Recently, I wrote a column in which I suggested that President Joe Biden should “Give them (those who are blocking the Build Back Better legislation) a freeway, an airport, a rail system or maybe a football stadium. Name an aircraft carrier, battleship or destroyer after them. Just cut the deal.”
I suspect more than a few readers find this approach to legislating a bit unseemly, and view vote-trading akin to bribery, extortion and/or kidnapping and holding for ransom.
Welcome to the world of politics. Some issues gain broad-based support with minimal gamesmanship, but when a “swing vote” is involved things can often get ugly.
When proponents are one vote short of the number needed to pass something, that final vote is considered the “swing vote.” The raw translation: If you want my swing vote, then you must give me something in return.
This is what’s called “leverage.”
A single legislator, or in this case two, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), are the Democratic swing votes needed in the U.S. Senate in order to pass the Build Back Better legislation.
Legislators are there to pass into law new public policy, increase or decrease funding for government programs, and fund and approve public infrastructure known as capitol improvement projects, or CIP (roads, bridges, airports, harbors, etc.).
What is an important policy, program or CIP project for one legislator or one group of legislators, may not be important to another legislator or group of legislators. They may represent different geographical or demographical interest groups, and it’s not unusual that they have different perspectives and priorities.
Consequently, when attempting to pull the needed votes together to actually accomplish something, different legislators or groups of legislators will “trade votes.”
To have integrity, vote-trading must involve legitimate and necessary policy, programs and/or CIP.
For example: I’ll support building that new school cafeteria in your district this year if next year you support building that much-needed highway in mine. Both are legitimate public needs, but the question is one of timing and priorities.
Another example: I‘ll support increasing the minimum wage if you support increased tax credits for small businesses.
A legislator might not really think tax credits are necessary, but they might be willing to go along because of the greater good achieved by passing an increase in the minimum wage.
Similarly, a legislator might detest increasing the minimum wage but can live with it if there were tax credits for small businesses.
A third example is the cross-trading of policy, programs or CIP and totally unrelated items such as office staffing or committee assignments.
A certain policy or program might be on the table for a vote, and a legislator who might represent the critical swing vote will say something to the effect that “I will hold my nose and support this policy change if I get this specific CIP project funded for my district, and if I get XYZ, etc.”
This is how the sausage of lawmaking is accomplished at all levels of elective office. It’s not pretty, but barring the election of a strong majority with common values and vision, it’s how contrary positions ultimately come together to move the ball forward.
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Gary Hooser is the former vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Council, and was the former director of the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. He serves in a volunteer capacity as board president of the Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action and is executive director of the Pono Hawai‘i Initiative.
No Mr Hooser legislatures are there to listen to their constituents.
Here are some words from your letter that are compatible with the current administration:
bribery, extortion, holding for ransom, increased tax.
Here’s some words that are not:
Build Back Better, legitimate, integrity, greater good, values.
This isn’t a personal attack on you. It’s a comment on the current failing administration.
Gary,
Thanks for your insights. This is why Congress has below 20% job approval ratring by all Americans. When I vote for my reresentatives I vote on issues that they stand behind prior to being elected. Horse trading of votes, or you scrtatch my back, I will scractch yours is no longer in the best interest of Americans.
Gary your thoughts bank on your misunderstanding that you think Americans are stupid and dont follow the absurd policies now taking place.
Your a prime example of a out of control idiot polititician. Hpw many of the 2,456 pages of the Build America Act plan did you read. America was not broken until Feb 6th. 2021.
Dont confuse the Infrastructure bill with the free hand outs to every illegal alien that would like to educate their kids, feed them, house them for free paid for by Kauai voters, and every worker in Amwerica,
Please until you read all pages dont continue to state policies that you have no idea about. Until every homeless Kauain, has a house, food for the family, giving away trillions of $$ to thouse around the world that desire to come.
Focus on infrastructure Gary, Kauai can use some new roads, a new hospital, need of funds for housing and land purchases. Stop trying to convince Kauai to follow mainland issues and focus on what Kauai needs. Kauai does not need more homeless mainlanders regardless of race, religion or immigration status.
You reresent what is wrong with Kauai today.
Are we suppose to believe in the horse trading capital of the world that supporting a school cafeteria will merit having an aircraft carrier named after you?
Thank you Mr. Hooser for explaining just how corrupt and out of control our “Government” has become. Both Democrats and Republicans are to blame for letting this Politician jaw boning and horse trading become common place. Having a huge infrastructure bill riddled with pork, unrelated, nonsensical rule changes, and self serving projects that line the pockets of the very politicians who are supposed to be employees of the people is a clear symptom of a serious disease! Instead of doing the people’s work you’re simply “proud” horse traders thinking and playing like you’re “business” guys” using “we the people’s” time and money to line your own pockets! You, a failed politician, making money by vomiting your left leaning and selfish propaganda in this liberal rag is just another symptom for the disease that will destroy us all!
Also may be good for everyone to know Joe Manchin owned a coal company, he gave it to his son when he got elected and now earns $500k/yr on its profits. So it’s not surprising he doesn’t want to move our country away from fossil fuels.
Also his daughter is the CEO of the epipen company that raised its price 500%.
Legal corruption.
Votes are traded for cash. Manchin and Sinema are doing what their corporate sponsors want.
I think Gary really showed us his true colors here. He writes a follow up article to justify his suggestion at political bribery to pass a bill filled with giveaways for special interest groups which equate to more bribes. This bill will ensure our children grow up in poverty by bankrupting our nation with unnecessary spending. Thanks for explaining that’s this is just how politics work. A whole lot a greasing palms to push through personal agendas. Great job at clearing that up for us.
Seems Gary’s style of politics is just as exhausted as Biden’s. I think the people have finally woke up to these do nothing Democrats that have run our state into the ground. This bill is a clear example of Democrat overspending to perpetuate the welfare state, all while hiding under the guise of social programs that supposedly help the people.