SAN PEDRO, Calif.–Rep. Janice Hahn, D-San Pedro, was among 23 members of Congress committing today to be “problem solvers” and meet regularly in an attempt to build trust among Democrats and Republicans.
“I came to Congress to solve problems, but lately, it seems a lot like Congress is the problem,” Hahn said during the inaugural No Labels meeting in New York City. “We’ve got to be able to sit down like adults, work out our differences and tackle the problems facing our country.”
Hahn is the only Californian among the group, which consists of Sens. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and 20 House members–10 Democrats and 10 Republicans.
No Labels bills itself as a grassroots movement of Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between dedicated to promoting the politics of problem solving. It is headed by former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Republican, and Manchin.
It has issued a 12-point plan changing rules intended to break gridlock, promote constructive discussion and reduce polarization in Congress.
No Labels has also presented an 11-point plan to “make the presidency work,” including requiring the president to hold at least one news conference per month and have the president come to Congress each month to field questions from representatives and senators, akin to the British Parliament’s question time.
