STATEMENT OF SENATOR MAR ROXAS ON THE 14th CONGRESS

For the next Congress to be more productive and cohesive, I strongly urge the administration not to equate politics with obstruction, or all opposing views with attempts to destabilize those in power. Rather, let us begin a national dialogue on how politics can scale up our modest economic gains, how we can spread out our still limited progress, how we can deepen and sustain our competitive advantages as a nation.

With so many problems confronting our country, there is certainly room for consensus and consultations, for critical thinking and constructive partnerships. Our goal in the 14th Congress should be to put peoples needs first; and to reflect this in how we approach the budget, draft legislation, and prioritize our work in the different committees. For this to succeed, the executive branch must also forego its own biases, and learn to reach out to the new Senate.