Exchange-program congressman visits Womack’s turf

FAYETTEVILLE — Third Congressional District Rep. Steve Womack, a Republican from Rogers, looked out from the control tower atop a crane and watched J.B. Hunt trucks being loaded at the harbor of Tacoma, Wash., in September last year, an organizer of the trip remembered.

Last week, Womack’s counterpart and host in Tacoma visited the headquarters of the transportation company in Womack’s district.

Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., and Womack participate in an exchange program intended to remind members of Congress of shared interests and common nationality in a time of partisanship.

“Members of Congress used to move to Washington [D.C.] and send their kids to the same schools,” said Jonathan Perman, co-director of the American Congressional Exchange of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Chicago. Perman accompanied the two congressmen on Kilmer’s tour of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville on Tuesday and other Northwest Arkansas sites Wednesday.

“There was a chance then to get to know one another,” Perman said. “Without that, it is hard to build relationships. Without those, it is hard to get anything done.”

So the exchange approaches different members of Congress and asks: Is there someone on the other side of the partisan divide that you would like to know? Womack chose Kilmer.

The two work together on the House Appropriations Committee. Kilmer also joined the special, bipartisan committee Womack formed while he was House Budget Committee chairman. The group attempted bipartisan budget process changes. Womack said Kilmer’s contribution to that effort impressed him.

“We share a common desire for Congress to work together,” Womack said. He added that Kilmer is now chairman of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, which makes recommendations on making House business more efficient and more accessible to the public. It’s a change-oriented body similar to the budget overhaul committee, he said.

For Kilmer’s part, his 6th Congressional District in Washington state needs more of the industrial development and economic growth in general that Womack’s Arkansas district has, the visiting congressman said.

The exchange program was started 12 years ago by four former majority leaders of the U.S. Senate: Republicans Howard Baker of Tennessee and Bob Dole of Kansas, and Democrats George Mitchell of Maine and Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Perman said.

“During impeachment, Congress can and should continue its work,” Perman said. “Major legislation was passed during both the Clinton and Nixon impeachments.

“What we do is not focused on the executive branch,” Perman said.