Steil pushing forward: 'There's a need to have everybody in the room'

During the campaign, Republican Bryan Steil said at every stop that he'd come back regularly to the district and meet with constituents.

It didn't take long for Congressman Steil to do just that for the first time, holding two days of listening sessions. These came after the longest partial government shutdown in American history ended and as a threat of another shutdown — or national emergency declaration — looms if Congress and the president can't agree on border security.

Steil admitted that Washington's gridlock already gets to him. It's not like the private sector where businesses run and decisions are made every day.

"I'm incredibly frustrated," the Janesville Republican told about 50 residents who attended his listening session in Mount Pleasant last Friday.

Just after the shutdown began Steil penned a column for the Kenosha News. He wrote at the time:

"... As a new member of Congress, I am determined to tackle this issue head on. In order to do so, my colleagues in the House must come to the table and find common ground while addressing border security. ... It's time Washington focuses on getting things done rather than grandstanding for political points. We must be deliberate, productive and offer serious proposals. I didn't come to Washington because it would be easy. I came here to solve the tough issues and get results for Wisconsinites. Let's get to work."

Last week, coming off several weeks of gridlock, Steil told residents that he's on board with President Trump's $5.7 billion proposal to secure the U.S. southern border with a wall. "But it's one piece of a broader puzzle," he said. "I think both sides need to come to the table with a resolution."

Whether you agree with Steil on wall funding or not, his approach to what happens next is something we should hear from all members of Congress, rather than partisan soundbites and tweets.

Here's what Steil told residents at both the Mount Pleasant and Bristol listening sessions:

"What we're seeing is people not talking to each other," he said. "I think there's a need to have everybody in the room. Nobody should be allowed to leave until (a resolution) is done." And members of Congress should not be paid when there's a shutdown, he added.

We encourage Steil to push forward and join forces with others in Congress on both sides with similar views. It's time they start working together. If they are listening to voters like Steil is, they would hear that.

"My goal is to be as accessible as I can," Steil said during the listening session in Bristol on Monday. "I love hearing what people's thoughts are on policies."