#problem solvers caucus

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Shenker-Osorio says the left’s enemy isn’t the right, it’s cynicism. The problem isn’t that authoritarians want to erase the division between church and state, or take away our right to control our bodies. The problem is that this minority can get away with these unpopular proposals because the people who disagree with them think nothing can be done to stop them. For Shenker-Osorio, the tonic for this is to switch from the negative framing (“abolish ICE”) to positive ones: “respect all families.” Rather than saying “end the climate emergency,” she wants us to call for “ensuring clean, safe air to breathe and water to drink.” When the right says they want to cut taxes to improve the economy, we counter with, “we’ll raise wages and increase consumption, which is better for the economy.” Shenker-Osorio proposes a three-step method for changing minds. First, identify a shared value (“people who work for living ought to earn a living”). Move on to a problem (“our divisions distract us while rich people pick our pockets and hand the spoils to their corporate cronies”). And then, the solution: “rewrite the rules so that the wealthiest few pay what they owe and all of us have what we need for generations to come.”

-Pizzaburgers: “Everybody hates this idea, so it must be great”

[mariacallous]

Tom Suozzi replaced the disgraced George Santos in Congress early last year. He went on to become one of just 13 House Democrats to win in a district that Trump carried. The co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus is a consummate frontline member of Congress.

Representing a Long Island district, Suozzi is moderate on policy, but he’s a fighter. He’s a regular presence on Fox News, where he makes the case against Trumpism for an audience that doesn’t often hear it.

But Suozzi also hasn’t totally forsaken bipartisanship.

“I still believe the same way I did on January 1 that we have to try and find common ground and can't just be ‘no’ to every single thing out there,” he says. “We can't be defenders of the status quo because people are unhappy with the status quo.”

With Trump’s star fading and Democrats starting to lay the groundwork for retaking at least one chamber of Congress next year, I connected with Suozzi on March 31 to get his perspective on how Democrats like him can best make the case against MAGA, why he thinks Republicans are in for an especially tough cycle next year, the importance of not getting distracted by Trump’s antics, and much more.

“One of the things I'm choosing to do is highlight those Republicans that are standing up to the administration, because we need to encourage more of them to do it,” he said. “It’s a vehicle by which I can say, ‘I think this is really wrong and I'm not being partisan. Hey, look at these Republicans that are saying the same thing.’ We have to dig out examples of Republicans that are disagreeing with the administration and highlight them as much as possible, because it gives credibility to our arguments that this is just plain wrong.”

“It is really important that we try to be as sober as possible about this stuff because if we are just burning the Teslas, that’s a wrong-headed move. Nobody’s going to listen. You're just being crazy.”

A full transcript of my conversation with Suozzi, lightly edited for length and clarity, follows.

[collapsedsquid]

When are we going to get the bipartisan bill that gives tax breaks to companies with unions. Problem Solvers caucus get on this

[nodynasty4us]

From the December 20, 2023 article:

Phillips... insisted he is not making the shift for campaign reasons — and continues to have key disagreements with the plan. For instance, he said he doesn’t support outlawing nearly all private insurance, which is precisely what “Medicare for All” would do. But his decision represents a symbolic step towards progressive politics for a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus who has long been associated with the centrist wing of the Democratic Party.

...

In a white paper, he states that he thinks most Americans will eventually choose the “Medicare for All” plan voluntarily, and his team estimates that within a decade there may only be a few private plans left on the fringes. He likened his proposal to the public education system, where everyone has access to public school but also has the option to attend private school or be homeschooled.

[eretzyisrael]

In a new letter set to be sent to Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Tuesday, a bipartisan group of 50 lawmakers is set to press the administration to prioritize ending the Palestinian Authority’s payments to the families of individuals who have carried out terror attacks on Israelis, known as the “pay for slay” program.  

The letter, obtained by Jewish Insider, comes amid a wave of Palestinian terror attacks that, as the letter notes, has killed both Israelis and foreign nationals, including U.S. citizen Elan Ganeles.

“To maintain a political horizon in support of a viable two-state solution, the PA cannot continue this depraved practice. U.S.-Palestinian ties have improved in recent years, and the Biden Administration is uniquely positioned to change the status quo,” the letter reads. “We encourage the State Department to update Congress on the status of negotiating an end to the ‘pay for slay’ program, and urge the Administration to continue to raise this issue with Palestinian officials. The United States is a trusted regional partner, and must utilize this unique position to bring an end to a system that has harmed so many.”

The letter also asks the administration to report to Congress on efforts underway to end the so-called martyr payments. It notes that the “PA continues to bolster the Martyrs’ Fund” five years after the Taylor Force Act, which cut off U.S. aid to the PA as long as the payments continued, was signed into law.

It also highlights numerous incidents in which terror attacks have been celebrated by Palestinians in the West Bank, in addition to the payments provided by the PA.

The letter was led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and is co-signed by lawmakers from both parties, including Michigan Senate candidate Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Gottheimer’s Problem Solvers Caucus co-chair Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

[bartfargo]

How Democrats can get a decent Speaker of the House

Yes, it can be done. And it's not hard: we just need to reach out to the ten (10) moderate Republicans whose districts voted for Biden in 2020, and whose political careers are being jeopardized by the antics of the TrumPutin wing.

Some have suggested convincing them to nominate current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the speakership; however, Robert Reich makes a good case for suggesting that one of those moderates seek the job themselves. Just tell them, "If you can get five of your fellow Republicans to back you for Speaker, you can count on every Democrat in the House to vote for you."

Reich suggests Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.

Admittedly, Fitzpatrick isn't perfect: He declined to vote for impeachment, and he voted against establishing the January 6 Committee. However, unlike Steve Scalise and Gym Jordan, he voted to confirm the results of the 2020 election; and, unlike Gym Jordan, he played no part in orchestrating the January 6 assault on democracy.

In his favor, it should be noted that he has an exemplary record for bipartisanship, and he co-chairs the Problem Solvers Caucus.

If we can make Fitzpatrick the Speaker, we will have someone in that position who believes that government should serve the American people, not just one man. We can have a Speaker who owes no allegiance to the Mar-A-Lago Maniac and his Russian boss. We can have a Speaker who will tell Florida Pedo, Honey Cuckoo, and Bobo not just to sit down, but exactly where to sit, and what they should do once they sit there.

[ifyourequeerandyouknowit]

"In the end, 10 Democrats backed the measure: Reps. Ami Bera (Calif.), Ed Case (Hawaii), Jim Costa (Calif.), Laura Gillen (N.Y.), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.), Jim Himes (Conn.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), Jared Moskowitz (Fla.) and Tom Suozzi (N.Y.).

The group is composed of centrists, members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and front-liners."

[10bmnews]

Transcript: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Tom Suozzi on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," March 9, 2025

The following is the transcript of an interview with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican of Pennsylvania, and Tom Suozzi, Democrat of New York, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on March 9, 2025. MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face the Nation. We’re joined now by the co-chairs of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Pennsylvania Republican Brian Fitzpatrick represents a…

[lordzannis]

who would be the "most responsible" candidate for the role of governor in the upcoming gubernatorial elections., we can examine some of the notable candidates and their qualifications for the two states holding gubernatorial elections in 2025: New Jersey and Virginia.

## New Jersey

Several candidates with diverse backgrounds are running for governor in New Jersey:

1. Josh Gottheimer: A U.S. Representative since 2017, Gottheimer co-chairs the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and focuses on lowering the cost of living and cutting wasteful spending[3].

2. Mikie Sherrill: A former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, Sherrill has been named New Jersey's most effective House member in 2023 by the Center for Effective Lawmaking[3].

3. Jack Ciattarelli: A former state assemblyman and the 2021 Republican nominee for governor, Ciattarelli has previous experience running for this office[3][4].

## Virginia

In Virginia, the race is still developing, but one notable candidate is:

1. Abigail Spanberger: A Democratic U.S. Representative, Spanberger is considered a party powerhouse in the state[5].

It's important to note that responsibility and effectiveness as a governor depend on various factors, including leadership skills, policy positions, and ability to work across party lines. Voters should carefully consider each candidate's qualifications, experience, and proposed policies before making their decisions.

Here’s a summary of the public service records, policy proposals, and leadership capabilities of the candidates:

Matthew Taylor

• Public Service Record: First-time candidate running for Hillsborough County Commission.

• Policy Proposals: Advocates for responsible economic development, education reform, and free speech. He emphasizes community concerns about rapid development without adequate infrastructure.

• Leadership Capabilities: As a comedian and business owner, he brings a unique perspective and a commitment to community engagement.

Kyle Gibson

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Christopher Powell

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Molliere Dimanches

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Mourice Hylton

• Public Service Record: Community servant and activist with extensive involvement in local initiatives.

• Policy Proposals: Focuses on public safety, community engagement, and education improvements.

• Leadership Capabilities: Known for his advocacy and innovative programs aimed at uplifting the community.

Robert Elmore

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Scot Jewett

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Surindar Bedi

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Matthew Taylor

• Public Service Record: A newcomer to politics, he emphasizes grassroots involvement and community engagement.

• Policy Proposals: Focuses on protecting constitutional freedoms, stopping overdevelopment, improving infrastructure, and environmental stewardship. He aims to enhance school safety and promote energy independence.

• Leadership Capabilities: Known as “Matt the Welder,” he positions himself as a dedicated public servant advocating for everyday Floridians.

Kyle Gibson

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Christopher Powell

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Molliere Dimanches

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Mourice Hylton

• Public Service Record: Community activist with a focus on local initiatives.

• Policy Proposals: Advocates for public safety, community engagement, and education improvements.

• Leadership Capabilities: Recognized for his innovative programs aimed at community upliftment.

Robert Elmore

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Scot Jewett

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Surindar Bedi

• Public Service Record: Limited information available; further details are needed.

• Policy Proposals: Not specified in the search results.

• Leadership Capabilities: Not specified in the search results.

Matthew Taylor (Matt the Welder)

• Potential Flaws:

• Lack of political experience could lead to challenges in navigating complex governmental issues.

• His comedic background may lead some voters to question his seriousness about governance.

• Previous Flaws:

• Transitioning from comedy to politics may raise skepticism about his commitment and understanding of serious policy issues.

Kyle Gibson

• Potential Flaws:

• Limited visibility and experience in public service could hinder voter confidence.

• Previous Flaws:

• No specific previous flaws identified; further details are needed.

Christopher Powell

• Potential Flaws:

• Lack of detailed public service record may raise questions about qualifications.

• Previous Flaws:

• No specific previous flaws identified; further details are needed.

Molliere Dimanches

• Potential Flaws:

• Limited information available may affect voter recognition and trust.

• Previous Flaws:

• No specific previous flaws identified; further details are needed.

Mourice Hylton

• Potential Flaws:

• As a community activist, he may lack formal governmental experience, which could be a concern for some voters.

• Previous Flaws:

• No specific previous flaws identified; further details are needed.

Robert Elmore

• Potential Flaws:

• Limited information available may impact his visibility and perceived capability.

• Previous Flaws:

• No specific previous flaws identified; further details are needed.

Scot Jewett

• Potential Flaws:

• Limited information available may affect recognition and trust among voters.

• Previous Flaws:

• No specific previous flaws identified; further details are needed.

Surindar Bedi

• Potential Flaws:

• Lack of detailed public service record could raise concerns about qualifications.

• Previous Flaws:

• No specific previous flaws identified; further details are needed.

[arpov-blog-blog]

..."On Thursday, Senator Joe Manchin, the mercurial conservative Democrat from West Virginia, said that the president “is not the person I thought he was” and questioned how he moved so far to the left. His words came despite the fact that — given the 50-50 breakdown in the Senate during the last Congress — Democrats actually had to bend over backwards to accommodate Manchin, not the other way around.

Conversely, on Tuesday evening, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York — a progressive supporter of Medicare for all, the Green New Deal and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — appeared on CNN to defend Biden. She noted specifically that Trump and Biden are about the same age, making concerns about Biden’s age moot, while “Donald Trump has 91 indictments.” She proceeded to called Biden, who was in his second term in the Senate when she was born, “one of most successful presidents in modern American history” and praised him on passing the Inflation Reduction Act — the climate and health care legislation that Manchin all but wrote after he killed Build Back Better.

The common narrative in Washington is that progressives regularly clash with Biden. But in truth, moderate and conservative Democrats are now the biggest roadblocks to Biden’s chances to remain president, whereas progressives, despite their deep reservations, are helping to bolster him.

Manchin, of course, is not the only conservative or moderate Democrat who serves as a roadblock to Biden. Dean Phillips of Minnesota — who in Congress serves as a member of the New Democrat Coalition and moderate “Problem Solvers” caucus — has even staged a quixotic campaign for president, even as Biden drubbed him in South Carolina.

Similarly, Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona frequently joined Manchin in blocking Biden’s agenda throughout the last Congress. She opposed changing the filibuster to protect voting rights before she eventually quit the Democratic Party and became an independent in 2022. She has yet to announce whether she will seek re-election this coming cycle, but if she did, she could make Democrats’ chances of holding the seat all the more difficult by splitting the field in a state Biden must win a second time.

A big reason for this is that a big chit for centrists politically is their ability to draw daylight between themselves and the White House. That means oftentimes breaking away from Biden’s more liberal aspects — or, in Phillips’s case, simply pointing out that Biden is old, as if Biden doesn’t already know that.

Conversely, Ocasio-Cortez and Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida, the first Gen-Z member of Congress, have defended Biden. This isn’t to say that the young progressives do not have serious disagreements with the president. Specifically on Gaza, Ocasio-Cortez expressed the need to pressure the administration.

“I think first and foremost, the protests, civic actions organizing to defend innocent Gazans is necessary and I would say it is of primary importance,” she told me on Thursday after votes.

At the same time, Frost told me that it is entirely possible to balance both putting pressure on the president and defending him.

“As an organizer, that's what this job is about,” he told me after votes on Thursday. “You have good relationships, you're going to agree with people, you're going to disagree with people. That doesn't mean you completely cast them out. And it also doesn't mean you completely ignore the realities of where we're at right now.” In recent months, Frost has collaborated heavily with the White House on gun violence.

Despite his centrist temperament, Biden’s voting record in the Senate tends to be dead center of wherever the Democratic Party is. He always tried to find a median somewhere between the Manchins and Frosts of the party."

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The job of a convincer is to persuade the pizza eaters to go for the burger. For this, Shenker-Osorio says we should borrow from the right, whose most visible avatars deliberately set out to alienate their unpersuadable opponents. When far right figures say grotesque, unhinged things about “groomers” or “Jewish space lasers” or whatever, they’re trying to trick their opponents into repeating the statement: “Can you believe these bozos want to give teachers AR-15s?” Getting your opponents to repeat your message increases the chance that it will be heard by someone who finds it persuasive and switches from burgers to pizza. By this logic, the left increases its chances of taking power by saying bold things that trigger conservative Red Scare paranoiacs and religious maniacs. When they run around and say, “The left wants to take away your assault rifles, making housing and college free, and replace your 401(k) with a guaranteed pension,” they do our work for us.

-Pizzaburgers: “Everybody hates this idea, so it must be great”

[mariacallous]

are there any anti trump / moderate republicans left in the House. (Ie republicans who could vote with democrats)

Depends on the issue - Don Bacon and Brian Fitzpatrick come to mind. Other members of the Problem Solvers Caucus maybe? It depends on the issue and the circumstances.

And with a narrow House majority, the pressure is on to fall in line, which they generally do.

[intothewildsstuff]

As House goes into second weekend without new speaker, moderate House Democrats propose expanding temporary speaker's powers - CBS News

I hope they keep blocking this ignorant shithead.

[kevinholtsberry]

“We’re all Cotton Mather in the long term, and we’re Hunter Biden in the short term.” - [Kevin Williamson] (https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/wanderland/how-to-solve-a-problem-like-the-problem-solvers-caucus/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=How+to+Solve+a+Problem+Like+the+Problem+Solvers+Caucus&utm_campaign=How+to+Solve+a+Problem+Like+the+Problem+Solvers+Caucus)

[msclaritea]

Some Democratic groups, lawmakers frustrated with No Labels' third-party push

July 28, 2023, 6:52 PM EDT

By Vaughn Hillyard and Rebecca Kaplan

"No Labels, the group laying the groundwork for a potential bipartisan, third-party presidential ticket in 2024 is facing increasing scrutiny among Democrats on Capitol Hill who are concerned about the potential ticket siphoning votes from President Biden’s re-election campaign and helping lift former President Trump back into the White House. 

Thursday on Capitol Hill, Matt Bennett, ​​the executive vice president of public affairs at the centrist Democratic group Third Way, and Rahna Epting, the executive director of the progressive group MoveOn, spoke to “several dozen” House and Senate chiefs of staff in two briefings the groups organized to lay out the potential implications of No Labels’ possible third-party presidential effort, according to Bennett. 

“What we told them is what we’re telling you and everyone: This is a dangerous and bad idea, and Democratic officials should be on the record saying it’s a bad and dangerous idea,” Bennet said.

Between the two briefings, No Labels’ national director, former Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham, sent an email to some of the chiefs of staff in attendance. In it, he said that No Labels is simply providing "another path forward" in case Americans believe another presidential ticket is best to solve the nation's divisions, but also criticized those attempting to stop them.

“Efforts that attempt to slow-walk or block our access from the ballot must be seen for what they are: undemocratic attacks on voting rights and our Constitution,” Cunningham wrote in part in his email, which was obtained by NBC News.

One of the House members most vocal in his rising opposition to the group’s efforts is Illinois Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider. He’s a member of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan coalition of approximately 60 Democrat and Republican House members.

No Labels’ founder and CEO Nancy Jacobson often heralds the Problem Solvers Caucus, which she helped create in 2017. Jacobson specifically highlighted that work during a July interview with NBC News when she was asked why the public should trust the group’s motives. 

The caucus initially worked with No Labels, with members regularly joining with the group to tout a bipartisan message. And No Labels recently highlighted the Problem Solvers’ legislative accomplishments in a fundraising email this month.

But Schneider said that since Jacobson began pressing the effort to create a presidential ticket that would rival the Democratic Party, fellow Democratic members of the Problem Solvers Caucus have expressed growing frustrations with the group and, specifically, Jacobson’s frequent references to her past work with them.

Schneider told NBC News that the Problem Solvers Caucus is “an independent entity. No Labels neither speaks for us, nor guides us.”

“There are a lot of frustrations in how No Labels is trying to gain credibility on the backs of Problem Solvers [Caucus],” Schneider said.

“I think the challenge for No Labels is that their credibility is — if not absolutely — very much so dependent on the riding the backs of the Problem Solvers. Problem Solvers doesn’t need No Labels. Our credibility is based on, first, the fact we exist, that we’re working together with Republicans and Democrats sitting in the same room, working on ideas, hearing ideas from the outside world and and trying to develop solutions that address the challenges we face.”

MEET THE PRESS BLOGSome Democratic groups, lawmakers frustrated with No Labels' third-party push

He continued: “It’s clear that Nancy wants to stand on that record, too, with No Labels, but the fact of the matter is [that] they are separate from us and it is a misrepresentation of the reality.”

Another Democratic lawmaker, New Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster, pushed back against No Labels’ efforts after the briefing as well. Kuster joined the “No Labels Problem Solvers Group,” a precursor to the caucus, in 2013, but is not a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus.

“They are preaching unity, when in fact their agenda is very divisive. And it is going to result in one outcome and that’s the re-election of Donald Trump,” said Kuster. “And you can tell that that’s the intention if you look at their donors and who their donors are and what the goals of their donors are.”

When asked through No Labels to comment about the meetings and the criticism, Cunningham praised the caucus but argued the two are “separate.”

“The Problem Solvers Caucus has done amazing bipartisan work and we applaud it. But No Labels and the Problem Solvers have always been separate entities and we never expected members to support our ballot access efforts,” he said.

“No Labels is listening to the clear demand the American public has for better choices in 2024, and we think members will hear the exact same thing when they go back to their districts in August.”

CORRECTION (July 29, 2023, 1:25 p.m.): A previous version of this article identified New Hampshire Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster as a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus. While she joined a precursor to the caucus in 2013, she is not a member of the caucus now."

One of the founding members of No Labels is Susan Collins. That's all you need to know about how sleazy the organization is.