WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus and an advocate for Congressional bipartisanship and civility recently received the recognition as one of the top five most bipartisan lawmakers in Congress according to a new, non-partisan ranking.
Fitzpatrick is ranked as the most bipartisan freshman legislator, third most bipartisan member of the House of Representatives (out of 435 members) and fifth in the whole Congress (including 100 Senators) for the first session of the 115th Congress according to the Bipartisan Index unveiled by The Lugar Center, a Washington policy organization headed by former Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar, and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.
“In 2016, Harvard released a report that concluded: ‘[W]e believe that our political system is now the major obstacle to progress on the economy, especially at the federal level.’ That should be unacceptable to every member of Congress and every American,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s time for our leaders to come together to tackle the serious challenges facing our nation – from economic growth and national security, to the opioid epidemic and government corruption. Equally as important: we must do so in a civil, dignified manner that is becoming of American values, viewing those with different viewpoints as a strength to be harnessed, not a quality to be criticized. I understand there are differences between Democrats and Republicans, but on the issues where there is common ground, we must move forward together. I’m committed to working with any member of this Congress to break this cycle and make government work for the American people once more.”
The 2017 rankings, based on bill sponsorship and co-sponsorship, provide historical context for the increased partisanship in Congress over the past two decades. Members were scored based on how often bills they introduced were co-sponsored by members of the other party, and how often they joined bills sponsored from across the aisle. The index scores only bills that have the force of law, not commemorative bills or non-binding resolutions.
“Our 2017 Bipartisan Index rankings show that both Houses of Congress remain below average for the fifth straight Congress when measured against the historic baseline,” said Lugar Center President Richard G. Lugar, who served for 36 years as a senator from Indiana. “But in recent years we have seen some overall improvement. Members of Congress, from the most progressive to the most conservative can score well on the Index if they dedicate themselves to seeking bipartisan support for their own legislation and give fair consideration to a variety of legislative initiatives.”
A positive score indicates a lawmaker has scored better than the average bipartisan performance of Congress over the past 20 years. Scores above .5 are very good and scores above 1.0 are outstanding. Fitzpatrick scored at 1.91. (Methodology)
###
The Lugar Center, under the leadership of former United States Senator Richard G. Lugar, is a platform for an informed debate on global issues. The Center has become a prominent voice on issues that framed much of Senator Lugar’s career – nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, global food security, foreign assistance effectiveness and global development, energy security, and enhancing bipartisan governance. The Center brings together expert sources and sponsors research to improve the quality of debate and bridge ideological divides around these important issues.