Center Aisle Caucus

Center Aisle Co-Chairs gather before
the State of the Union Address
The Center Aisle Caucus is a bipartisan group of members committed to promoting civility and a positive dialogue in Congress by fostering a working relationship based on mutual respect and understanding of ideological differences.

The Caucus was created in 2006 when my friend and colleague, Congressman Steve Israel and I decided that the partisan discourse in Washington was not productive for our nation or for the American people. Our goal was that the Center Aisle Caucus could be used to forge a bond among Members from both sides of the aisle to debate issues in a civilized manner while recognizing and defending our legitimate philosophical differences.

Shortly after I entered Congress in 2001, the nation came together following the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Congress also united as Members worked together to address the recovery of New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania and to help those personally affected by the tragedy.

Unfortunately, that spirit did not persist long thereafter. Partisan gerrymandering of political districts and heightened competition for media attention absolved any spirit of national purpose.

In the 112th Congress, I work closely with the current Center Aisle Co-Chairs, Representatives Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), and Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and our entire Caucus membership to address this crisis in leadership. Together we have held meetings with influential government, media, and policy leaders. Our meetings both enlighten and inform; topics range from our pressing national debt, to the history of partisanship in Congress.

In the First Session of the 112th Congress, the Caucus used several methods to address the harsh rancor in Congress and to reach citizens personally. Two events in particular included speaking engagements to Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow of Governance Studies at Brookings Institution and Alice Rivlin, of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Debt Reduction Task Force. Additionally, we hosted a family night at the National Archives for Members to join together with their families to see first-hand the founding documents of our nation. Also, we encouraged members to sit with colleagues across the aisle during President Obama’s State of the Union and address to the Joint Session of Congress in September. Informal interaction such as this, between Members of opposing parties is the first step in creating a productive and respectful government. Furthermore, to reach citizens on a more direct level, Representative Chris Murphy and I held a joint town-hall meeting in Champaign, Illinois. During this hour long dialogue, we discussed the importance of bipartisanship and fielded questions from constituents. In February, I will be traveling to Connecticut to host an additional joint-town meeting, this time in Representative Murphy’s hometown.

In the Second Session, Caucus co-chairs and members seek to restore constituent’s faith through due diligence, civil discourse, and recognizing respective ideological differences. In the coming months, the Caucus has even more meetings and events planned. Information on these events will be posted to this page as they are scheduled.

Congressional approval ratings are at historic lows; however, we on the Caucus remain committed to arresting the counter-productive tendencies infecting our national discourse today. For more information on the Center Aisle Caucus please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office.