Landsman gave in to 'gutter politics' by voting to oust speaker | Opinion

The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus is a coalition of congressional lawmakers committed to working across the aisle to find bipartisan solutions to complex issues. If there is any elected group in Washington willing to take difficult votes and expend political capital in pursuit of good government, it should be members of this caucus. However, in the wake of the recent vote to vacate the Speaker of the House, Republican members of that caucus are considering leaving in droves − citing a complete loss of faith and trust in their Democrat caucus colleagues.

As a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Greg Landsman has touted his "willingness" to reach across the aisle. Since taking office in January, he’s attempted to brand himself as a bipartisan problem solver committed to governing. But as was best said by Benjamin Franklin: "A well done is better than a well said."

The vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as the Speaker of the House has thrown the Congress into disarray and reinforced Washington’s stark misalignment of priorities. At a critical juncture when the nation grapples with crushing inflation, the fentanyl crisis, surging crime and an open border, our elected officials in Congress find themselves engrossed in political gamesmanship rather than addressing the urgent needs of the American people.

The decision to vacate the Speaker goes beyond a mere reshuffling of political dynamics; it sets a dangerous precedent and makes effective governing a near impossibility. Lawmakers who voted to oust the Speaker just days after he negotiated a bipartisan CR, which many of them supported, not only participated in gutter politics, but voted to chip away at the very institution itself.

Landsman was one of those votes. He joined his fellow Democrats in bringing the Congress to an indefinite halt − prioritizing partisan politics and chaos over good government. Less than 24 hours after calling Rep. Matt Gaetz an "extremist," a "fire starter," and a "conflict entrepreneur" whose sole purpose was to stoke chaos and prevent governance, Landsman sided with Gaetz − voting alongside the man he branded an "extremist."

Landsman’s flip-flop vote underscores a disturbing trend where personal and party interests take precedence over the pressing concerns of the American people. The willingness of some lawmakers, including Landsman, to sacrifice stability for short-term political gains only serves to exacerbate these concerns.

While Landsman seems to have a knack for double-speak, he’s gravely underestimating the intelligence of the electorate of Ohio's First Congressional District. Landsman had an opportunity to put country over party. Instead, he chose to take an unprecedented step that shut down our legislative body and eroded trust in the institution. For now, that means we won’t see any solutions for families burdened by high inflation, or those suffering from the fentanyl crisis or skyrocketing crime. The void left by a vacant Speakership creates an unnecessary distraction that impedes effective governance precisely when it is needed most.

Orlando Sonza is a candidate for Congress in OH-01. He is a U.S. Army Veteran, former Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor, and Ohio CPA. Orlando lives in Springfield Township with his wife and four children.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Landsman sacrificed stability for political gain by ousting speaker