Tag: Problem Solvers Caucus

Bipartisan group seizes spotlight, and more clout

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The clout of a bipartisan group of lawmakers aimed at forging consensus is on the rise. 

With the House expected to have its most narrow Democratic margin of control in decades, members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus see the group’s influence growing exponentially in the next Congress. And its members are looking to flex their strength in pushing for policies that can pass both chambers. 

The bipartisan group of roughly 50 members, which is co-chaired by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), has played a leading role in moving the needle on COVID-19 relief negotiations after a months-long stalemate. Continue reading.

Rep. Dean Phillips, Problem Solvers Caucus Announce Bipartisan, Bicameral COVID package

Rep. Phillips joined Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Senate leaders to announce a $908 billion emergency relief package

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, House Problem Solvers Caucus members Dean Phillips (D-MN) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) joined a bipartisan group of Senators in announcing a four-month, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief framework that will help American students, families, small businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The Problem Solvers Caucus, 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans, helped develop the bicameral package. 

A breakdown of the COVID-19 emergency relief framework can be found here.

This effort is the culmination of months of leadership from Phillips and the Problem Solvers Caucus, as members have worked to break through partisan gridlock on a COVID relief plan since they unveiled their “March to Common Ground” bipartisan framework in September. 

Reps. Dean Phillips (D-MN), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Fred Upton (R-MI), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH)  joined Problem Solvers Co-Chairs Tom Reed (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) as well as Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (R-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to announce the COVID-19 emergency relief framework that will help American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The Problem Solvers Caucus, made up of 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans, helped draft and endorsed the package.

Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips, Problem Solvers Caucus Announce Bipartisan, Bicameral COVID package”

Problem Solvers show how Congress can work from home with virtual floor debate

Bipartisan caucus used Zoom to host a mock floor session debating state and local aid

Two dozen members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus hosted a virtual floor debate on state and local funding Thursday, hoping to illustrate that the House can conduct official proceedings remotely. But the experimental session was not without a few technological hiccups.

Caucus members used the Zoom videoconferencing app to connect with one another for the mock debate, telecasting the proceedings to the public through Facebook Live.

Most of the problems seemed to occur with the Facebook Live feed cutting off even as the Zoom debate continued. The first video showing the beginning of the mock proceedings cut out after three-and-a-half minutes and a second after just 33 seconds. A third video remained functional through the end of the debate, which lasted an hour in total. Continue reading.

Phillips, Problem Solvers meet with Vice President Pence on Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Dean Phillips joined members of the bipartisan Problems Solvers Caucus to meet with Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, in the White House Situation Room. After the meeting, Phillips released a statement:

“This morning I was among a small group of Democrats and Republicans who met with the Vice President to discuss the federal response to COVID-19. The role of Congress in a public health emergency of this magnitude is to appropriate the necessary resources to effectively and efficiently address the pandemic while providing oversight and ensuring accountability. I am on a mission to serve and protect my constituents and all Americans, and will continue to ask critical questions and demand action during the months ahead. We must tackle this threat with a unified, nonpartisan front at home and overseas, and ensure that our public health officials are afforded the resources to protect our nation.”

With cameras off, Trump meets with bipartisan House group, including Dean Phillips, to discuss shutdown

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips on the floor of the U.S. House on Jan. 3, 2019. Credit: Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune file

Cameras were off as Trump met members of Problem Solvers Caucus.

WASHINGTON – Rep. Dean Phillips joined fellow members of Congress on Wednesday in urging President Donald Trump to reopen the entire federal government, using a private meeting to push for an end to the nearly monthlong shutdown.

Phillips, a newly elected Minnesota Democrat, said he was one of 12 House members — six Democrats and six Republicans — summoned to the lunch hour meeting in the White House Situation Room as the shutdown hit its 26th day. All are members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of moderates that Phillips joined upon taking office.

“The president explained his position and afforded every one of us the chance to explain ours,” Phillips said. “We went there to express the fact that hundreds of thousands of federal employees are suffering, working without pay, that millions more contractors and people who rely on government services are increasingly being impacted.”

View the complete January 16 article by Patrick Condon on The Star Tribune website here.