The diminished role that Congress is playing in providing oversight and accountability over the Executive branch has become a threat to our nation. Oversight committees in the House of Representatives have been especially ineffectual, as hearings about Trump administration policies and personnel have turned into partisan charades imposed by a subservient Republican majority upon its minority Democratic members.

This same partisan paralysis and lack of respect for the needs and desires of her own constituents shows up in our own Representative’s votes on key legislation. U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-10) has voted with the Trump administration more than 90 percent of the time. Meaningful debates on policy simply cannot occur due to her steadfast loyalty to her party and her stubborn refusal to hold non-partisan public town halls to respectfully engage with her constituents.

There is one thing we can do to change this destructive pattern right here in our home district and that is to elect a new member to the House of Representatives who will provide results-oriented proactive representation.

I recently attended a debate between the six Democratic candidates running for the 10th district primary on June 12. All six demonstrated depth of knowledge, commitment and a focus on getting things done in Washington. All six would be a breath of fresh air compared to the stale partisan currently occupying that position. Unfortunately, we can only pick one of them to go on to the general election in November.

I urge my fellow Democrats to vote in the June 12 primary for State Senator Jennifer Wexton to replace Barbara Comstock. Senator Wexton has been very effective in building coalitions in order to get bills passed in the GOP dominated Virginia General Assembly. She has been able to pass over forty bills in the last several years, all of which required bipartisan support, since Wexton is in the minority party. She knows how to reach across the aisle and get things done. It is time to apply her approach to getting things done in Washington. The alternative is more of the same submissiveness to the Trump regime that our current Representative seems perfectly content to continue.

Wes Callender

Great Falls