It’s not easy in this era of hyperpartisanship in Washington, D.C., for federal lawmakers to reverse course on divisive issues.
But Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, did just that when he supports a “clean” spending bill to end the political standoff and reopen government.
He is setting an example of prudent leadership that other Republicans would do well to emulate — a group that includes Colorado’s three other Republican congressmen, who they will not support a funding measure unless it is linked to other issues, such as the Affordable Care Act or spending reform.
To be sure, Coffman is in a politically vulnerable district and we’re not naive enough to discount that as a possible motivation for his change of heart.
Truth is, it would better serve the country if more elected officials had to answer to a representative cross-section of voters instead of playing to a bloc that is ideologically monolithic.
