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Johnson, Ryan to sit together for State of the Union
YOUNGSTOWN
In the spirit of bipartisanship, Democrat Tim Ryan and Republican Bill Johnson, the two U.S. House members who represent the Mahoning Valley, will sit next to each other during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday.
Johnson, of Poland, R-6th, asked Ryan, of Niles, D-17th, to sit next to him during the address, and Ryan accepted.
“I’m pleased that Congressman Ryan has accepted my invitation to join me for the State of the Union,” Johnson said. “While some will say this is symbolic gesture, I believe that it’s important that our constituents see Congressman Ryan and me begin developing a relationship that will benefit the Mahoning Valley.”
Ryan added: “I look forward to joining my colleague, Congressman Bill Johnson, at President Obama’s State of the Union address. Our citizens expect us to work together to move our country forward. That means developing a personal relationship with members of the opposite party. I have many Republican friends, and I look forward to getting to know Bill and our other new colleagues.”
U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, a Democrat from Colorado, is urging Democrats and Republicans to sit together at the State of the Union to signify unity. Traditionally, Democrats sit on one side of the House chamber and Republicans on the other during the State of the Union address.
“Our country has been talking about changing the way Washington works, and now it’s time to take action by crossing the aisle and sitting together,” Udall wrote on his Senate website Jan. 12, four days after U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, was shot. “It’s a simple step but an important one that will go a long way in bridging our political divide.”
Among those agreeing to sit next to each other are Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators, Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Pat Toomey.
“There will be many opportunities for us to work together in the 112th Congress, and sitting next to each other is a small but important step towards setting a civil and cooperative tone for the challenging work ahead of us,” Toomey said in a joint statement with Casey.