According to the dictionary, bipartisanship means “of, representing or supported by two parties.”   Is there anyone in the legislature that has ever really practiced true bipartisanship?  Is it even possible to do so with lawmakers considering their every action in light of its effects on the next election cycle?

            I’m not talking here about the “bipartisanship” of a group of Republican and Democratic elected officials sharing a golf cart or grabbing a beer after session.  Those are empty gestures, for the most part. I’m talking about the important stuff, you know, the reason we put these people in office in the first place; to accurately and selflessly represent our interests at all levels of government, whether it’s at city hall or in the State House.  In order to do that, they must first agree to put party politics aside.  After all, the true meaning of public service is to lead with the interest of the people.  This is almost impossible to do without working with your “friends” on the other side of the aisle.

            Thankfully, bipartisanship is alive and well at the local level, and for many  mayors in New Jersey it is a regular part of their day to day business.  For example, I spoke with Morris County Freeholder and Morris Township Mayor Emeritus John Murphy on the subject, who said, “I can honestly say that most mayors and local officials with whom I’ve worked here in Morris County put partisan politics aside when making decisions for their towns or for shared service agreements with other agencies. As a Republican-controlled county government, we work well with our Democratic-controlled municipalities. We have a saying – ‘potholes are not partisan.”  One example he cited was that of two towns who merged their police departments.  “Mine Hill is controlled by Democrats and Wharton is controlled by Republicans.  The merger has been in effect for over a year.  The cost savings were significant and the service has actually increased.  This cooperation should serve as a model for all municipalities.”

            We are all too often unable to experience this degree of bipartisan effort at the state level because whichever party is in power usually will not allow the minority party to have a say on the important issues, rendering them, and their ideas, irrelevant in the governmental process.  By the same token, the minority party has often sat back and allowed their role to be minimized.  I think it’s safe to say that both parties, at one time or another, have been guilty of the big shut out.  But why don’t more legislators refuse to put up with it?  Former Congressman and President of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey, Bob Franks, pointed out that “too many politicians are afraid to work with the other party because of concern they will be seen as ‘less loyal’ to their own.  The fact is nothing significant or sustainable can happen in the absence of bi-partisan cooperation.”  And who really suffers as a result?  We the people.

            The moral of this story is that New Jersey’s legislators need to make a concerted effort to follow the lead of the mayors around our state.   To the Democrats who continue to talk the talk of bipartisanship; it is now time to walk the walk.  And to the Republicans, speak up!  The voters didn’t put you there to be made invisible by the other side and thereby ineffective in the process.  Simply denigrating any majority policy from the sidelines is not enough – good policy tends to gain a life of its own when earnestly put forward.   New Jersey residents deserve the best effort from both parties.

            Kudos to NJCM for leading by example, and for their consistent fairness over the years, giving equality to both political parties.  John F. Kennedy said it best when he said, “let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer.”