Problem Solvers Caucus

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Problem
Solvers Caucus
Co-ChairsJosh Gottheimer (D)
Brian Fitzpatrick (R)
FoundedJanuary 23, 2017; 5 years ago (2017-01-23)
IdeologyCentrism[1]
Bipartisanship[2]
Big tent[3]
Political positionCenter[4]
Colors  Red and   Blue
Seats in House Democratic Caucus
29 / 222
Seats in House Republican Caucus
29 / 211
Seats in the House
58 / 435
Website
problemsolverscaucus.house.gov
  • Politics of United States
  • Political parties
  • Elections

The Problem Solvers Caucus is a bipartisan group in the United States House of Representatives that includes 58 members, equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, who seek to foster bipartisan cooperation on key policy issues. Created in January 2017, the group is currently co-chaired by Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).[5]

History[]

Problem Solvers Caucus hosting a press conference in 2020

The Problem Solvers Caucus developed over time as an outgrowth of informal meetings organized by the political reform group No Labels. No Labels spent years on Capitol Hill working to get members in a room to talk with colleagues from the other party. These informal “get to know you” meetings led to more substantive cooperation across the aisle, including the introduction of nine bipartisan bills to reduce government waste and inefficiency, and the passage of the No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 and the Medicare “doc fix” in 2015.[6][7][8]

Over time, No Labels continued to organize members into a more cohesive group and eventually branded the group the “Problem Solvers” and recruited its first two co-chairs, Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI) and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR).[9] This group of members organized by No Labels also signed a resolution (H.R. 207) calling for both parties to unify behind a National Strategic Agenda with four goals focused on: job creation, balancing the budget, securing Medicare and Social Security, and energy security.[10]

The early iteration of the Problem Solvers group was promising, but it lacked the cohesion of groups on the left and right like the Progressive Caucus and Freedom Caucus. That began to change at the outset of 115th Congress when the Problem Solvers registered as an independent member-driven Caucus.[11]

Writing in The New York Times about the Problem Solvers Caucus, then co-chairs Reed and Gottheimer said: "We all knew the partisanship in Washington had gotten out of control and felt the need to create a bipartisan group committed to getting to "yes" on important issues. We have agreed to vote together for any policy proposal that garners the support of 75 percent of the entire Problem Solvers Caucus, as well as 51 percent of both the Democrats and Republicans in the caucus."[12]

Today, the Problem Solvers Caucus is co-chaired by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and counts 58 members evenly divided between the parties, who are working to forge bipartisan solutions to America’s toughest challenges.[5]

Healthcare reform[]

During the week of August 4, 2017, the 43-member House Problem Solvers Caucus released a compromise to shore up the struggling insurance exchanges. The proposal focused on the skyrocketing cost of individual health insurance premiums. At the time, the Trump administration considered suspending cost-sharing payments that defray out-of-pocket payments like deductibles and co-payments, a move which insurers said could cause premiums to rise by 15 percent or more.[13]

The second part of the Problem Solvers plan would have provided relief to help states deal with the high cost of pre-existing and chronic conditions. The relief is provided through a dedicated stability fund that states could use to reduce premiums and limit losses for providing coverage for these high-cost patients. The third part of the plan provides relief to certain businesses from the mandate that they provide insurance to full-time employees. It also defines "full time" as a 40-hour workweek to discourage businesses from manipulating employees’ weekly hours to skirt the mandate.[12]

The plan would have also eliminated the Medical Device Tax, an excise charge of 2.3 percent, which opponents claim is passed onto consumers and reduces funds for research and development.[13]

Congressional rules reform[]

After the 2018 Midterm elections, the Problem Solvers Caucus and House Democratic Leadership negotiated a package that reformed the rules of the House. The initiative, entitled "Break the Gridlock", gives bipartisan ideas a fair hearing on the House floor and encourages legislation through compromise.[14]

COVID-19 relief[]

In September 2020, the Problem Solvers released their "March to Common Ground" COVID-19 relief package, an outline for a Congressional bi-partisan compromise that showed that members of both parties were willing to listen to each other in order to craft legislation.[15]

Capitol riot and reaction[]

On May 18, 2021, the Problem Solvers Caucus endorsed bipartisan legislation to investigate the attack on the Capitol.[16] However, the next day only 18 of 28 Republican Problem Solvers voted in support of creating a bipartisan commission to lead the investigation.[17]

List of Co-Chairs[]

Term Start Term End Democratic Co-chair Republican Co-chair
2017 2019 Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) Tom Reed (R-NY)
2019 2021
2021 present Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)

Membership[]

Problem Solvers Caucus in the 117th United States Congress.
  Democratic Problem Solvers caucus member
  Republican Problem Solvers caucus member

This group include 58 members: 29 Democrats and 29 Republicans.[18][19]

Democrats[]

Republicans[]

Former members[]

Democrats[]

Republicans[]

Media coverage[]

The Problem Solvers Caucus has been finding itself in the middle of several key battles and is "proving to be a force on Capitol Hill, one that's willing to leave some bruises in its wake but also to make common cause with its natural Senate allies".[45]

Mark Pocan, a former caucus member and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a left-leaning organization, says he was "duped" by No Labels and the PSC, saying that rather than "breaking gridlock", it is "a fast track for special interests and lobbyists."[46]

References[]

  1. ^ Nilsen, Ella (November 26, 2018). "Nancy Pelosi's Problem Solvers Caucus problem, explained". Vox. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  2. ^ Laslo, Matt (April 20, 2019). "U.S. House Democrats say squabbles are healthy sign as they move past 100 days". WHYY-TV. NPR. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Cannon, Carl M. (March 25, 2018). "Tiny Tent Political Parties". RealClearPolitics. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  4. ^ "Centrist lawmakers band together to demand House reforms for the next speaker". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Our Co-Chairs". Problem Solvers Caucus. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Members of Congress introduce bipartisan legislation as the 'Problem Solvers'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2017-10-14. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  7. ^ Brooks, David (2016-11-29). "Opinion | The Future of the American Center". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-07-17. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
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  12. ^ a b Gottheimer, Josh; Reed, Tom (2017-08-04). "Let's Stop the Bickering and Fix the Health Care System". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2017-08-13. Retrieved 2017-08-12.
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