Strong cases for bipartisanship

The column by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, “As COVID-19 pandemic rages, nation needs bipartisan action,” is a welcome response to the current political gridlock.

It is really unconscionable that our leaders can return to the warmth and abundance of their homes while millions of their constituents face eviction, homelessness and increasing food insecurity. This is truly a mean-spirited approach to this season of giving.

And this does not even begin to address issues of a global response which is necessary to resolve a global pandemic. To quote Hogan: “This crisis has been a stress test of our federal political system and it’s failing — badly.” We need a robust COVID relief package including U.S. and international development aid. Leslye Heilig

Great Barrington, Mass.

Gratitude to USA TODAY for your spot-on column “Joe Biden can work with conservatives on climate change. Many of them are ready to act.”

Bob Inglis sees the writing on the wall: Climate change is a winning issue and we can work together to solve it.

President-elect Joe Biden understands that members of all parties care about climate change. In a recent speech, Biden preached unity: “Hurricanes don’t swerve to avoid red states or blue states. Wildfires don’t skip towns that voted a certain way.

The impacts of climate change don’t pick and choose. It’s not a partisan phenomenon, and our response should be the same.”

Inglis knows as a former conservative legislator that “successful climate action will be made durable by being made bipartisan.”

He reminds us that on climate change, “a community of conservatives is ready to help.”

We need courageous conservative voices at the policy-making table to make this work. Susan Atkinson Durango, Colo.