Shifting Baselines

Posted by Dave Wilmot, dave@oceanchampions.org

Throughout last week in Washington, DC members of Congress, philanthropists and ocean advocates emphasized the importance of bipartisanship when it comes to protecting the oceans (and commended Ocean Champions for leading the way). I didn't necessarily expect it. You don't have to be a political insider to know that Washington, DC is many things but bipartisan isn't one of them. Yet, while our bipartisan approach is rare today, it may come as a surprise to some that the current polarized alignment, especially in the House of Representatives, represents a shifted baseline. The majority has always imposed its vision upon the House, yet it wasn't that long ago that "the people's house" reflected broader views. Members from different parties successfully worked together. Juliet Eilperin, who many of you may know as the reporter for the Washington Post who covers ocean issues, wrote an excellent book on the subject last year.

Partisanship continues to expand its reach, if that is possible, and is certainly not limited to the House of Representatives. Even environmental issues have fallen prey to partisan politics. Some progressive leaders have made the argument that environmentalists should join broader progressive efforts (labor, women's rights, and civil rights) to elect Democrats - and only Democrats. And if you look at the movement of environmental legislation since the Democrats regained control of Congress, one can't argue the Democratic leadership hasn't been responsive. Yet when it comes to the oceans, I do not support such an approach. My rationale is detailed elsewhere and we have blogged about several pieces of pending legislation, including Oceans-21 and the Save our Shores Act, that enjoy bipartisan support - support that is critical to actually passing the bills.

Ocean Champions took the opportunity last week to thank several key members of Congress for their leadership (a half dozen members attended our reception) - both Republicans and Democrats. As we move closer to next November's election, Ocean Champions remains committed to identifying the best of both parties to endorse and support.