By Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II
I recently had the chance to attend the Missouri
Farm Bureau Breakfast in Washington. It was a pleasure to see new faces, meet
new people, and get the chance to listen to concerns about agricultural issues.
As the former mayor of Kansas City, many people often think I have been a city
person all of my life. But my roots are in the small Texas town of Waxahachie.
In fact, some of my earliest memories come from
helping both sets of my grandparents on their farms. Milking June, the cow,
picking corn, and feeding the animals were all part of a normal day. Those
experiences stay with me today, along with the work ethic they and my
grandparents and parents, instilled in me.
Thanks to redistricting, I now have the opportunity
to serve new constituents. I am proud to serve as the representative for my old
and new constituents alike. I believe there is a strong and critical connection
between rural and urban communities. A connection we must recognize,
appreciate, and work to grow, in order to continue to revitalize and reenergize
all areas.
There are, indeed, a full-plate of concerns we are
dealing with in Missouri’s Fifth District, and in Washington. Cuts from the
Sequester continue to create economic uncertainty, and the impact on the state
and local communities is just beginning.
In Washington it seems we simply move from one
crisis to the next. This is not legislating. And this is what has kept us, in
my opinion, from passing a long-term, comprehensive farm bill. The multi-month
delay has lowered the baseline budget, which leaves less money available for
farm programs.
I have often said that bees cannot sting and make
honey at the same time. One of the problems we face in Congress is this
preoccupation with stinging. As a result, we cannot make honey. In essence, we
cannot get things accomplished.
It is hard to sit down at a table to negotiate and
create policy when both sides are continually calling each other names – and
trying to ‘sting’ one another. We do not serve you when we are busy serving
ourselves.
Listening with open minds and hearts is an important
function in moving this country forward in a meaningful and positive way. We
need civility, compromise – and some good ‘ole common sense.
About the author:
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II is now serving his fifth term
representing Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District. Prior to that, he served for twelve years on the city
council of Missouri’s largest municipality, Kansas City. Cleaver was elected as
the city’s first African American Mayor in 1991 and served for eight years.
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