Two retired veterans of the U.S. Congress say the cooperation they experienced in the People's House has vanished and it's to the detriment of the country.
Democrat David Obey and Republican Tom Petri stopped at Nicolet College Tuesday as part of a series of stops to discuss the lack of civility and polarization in the public arena.
Obey served in Congress for 42 years. He says when he was first elected, there was more of a sense of doing good for the public that was part of both parties. He says those member of Congress went through the Depression and World War II. He says that is lost now, where he says Congressional members spend half of their time raising money and there is less inclination to go against the party...
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"....if they make somebody angry they're going to get buried in cash(by opponents). It makes them much more cautious, it makes them much more political. It makes them much more reliant on their party leaders. That is bad news for the country...."
Petri says no one seems to be happy with Congress. He says the latest polling indicated only 7 percent of the country thinks they are doing a good job.
