Lawmakers reach across the aisle and make progress on issues, but the efforts go unnoticed because they don't create drama, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said Thursday.
During an appearance on CNN's "New Day," Heitkamp spoke about bipartisan efforts in the chamber.
"Let's take a look at what the Senate has gotten done [this year]. We've repealed No Child Left Behind in the huge bipartisan vote. We were able to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act, which hadn't been amended since 1970," Heitkamp said.
"And so, there are things that actually happen in a bipartisan way. … they don't generate a lot of drama. They don't generate a lot of controversy and go along unnoticed."
The House and Senate often are criticized for being too partisan and not getting anything done in Washington, D.C. Last week, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., spoke on the Senate floor and said lawmakers need to work on reconciling their differences to make progress.
"Our responsibilities are vitally important to the continued success of our republic," McCain said.
Heitkamp said the healthcare debate, which was dealt a blow last week when McCain and two other GOP senators voted against a measure to repeal Obamacare, started off poorly.
"The healthcare bill got off on the wrong foot because the problem they were trying to fix was a political problem," Heitkamp said. "I have seen nothing but broad reach across the aisle on what we are going to do to stabilize the markets and have a conversation on healthcare."
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