Dear Lucas,
In November, the American people sent Congress a clear and simple message: work together to get things done.
And during the lame duck session in December, that's exactly what we did. We could not have passed the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal, the 9/11 health bill, the START Treaty and the landmark food safety bill without cooperation from both parties. It was a reminder of what Congress can achieve for the American people when we do work together.
So, in this spirit of cooperation, many of us in Congress thought it would send an important message to the nation if we sat together with members of the opposite party during the President's State of the Union address tonight. The seating arrangement for the President's speech is just a symbol, but it sends an important message that although we may disagree on various issues, we all stand ready to work together and do what we believe is right for the country. To that end, I've asked my colleague, Senator John Thune (R - South Dakota), if I could join him on the Republican side.
Right now, more than ever, we need to find ways to restore civility in our government and bring people together to solve problems and get our economy growing again. The American people want this Congress to work together - not as Democrats and Republicans, but as Americans.
I look forward to sitting with all my colleagues, and I look forward to working with you to restore civility and cooperation to our process and address the pressing challenges that are facing our country.
Sincerely,
Kirsten