Bipartisan Seating at the State of the Union

http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=879

UPDATED: Letter to Congressional Leadership Regarding Bipartisan Seating at the State of the Union Address

Dear Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, Minority Leaders McConnell and Pelosi:

We, the undersigned members of Congress, believe that partisan seating arrangements at State of the Union addresses serve to symbolize division instead of the common challenges we face in securing a strong future for the United States.  As we all know, the tenor and debate surrounding our politics has grown ever more corrosive - ignoring the fact that while we may take different positions, we all have the same interests. This departure from statesmanship and collegiality is fueled, in part, by contentious campaigns and divisive rhetoric. Political differences will always generate a healthy debate, but over time the dialogue has become more hateful and at times violent. But now the opportunity before us is to bring civility back to politics. It is important to show the nation that the most powerful deliberative bodies in the world can debate our differences with respect, honor and civility. We believe that it is not only possible, but that it is something that nearly all members of Congress truly desire. To that end, we suggest setting a small, but important, new tradition in American politics.  At the State of the Union address, on January 25th, instead of sitting in our usual partisan divide, let us agree to have Democrats and Republicans sitting side by side throughout the chamber. Beyond custom, there is no rule or reason that on this night we should emphasize divided government, separated by party, instead of being seen united as a country. The choreographed standing and clapping of one side of the room - while the other side sits - is unbecoming of a serious institution. And the message that it sends is that even on a night when the President is addressing the entire nation, we in Congress cannot sit as one, but must be divided as two.  On the night of the State of the Union address, we are asking others to join us - House and Senate members from both parties - to cross the aisle and sit together. We hope that as the nation watches, Democrats and Republicans will reflect the interspersed character of America itself. Perhaps by sitting with each other for one night we will begin to rekindle that common spark that brought us here from 50 different states and widely diverging backgrounds to serve the public good.

With respect and admiration,

Co-signers (list current as of 3pm ET on Friday, January 21th):

Senate Mark Udall Lisa Murkowski Kelly Ayotte Mark Begich Michael Bennet Barbara Boxer Scott Brown Ben Cardin Thomas Carper Susan Collins Chris Coons Kirsten Gillibrand Kay Hagan Amy Klobuchar Herb Kohl Mary Landrieu Joseph Lieberman Joe Manchin John McCain Claire McCaskill Jeff Merkley Ben Nelson Bill Nelson Mark Pryor Jack Reed Chuck Schumer Jeanne Shaheen Olympia Snowe Mark Warner Sheldon Whitehouse Ron Wyden

House Heath Shuler Paul Gosar Jason Altmire Charles Bass Sanford Bishop Madeleine Bordallo Dan Boren Dennis Cardoza Russ Carnahan John Carney Steve Cohen Jim Cooper Phil Gingrey Richard Hanna Larry Kissell Dave Loebsack Jim Matheson Mike McIntyre Mike Michaud Sue Myrick Grace Napolitano Thomas Petri Chellie Pingree Laura Richardson Mike Ross Niki Tsongas Tim Walz Mel Watt

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0111/Poll_Americans_like_bipartisan_State_of_the_Union_seating.html?showall

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/139353-poll-americans-want-bipartisan-seating-at-state-of-the-union

Poll: Americans like bipartisan State of the Union seating

Americans are sold on the idea of bipartisan seating at the State of the Union address, a new poll finds. Of those surveyed, 72 percent say that Democrats and Republicans should sit together during the president’s annual address Jan. 25, rather than in the traditional partisan arrangement, according to the new poll from CNN/Opinion Research Corporation released Friday. Another 22 percent said they would prefer the partisan seating, according to the survey, which included 1,014 adults between Jan. 14 to 16.
Members of Congress have called for decorum and civility since President Barack Obama’s speech in Tucson commemorating the dead and wounded in the shooting earlier this month. The bipartisan seating has cropped up as one way for members to demonstrate their commitment to the new mood on Capitol Hill. The idea is catching on. Since Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) circulated a letter last week calling for bipartisan seating arrangements, his office reports 59 members of congress have signed on to the effort.  The initiative is undoubtedly more popular in the Senate, where 33 members have officially signed on to sit with members of the opposing party.