american democracy
by Shawntaye Hopkins Recently recognized for her commitment to bipartisan collaboration, Connecticut state Rep. Caroline Simmons believes working across the aisle is essential to restoring Americans’ trust in government and making a difference as a public servant. As a millennial, however, she also values age diversity in state legislatures. “Young legislators bring new energy and fresh ideas as well as a unique perspective of the issues facing young people in our generation,” Simmons said. “Older legislators certainly bring many strengths as well, including more life experiences and seasoned knowledge about how the legislature works, and it is important to have a mix of both.” In September, Simmons and Ohio state Sen. Frank LaRose received the Millennial Action Project’s inaugural Rising Star Award for their leadership in enacting bipartisan legislation and their commitment to bipartisan collaboration. A national, nonpartisan group formed about five years ago, the Millennial Action Project supports young policymakers at the state and national levels.
ISSUE 5 | CAPITOL IDEAS
Throughout history, each generation has had a problem to solve, whether it was reconstructing the nation after the Civil War or putting a man on the moon, LaRose said. And each generation has risen to the challenge.
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“We won’t know until the history books are written, but I feel like for those of us in our 20s and 30s, what our generational struggle is going to be is making civics work again, making governing work again, getting beyond this tribalism that exists in politics … and just making self-government function right again,” LaRose said.