Civic Participation Series: Importance of ‘Working Across the Aisle’

A common theme expressed by retired Congressmen Dave Obey and Tom Petri in their October Civic Participation Series was the need to end the bipartisan divide in politics today.

They were met with enthusiastic audiences – whether it was a group of college students, young teens at a high school assembly, a community forum or a state environmental group.

The fall tour included stops at Mishicot High School, UW-Oshkosh, UWFox Valley, Marquette Law School, Discovery World in Milwaukee (for Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters fundraiser) and Silver Lake College of the Holy Family in Manitowoc.

At each event, people were interested in hearing how politics used to be run in Washington, with Obey and Petri sharing stories about Republicans and Democrats working across the aisle to get legislation passed.

Obey and Petri reminded the public to keep a watchful eye over what is happening with the political process, and to effect change by getting involved in local levels of government. They encouraged citizens of all ages to further political causes through bipartisanship.

WIPPS thanks our statewide sponsors for this series: David R. Obey Civic Resource Center, Wisconsin Humanities Council and Wisconsin AARP.