.C. it is a different world. There are two parties and neither one has enough votes to force anything completely through the process. Congressman Barton described a process of political checks and balances that would take the rest of this page to completely describe. Suffice it to say that if both sides do not accept similar value systems then legislation can be stopped at any point and just die. If something by the Republicans who have small majorities in each chamber actually passes and the president vetoes it there will not be enough votes to overcome the veto.

The terms of presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were singled out because, although the president’s party did not have majorities they were able to work things out and all had meaningful reforms and programs passed. Again, both groups have to have similar values. It appears that is not the case today so nothing gets done.

We were presented with three scenarios. In the first all of the Republican congress people are elected with Donald Trump and we proceed along a path. Second, all the Democrats are voted in with Hilliary Clinton and we take off on a different path. Third, people of similar values are elected and things begin to happen. Congressman Barton sees little chance of that happening.

Congress will convene in September but he does not think a unified budget will be passed for next year. They are off for the election then will revisit everything with new leadership whoever that will be. Both the House and Senate can change their rules by a simple majority vote so it doesn’t have to be this hard.

Democracy is supposed to be messy and hard but it might not have been this bad since the Civil War. Write your congressman; maybe it’s time for them to simplify things.

Visit Congressman Barton’s web site at www.joebarton.house.gov .

For more information about the Rotary Club of Waxahachie where we believe in Service Above Self and doing things as a club we cannot do alone, visit the club web site at www.waxahachierotary.org . You can find American flag subscription forms there.