Today our country faces a wide array of challenges both at home and abroad. These include high unemployment, a weak economy, a changing climate, the need for immigration reform, and the continued threat of global terrorism.  As an Independent, I approach these problems free from party ideology. My decision-making process is not guided by what is good for the Republican or Democratic establishments, but rather by a desire to find common-sense solutions that are good for Maine and good for the country.

Over the past year I have teamed up with Republican Senators Roy Blunt of Missouri and Deb Fischer of Nebraska to try and reduce the burdens of outdated federal regulations on American businesses in Maine and across the country. I have joined a task force – of mostly Democrats – to raise awareness to the dangers of climate change. I’ve also worked with bipartisan coalitions on issues such as transportation and infrastructure, healthcare, national security, student loans, banking, and tax reform. In all of these cases there was a sincere willingness to work together, make compromises, and put the priorities of the American people above party politics. Unfortunately, I fear that this may become harder and harder to do.

Forty-one years ago, when I was a Senate staffer, there was plenty of ideological overlap between Republicans and Democrats; there were liberal and moderate Republicans and conservative and moderate Democrats.  Now, for the fourth straight year, no Senate Democrat is more conservative than any Senate Republican or vice versa. Moderates in Congress have practically become an endangered species. This is very troubling especially as we head into an election year.  I was appalled to learn that one of the greatest threats to those who have worked across party lines is being accused of being too reasonable by their opponents. When it’s a political sin to want to work together to solve problems, we’re all in trouble. Bringing this trend to a halt has to be a priority for lawmakers and the American people. We can do this by demonstrating that common sense lawmakers, not party loyalists, are the best instruments of positive change.

The significance of political moderation is something my colleague Senator Susan Collins and I understand. Since 1982, the National Journal, a Washington-based publication, has been monitoring voting records to better map Congress’ political landscape. This year both Senator Collins and I ended up in the ideological center. In fact, Senator Collins is rated the most moderate Republican in the entire Senate. I think that says a lot about the pragmatism of the people of Maine; they want problem solvers. 

That is why we’re both still very engaged with the “Common-Sense Caucus.” During the government shutdown last October, when the partisan divide seemed at its deepest, Senator Collins, myself, and a handful of other Senators formed what became known as the “common sense caucus,” to work out a bipartisan solution that would end the shut-down and get our economy back on track. Our 16-person coalition still meets and we’re trying to identify other areas where we can promote solutions by working across party lines.

I believe we are at crucial junction for the American political system. In the same article, the National Journal proclaimed this the most divided Congress ever and predicted that things may only get worse with the next election cycle. Unless we want that to become a reality lawmakers and the American people must emphasize that they value problem solving over political posturing.