EDITORIAL: Free Press endorsements for U.S., Michigan House seats
As a result, it has been impossible to craft responsible solutions to
In
? Related: We're hosting a Trump-Clinton debate-watching party!
In its efforts to promulgate a coherent trade policy and marshal effective responses to terrorism and climate change, the Obama administration has been met by an undifferentiated policy of obstruction.
In
Where the buck stops
There is no simple explanation for this protracted season of legislative dysfunction. The growing, largely unregulated influence of both parties' largest political donors; congressional and legislative districts drawn to protect incumbents and discourage bipartisan cooperation, and term limits that punish long-term thinking and enhance the power of lobbyists and un-elected bureaucrats have all contributed.
But the most obvious cause -- and the one most susceptible to correction in the approaching November election -- has been a failure of leadership in both the
Former
At the state level,
The need to replace both Ryan and Cotter with more committed and competent bipartisan-minded leaders is urgent. And that leads us to focus, in this election cycle, on a handful of competitive congressional and legislative contests in which
This newspaper has a stout tradition of avoiding entrenched political allegiances in its endorsements, choosing instead to support the best choices in any given electoral contest, irrespective of party. Governors like
But this year is, inarguably, quite different. Given the awful
In this election, the benefit of the doubt, in the small number of congressional and legislative districts where both major party candidates have a fighting chance to win in November, should go to the
The
Among
The retirement of incumbent
Johnson, 44, easily bested former
Both candidates have spent most of their adult lives residing outside the district, which encompasses all of the
But despite coy dog whistles to
The superior choice for voters in the sprawling 1st is
With the exception of trade policy -- like Bergman, he has been highly critical of
Rep.
Ineffectual, ideologically driven and seemingly disinterested in the difficult business of governing, the 65-year-old Walberg has squandered much of his congressional tenure casting meaningless votes to repeal Obamacare, place constitutionally suspect restrictions on abortion, and express symbolic disapproval of the way President
On those occasions when responsible lawmakers in both parties have reluctantly collaborated to pass stopgap legislation in order to keep the federal government functioning (or, as in 2013, to reopen it after a pointless shutdown), Walberg has invariably sided with the petulant extremists who resist compromise at any cost.
In his eight-year career (he also served a single term from 2007-08 before being defeated in his first bid for re-election), Walberg has sponsored just three bills that were signed into law; two of those renamed post offices in his district.
The voters' best choice by far is state Rep.
Driskell, 57, was elected mayor of
In the Legislature, Driskell has championed investment in public education and alternative energy, a stance that has been rewarded with enthusiastic support from environmental groups and former
Her voice has been muted by her party's minority status in the state House, but she provided critical support for successful bipartisan initiatives to expand
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has made Driskell's race a priority in its national Red-to-Blue campaign. Her election would contribute to the
State House
Retired auto worker
Small business owner
For the
State Rep.
In this Downriver Wayne County district, newcomer Democrat
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