Work together to solve problems

To the editor:

I would like to congratulate Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Rod Blum as they are sworn in to the 114th Congress. The beginning of a new, two-year session of Congress offers an opportunity for our newly elected leaders to work together with colleagues from both parties to solve pressing problems facing our country.

As a college teacher, I try to design assignments that help students learn how to work together for a common goal. I challenge each of you to reach out and get to know at least three members of the opposite party in the next month in order to see where you have common goals and interests.

In particular, I hope that you can reach common ground on helping create a path to citizenship for our many immigrants, incentivizing the use of renewable energy (especially wind and solar), fixing our crumbling infrastructure and reducing student loan debt.

In short, I hope that Ernst, Grassley and Blum will work across party lines to solve the problems we face.

John Gruber-Miller

Mount Vernon