Nelson Backs "No-Labels" Movement
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
By: Elizabeth Wynne Johnson

Dec.14, 2011 | WMFE - In this Congress, bipartisanship is easier said than done. Still, that's not stopping a handful of lawmakers from trying. Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson is helping to push a "No Labels" agenda for Congressional reform.

The 'No Labels' movement is not a third party so much as an organized effort to break Washington’s gridlocked ways within the existing structure where the parties can be both equal-opportunity offenders and equal-opportunity problem-solvers. 

At this Capitol Hill event, ‘No Labels’ unveiled a number of specific reforms. Florida’s Democratic Senator focused on one concern in particular.

“Why should close to half of the House and half of the Senate have made a pledge to a particular individual?” Nelson asked.

Nelson said a Republican no-tax pledge was largely to blame for the recent failure of the so-called super-committee.  That was a relatively rare case of finger-pointing at this gathering that at times felt like a religious revival.

“ We need some walking-around common sense in our American political system.” Nelson told the group.

Other ‘No Labels’ proposals include “No Budget, No Pay” with legislation introduced this week that would withhold salaries until Congress passes a budget. Another proposal takes a page from British Parliament:  “Presidential Question Time” would have the President appearing, in alternate months, before the House and Senate for some spirited Q and A in full view of the American people.