Kelli Cooper, Vice President
Two congressmen from Texas, one Democrat and the other Republican, have shown us all that if we actually sit down and talk, we can find common ground on many issues. They are an excellent example of what it takes to make a partnership.
Beto O’Rourke (D) from El Paso and Will Hurd (R) from San Antonio found themselves thrown together by a common event – a snowstorm in the Northeast had cancelled Hurd’s flight back to Washington, DC and delayed O’Rourke’s. They needed to be back for an important House vote. Though initially reluctant to take a cross country adventure together considering their politics, the two hit the road from San Antonio in a rented Chevy Impala.
The pair also decided to broadcast their trip live via social media platforms Periscope and Facebook. They chatted amongst themselves and their audience about almost everything – politics, where they should stop to eat and which roadside attractions to hit – on what they dubbed their 24-hour “Bipartisan Road Trip.”
Along they way, their rapport changed from awkward and stiff to playful teasing – just like old friends would when faced with a marathon cross country drive.
They also came up with a great idea – force all members of Congress to drive around in a car on Facebook Live until they resolve their differences. Not surprisingly, the pair realized their positions on certain issues, including immigration, STEM education and jobs, were either the same or close enough that compromise was possible.
Watch some of the video, here.
In fact, they have now cosponsored bills for one another, with Hurd signed on as a co-sponsor to O’Rourke’s American Families United Act, which allows family members of U.S. citizens who are barred from ever re-entering the United States because of a technical violation to go to a federal judge to determine if that person can return.
O’Rourke signed on to Hurd’s American Law Enforcement Heroes Act, which would authorize federal funds to have local police departments hire veterans as career law enforcement officers.
They even arranged for their staffs in Washington to get to know one another, as they had never met before.
The trip took them 36 hours after delays for traffic, a detour to visit Graceland in Memphis, and a quick nap in Nashville. They made it to Washington for the vote with 30 minutes to spare and a friendship that will likely continue to make a difference in their outlook on the other’s party, politics and point of view.