Here are five bipartisan issues where we can all find common ground
Hint: It has nothing to do with the Electoral College, Space or China.
Conversations about politics don’t always have to center on the most divisive issues. There are so many others that aren’t getting talked about enough where we can find common ground.
How many issues out there do you think most people would agree with? Chances are there are more than you might think. The past Presidential Campaign was exhausting for a variety of reasons, but it was particularly exhausting because it seemed to highlight a host of issues where we intensely disagree and not too many where there was bipartisan focus. Part of that reason is because sometimes the word ‘bipartisan’ is considered dirty.
And who can blame people for feeling that way? On some issues we are so divided it’s like we aren’t even in the same world. Even as I write this article I learned that lawmakers disagreed on D.C.’s municipal traffic policy (can we all agree traffic of any kind sucks?) I have even found myself disagreeing with folks in my own life, something that is getting harder to grapple with as time goes on.
I say this not to make you feel more dour or depressed about politics, you certainly don’t need my help with that. I am at my core a fundamentally optimistic person. So instead, of finding more ways to disagree, I wanted to highlight five different issues that have broad-based bipartisan support where we can likely find some common ground, and hopefully meaningful solutions. Don’t worry there aren’t any charts or graphs in this one!
Modernizing emergency systems
The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles are the most recent example of how failed emergency systems (and resources for those systems) can cost people their lives or livelihoods. Overlapping alerts, differing software, difficult signups for the system itself, and only alerting people one way are just a few of the many ways the emergency system of the nation’s most populous county failed to work effectively at a critical time. Some lawmakers are already investigating the response to the fires.
Here’s an example you probably haven’t heard of. In some parts of Missouri 911 didn’t exist until recently. Yes, you read that correctly. There were at least 10 counties in southeastern Missouri that just didn’t have 911 capabilities until recently, mostly due to a lack of funds and infrastructure. Listen to how this state employee characterized it
“There were over 10 counties where you couldn’t call 911 from your cell phone and geolocate it,” said Kaycee Nail, who runs legislative affairs for the service board. “We had counties that we called red counties because they had the lowest service level allowable. You call 911, it just goes to a landline. Someone might miss that call because they’re also dealing with someone in jail.”
Approximately $10 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and another $11 million from Missouri helped the board tackle the problem. The state has made improvements to 911 in over 65 counties since the ARPA funding began.
Now thankfully this is an issue that is getting fixed and Missourans in this area of the state will be safer for it. The state’s service board will petition it’s General Assembly for more of these funds, and give lawmakers a chance to come together.
There is also an actual example of bipartisanship on this issue happening on Capitol Hill right now. Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS) have introduced the bipartisan Weather Alert Response and Notification Act for the 119th Congress. That bill would seek to improve the reliability and effectiveness of local alert systems during severe weather events,
Emergency response systems impact everyone, and there are numerous ways we can improve them. It’s an easy win for any lawmakers willing to reach across the aisle to get it done. Who can disagree with saving lives and livelihoods in the face of natural disasters?
Assisting veterans
This is one that is getting a lot more attention due to the President’s deferred resignation plan and subsequent uncertainty at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
The Census Bureau estimates there are ~16 million Veterans in the U.S. right now, and there is well-documented evidence of Veterans struggling to reintegrate after their service, and being prone to severe mental health challenges.
But outside of unchecked Executive action, this is again an issue with solid bipartisan capabilities. Just this week a large bipartisan (technically tripartisan) group of lawmakers proposed a bill to adjust the maximum insurance value for servicemembers. There’s also Senator Mazie Hirono’s Veteran’s Member Business Loan Act, a bill aimed at exempting US veterans from the government-imposed lending cap.
It doesn’t stop there. Last month, Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen’s Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act had 14 Democratic and Republican cosponsors. In fact, this issue may resonate particularly well with this Congress considering it now has more than 100 veterans amongst it's ranks.
There are also some campaign implications here. An estimated 98% of Veterans are registered to vote and their advocacy groups are some of the most influential in the country. Relating to this group of voters could be key in some pivotal areas of the country.
To summarize, helping Veterans helps our country in a very practical sense, but also in a political sense. Both sides can fight for the people that fought for us.
Banning subminimum wage for people with disabilities
Anyone reading this who knows me or my family knows this is an issue very close to home because my sister Sophia has Down Syndrome. Usually, once people meet my sister they see a real-world example of what happens when we actually invest in a person with a disability. Her art, personality, and various accomplishments can usually convince almost anyone
Despite this many folks are shocked once I explain some of the economic challenges this disabled community faces. Not being able to own more than $2,000 at a time, a lack of accommodating services, a so-called “crip tax,” and so many more are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to issues that the disabled community has to deal with.
I want to focus on one particularly sinister policy you may or may not know about: subminimum wage for the disabled. Here’s an excerpt from the Century Foundation that sums up the situation fairly well:
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 created a federal minimum wage for most American workers; however, there is an exception for disabled people.
Section 14(c) of FLSA allows employers to legally pay disabled workers less than the full minimum wage, with no floor. The exception was intended to “sweeten” the buy-in to get employers to hire disabled workers….Employers with 14(c) certificates pay disabled workers as little as pennies an hour for their labor, and disabled workers can end up trapped in what are known as “sheltered workshops,” preventing them from advancing in their careers or finding competitive employment.
In a word it’s cruel. Outside of the difficulty for people with intellectual disabilities to get educated, train, apply, and then interview for a job, they then can legally get paid far less than you and I.
According to the Urban Institute, as of July 2024, more than 38,000 disabled people—90 percent of whom have intellectual or developmental disabilities—earned subminimum wages. The majority of these workers earn under $3.50 per hour, less than half of the federal minimum wage ($7.25).
Right now 16 states ban paying individuals with disabilities a subminimum wage and while there may be some movement on this issue, it’s one that Democrats and Republicans should unite behind. It’s also an issue we could see regression on if we don’t take a stand. Like other disadvantaged groups in the past, let’s unite on the idea that we can give people an opportunity to build their own life. It’s decent, it’s fair, and above all it’s doable. There is a great example of bipartisanship on this issue between Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Republican Senator Eric Schmitt.
Oh, and for what it’s worth…my sister works part-time at Goodwill where she gets paid $14 an hour :D. It’s time to switch roles and have her buy me an ice cream for once!
Marijuana legalization
Some of you may have guessed this was going to appear on the list and while there has been extensive coverage on this issue I’d still like to explain my reasoning on why it has such a great bipartisan capability.
While it can be argued that legalization kind of already happened…right now there are 39 states where cannabis for medicinal use is legal with 7 of those states also decriminalizing it. 24 states allow for full recreational use. This complicated patchwork of legality and illegality leads to many people being convicted and jailed for a crime that is perfectly legal right next door. This is perhaps the best case for legalization.
But full legalization has now very much a part of the mainstream. The Wall Street Journal called recreational weed the Rare Bipartisan Issue of This Year’s Election, not an easy accomplishment by any means. While Kamala Harris has flip-flopped on this issue, she and Trump both supported marijuana legalization. And most definitively, 88% of U.S. Adults say marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use. It may also be one we see action on in the near future. There is already a Marijuana-related bill being proposed in Congress. Ironically it also involves veterans.
I’ll release a piece of the state of marijuana legalization soon, but restructuring our cannabis policy can be beneficial for our criminal justice system, our public health, the economy, and more. Legalization (at any degree and any level) can be a deliverable promise for politicians across the spectrum. You may even get the libertarians onboard.
Regulating Artificial Intelligence
The final bit of bipartisanship I can recommend is one that has taken over the world in the last 2 years: AI. The sheer amount of innovation and fear from developments in Artificial Intelligence has already spurred a bipartisan spirit.
According to a YouGov poll conducted last year, 79% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans support increasing regulation of AI technology. We saw some of those agreements meld together, when a bipartisan group introduced legislation on AI and political campaigns last year But there’s more to it. Lawmakers from both sides have cited the AI products from China like DeepSeek, as a national security concern. There is also a bipartisan task force in the House to study AI. There is even a bipartisan Senate bill that was proposed to establish an AI safety office in the Department of Commerce.
We are already seeing how things like disinformation, job losses and environmental costs of AI are shaping this discussion. As Silicon Valley’s influence over our politics grows and the technology race against China progresses this is an issue that will undoubtedly impact nearly every aspect of our lives. It’s also one where there are a lot of policy proposals in play that voters from both sides agree on.
Every item on this list is about correcting past wrongs or updating outdated policy, but this one is all about crafting future policy. It’s an issue where we NEED lawmakers to come together to find solutions.
The Point
There are plenty of issues to fight about in the coming weeks, and months, but participating in a Democracy means participating in the discourse over those issues. If we only focus on issues we disagree on it can (and has) lead to bitter resentment from all sides. If you have a friend, family member, or person in your life that you disagree with then the topics listed above may be a good broaching point to talk about something larger. Chances are you may agree more with them than you think.
Thank you so much for reading! If you liked this article please like and ‘restack’ here on Substack or share it with someone who might enjoy it. Please also subscribe if you want more of my content. If you have a story idea, feedback or just want to talk about politics shoot me a message here: miguelantoniopineda1@gmail.com