As a reminder, the word bipartisan is defined as involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies.

            On the other hand, partisan is defined as a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person; especially one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance.

            Somehow we need to get the point across to our state legislators that the road to getting vital things done in Harrisburg is to follow the road to bipartisanship.

            There are too many instances where legislators may agree with certain legislation that is sure to pass with plenty of support, but others see it as a chance to include their wants or wishes tagged onto it.  Perhaps those wants and wishes wouldn't stand on their own and lack bipartisan support so, let's attach it to legislation that's sure to pass.

            Wrong.  If what you want lacks support attaching it to good legislation seldom works.  Kind of like partisanship. 

            The people who get hurt are those who could benefit from that first piece of legislation being dumped.  Those who added the unpopular amendment to the legislation are to blame as well as those who voted against the convoluted mess instead of trying to work through it.

            The amendments should be removed and the popular legislation voted on again.  What will happen? Chances are the other legislative chamber will just hang the amendments back onto the original legislation and, here we go again.  Round and round, and round until it's dropped.

            That's called an impasse - a predicament that affords no obvious escape.

            One example was when state House Democrats passed a measure that would raise the state's $7.25 minimum wage to $15 an hour, Republicans called the number "unreasonable." Democrats countered that any lower wage would be ineffective, and the bill stalled.

            Couldn't a number, somewhere in the middle or gradually increased" be agreed upon?  Today we still sit at $7.25.

            In addition, a constitutional amendment that would create a two-year window for childhood sexual abuse survivors to sue their abusers is also tied up because of amendments added to expand voter ID requirements.

            And, don't forget that little mess about changing the Primary Election date to March 19 from April 23.  Or was it to April 2.   They couldn't even come to terms on that.  You got it – impasse.

            As of now, the Primary election date is April 23.

            How can we encourage our legislators to work through those impasses and focus on what is best for the residents of Pennsylvania?