Opioid policy unites Democrats, Republicans on Capitol Hill – Washington Times
Extreme partisanship is rampant on Capitol Hill, but a glimmer of hope for cooperation is emerging from a dark place the prescription painkiller and heroin crisis thats ravaging the country.
Its an issue where all sides have said they want to act, though getting agreement hasnt always been smooth.
Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican who has taken the lead on the issue, was only able to get five fellow Republicans last year to sign onto his bill to root out synthetic opioids pouring into the U.S. through postal packages from China. This year, hes already gotten several Democrats to join him.
The most recent co-sponsors from either party Sen. David Perdue, a Georgia Republican who is staunchly pro-life and anti-gun control, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat and hero to the progressive left highlight the political breadth of the problem and eagerness to deal with it.
Another bill, the Stop OD Act of 2017, would authorize grants to highlight the dangers of opioids and expand the use of overdose-reversing drugs. It has more than 20 House co-sponsors, scattered from Hawaii to New Hampshire, and roughly split between Republicans and Democrats.
Drug abuse is a problem that afflicts many parts of the country and therefore is something that unites red and blue state legislators. If members can address that issue, it offers some hope of progress in other areas as well, said Darrell West, director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution.
The prescription drug and heroin epidemic stands out because it is affecting Americans of all ages with little regard for race, income or other social factors. The crisis resulted in more than 30,000 overdose deaths in 2015 alone.
The epidemics wide reach prompted Congress to pass bipartisan legislation last year the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act that bolstered treatment and the availability of overdose-reversing drugs.
But Congress struggled to pony up funds. After months of feuding, lawmakers agreed to dedicate $500 million per year for fiscal years 2017 and 2018. It passed just weeks after the contentious November election, giving lawmakers hope that bipartisanship is still possible.
With President Trump calling for belt-tightening in domestic spending, members of Congress are warning the administration not to fiddle with the funding.
Democrats said efforts to repeal Obamacare and proposed spending cuts in Mr. Trumps budget for the National Institutes of Health or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were particularly troubling.
During the campaign I was pleased to hear President Trump talk about the need to address [the epidemic]. Its been disappointing to see him try and take away health care, said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Democrat, noting Obamacares expansion of Medicaid had been a vital conduit to treatment for addicts in her state.
For now, lawmakers are reaching for common ground wherever they can find it.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, Missouri Democrat, reached out to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, after Mr. Trump tapped him to lead the national fight against opioid addiction, saying we need all hands on deck, including administration officials to thwart the epidemic.
I hope we can take some lessons from this. It is a public health crisis in all of our states in every community, rural and urban, Ms. McCaskill said Friday.
Ms. McCaskill made her comments to a reporter just moments after shed cast a vote against Mr. Trumps Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch.
That court fight which saw Democrats mount the first ever partisan filibuster of a high court nominee and the GOP trigger the nuclear option to change the rules and curtail the use of the filibuster threatened to send the Senate to new lows of bipartisanship.
But Mr. Portman said even in the midst of that, bipartisanship is alive and well.
Literally during the vote, two Democrats came over, and we talked about other legislation, he said Friday. Were going to continue to work together across party lines. We have to. Thats our job, and we have lots to do.
Presidents change and lawmakers come and go, but The Washington Times is always here, and FREE online. Please support our efforts.
See the article here:
Opioid policy unites Democrats, Republicans on Capitol Hill - Washington Times
- Democrats in South Carolina are barely pretending they're not already running for president - Politico - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Democrats 2024 Autopsy Is Described as Avoiding the Likeliest Cause of Death - The New York Times - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Scoop: Why Democrats didn't make Trump miss his deadline to cut $9 billion from PBS, NPR - Axios - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- How can Democrats win back working-class voters? Change their tune | Joan C Williams - The Guardian - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 'Dear God': Democrats storm out of vote on controversial Trump nominee - Fox News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- POLITICS: Door Open For Democrats To Win In City Of Celina Elections - Mercer County Outlook - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Weeks After a Heat Wave Baked the US, Democrats Push to Declare Heat a Major Disaster - Inside Climate News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | Can Anything Save the Democrats? - The Wall Street Journal - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- President Says Epstein Critics Are Being Used by Democrats - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mamdani charms national Democrats. But N.Y. Dems are just meh. - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trumps New Strategy on Epstein Fallout: Blame the Democrats - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Talking Trump accounts and mocking Democrats, Vance offers preview of how GOP will message the 'big, beautiful bill' - Politico - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Thank Fairfax County Democrats for your higher tax bill this year - Fairfax Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- E&E News: Youth fighting Trump on climate get boost from Democrats - POLITICO Pro - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats walk out of Emil Bove judicial confirmation hearing - CBS News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- John Fetterman's Approval Rating With Democrats Hits Record Low - Newsweek - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats risk taking the wrong lessons from Trumpism - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats Storm Out of Vote on Trumps Judicial Nominee, Emil Bove - The Daily Beast - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats and Republicans in Congress are working together to pass sanctions on Russia - 90.5 WESA - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats finally found an anti-Trump argument that works - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Cook County Democrats mostly sticking with incumbents on primary slate but Assessor Fritz Kaegi is in limbo - Chicago Sun-Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats bill would require OSHA to issue worker heat protections - E&E News by POLITICO - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trump tries to shift blame to Democrats for Epstein controversy - WGBH - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- WATCH: Democrats protest Bove nomination hearing with walkout before vote - NBC New York - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Hungary opposition figures urge Democrats to organize against autocratic takeover by Trump - The Guardian - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Hunter Biden says Democrats lost election for not staying loyal to his father - The Washington Post - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- 'The powerful protecting the powerful': Democrats see an opening on Epstein - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats demand Pam Bondi and Kash Patel be summoned for Epstein hearing - The Guardian - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- As Trump looks to net five GOP seats through Texas redistricting, Democrats grasp for response - The Texas Tribune - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats are trolling Trump and the GOP over the Jeffrey Epstein case - AP News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Broach Potential Walkout to Block Texas Redistricting - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Are Workshopping New Tactics After Losses of 2024 - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Mamdani Goes to Washington With Key Democrats in Congress Still on the Fence - THE CITY - NYC News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Hunter Biden says Democrats lost election because they werent loyal to his father - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats bash Trump over Texas redistricting: Act of desperation to cling to power - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats raked in money in the Michigan and Illinois Senate races - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- House Democrats are trying to force the Trump administration to release the Epstein files - Axios - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- I don't want to talk to MAGA voters, but Epstein gives Democrats an in on Trump | Opinion - USA Today - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Danbury Democrats formally back Alves for second term as mayor: 'We can't afford to sit back now' - NewsTimes - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Accuse Trump of Ceding Global Influence to China - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Opinion | Moderate Democrats cant save their party if they dont fight for it - The Washington Post - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats accuse Waltz of lying over Signalgate and berate him for not expressing regret - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Assaults on ICE officers surge 830% as Democrats caught 'doxing and physically assaulting' agents: DHS - Fox News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats find reasons for hope and fear six months into Trump 2.0 - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom as the Democrats' nominee in 2028? What's not to like? - Daily Herald - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats must not abandon trans girls in sports - Bleeding Heartland - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats pounce on Trump's blowup over Epstein - Axios - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Trump's White House accused Democrats of inciting violence against ICE but they have no receipts - MSNBC News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Megabill may not be a silver bullet for Democrats in the midterms - Politico - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Young Democrats have called for a rebrand. Theyre vying to replace the partys old guard - AP News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Takeaways from AP report on Democrats already lining up for the 2028 presidential race - CTPost - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Democrats urge town hall attendees to persevere, hope in face of Big Beautiful Bill - Maryland Matters - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Video: How the Democrats Lost on Transgender Issues - The New York Times - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Florida Democrats reveal what they saw inside Alligator Alcatraz on tour - Scripps News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Why NC Democrats think 2026 midterms will run through Rocky Mount - WRAL.com - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- No, Democrats Arent Controlling the Weather. Neither Is Anyone Else. - Mother Jones - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- As Democrats spoil for a fight, a new face in the House is leading them on oversight - NPR - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Young Democrats have called for a rebrand. Theyre vying to replace the partys old guard - The Boston Globe - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Young Democrats have called for a rebrand. They're vying to replace the party's old guard - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats push back on trio of Trump-backed crypto bills with Corruption Week blitz - dlnews.com - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Utah Democrats work to make sure their voices are heard at the national level - FOX 13 News Utah - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Contributor: Will Democrats find an anti-Trump to galvanize the left? - Los Angeles Times - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats have blue dot dreams in Nebraska - Politico - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats Should Prepare for the Return of Debt Politics - Washington Monthly - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats Must Find Their Nerve And Fast - The National Herald - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Opinion | This Trial of the Century Is 100. Its Lessons Could Save the Democrats. - The New York Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Inspire Vicious, Escalating Attacks on ICE - The White House (.gov) - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- John Kerry says 'Trump was right', Democrats allowed migrant 'siege' of border - BBC - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- New Survey Results: RI Democrats and Republicans are living in different realities - Salve Regina University - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- DNC chair on the path to winning back voters and lessons Democrats can learn from Mamdani - PBS - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Top House Democrats demand release of Epstein files that mention Trump - The Guardian - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Jeffriess speech is proof that Democrats are just performative and reactionary - The Hill - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Mamdani's far-left allies aim to primary Hakeem Jeffries and other NYC House Democrats - Fox News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Michigan Democrats begin highlighting constituents impacted by Medicaid cuts in Trump tax bill - Michigan Advance - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom swings through South Carolina, where Democrats will play pivotal 2028 nominating role - AP News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Ignored What Their Voters Were Telling ThemAnd It Cost Them Everything - Vanity Fair - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Republicans and Democrats Finally Agree on Nuclear. Its the Industry Thats the Problem. - Politico - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Hawley rebukes Democrats' heated rhetoric after attacks on ICE, border patrol facilities: 'Knock it off' - Fox News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Gender Gap That Ate the Democrats - The New York Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Letter: Why Democrats are losing ground with minority voters - Reading Eagle - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]