Spotlight on Common Ground

Common Ground Committee’s Spotlight on Common Ground initiative highlights instances of bipartisan cooperation across the nation, and the individuals who make them possible. As individuals and events occur, Common Ground Committee will recognize with the Spotlight on Common Ground. See below for spotlights to date.

Common Ground Scorecard Spotlight shaking hands

Common Ground Committee Honors Bipartisan Group of Senators Behind the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Five Democrats and Republicans Are Recognized as Part of CGC’s New Spotlight on Common Ground Initiative

Today Common Ground Committee (CGC), a nonpartisan, citizen-led nonprofit dedicated to reducing polarization, announces its Spotlight on Common Ground initiative to highlight instances of bipartisan cooperation across the nation, and the individuals who made them possible. This first iteration recognizes the 10 U.S. senators who helped craft the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which passed in the Senate 69-30.

After months of negotiations this bipartisan group of senators — composed of five Democrats and Republicans — helped shepherd through a bill that could easily have been derailed given ideological differences and the forces driving the nation’s divided politics. These legislators were among those included in CGC’s Common Ground Scorecard, which ranks candidates for office and elected officials on their likelihood to work with the opposite party. The 10 senators have an average score of 49/110, higher than the average score of 31/110 for all current U.S. senators. Their individual scores are as follows:

Susan Collins (R-ME): 60/110
Rob Portman (R-OH): 50/110
Mitt Romney (R-UT): 25/110
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): 50/110
Bill Cassidy (R-LA): 59/110
Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ): 57/110
Joe Manchin (D-WV): 75/110 (15th highest in the country)
Mark Warner (D-VA): 47/110
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH): 34/110
Jon Tester (D-MT): 42/110

“Too often, politicians are more focused on scoring political points than finding real solutions for the American people,” said Bruce Bond, co-founder and CEO of CGC. “These 10 senators reminded Americans what good can look like in the legislative process. We’re hopeful the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can be a foundation for future cooperation between the two parties.”