Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, has long been known for his bipartisan approach to legislating, dating back to his time as the first Democratic Senate President Pro Tem, when he appointed then-Sen. Phil Scott, a Republican, to chair an important committee.
That said, bipartisanship is in short supply in Congress, where Welch now serves, especially with an incoming Trump administration.
“All of us serving here decide how it is we want to serve,” Welch told the Burlington Free Press. “For some folks, their motto is the firebrand, in your face, escalate the rhetoric constantly, appeal to the base. Others try to find common ground and don’t escalate and try to find a way to actually get something done.”
Caitlyn Kelleher / Burlington Free Press
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, shares Welch’s bipartisan approach. Britt met Welch at freshman orientation for the Senate in November 2022, where she says they bonded over a discussion of the bipartisan legacy of their predecessors: Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont and Richard Shelby, R-Alabama.
“Shelby and Leahy had very different political views, but they were the closest of friends,” Britt said. “We talked about that and the importance of their relationship to get big things done for the people they served and the nation they served.”
Britt has a picture of Leahy in her office, she said, to remind her of the relationship he had with Shelby and the difference it made for both the Congress and the country.
Leahy and Republican Alabama senator set the standard for bipartisanship
Last January, NPR reported that Shelby and Leahy received a standing ovation from their colleagues, on the eve of their retirements, for working together as chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Committee respectively, to hammer out a spending bill that would fund the government through last September.
“That meant the Senate and House could go home feeling they had done the basic fiscal housekeeping that is their job. And if you think that happens every year, you have not been watching,” NPR wrote. “Over their combined 92 years on Capitol Hill, Leahy and Shelby were known for working quietly and relentlessly for goals they cared about and could mobilize broad support for. For many who knew them, respect gave way to genuine fondness.”
Rebecca Hammel
Britt said she and Welch are determined to continue that legacy.
“Peter and I from orientation have become friends,” she said. “I think it’s clear we have very different political beliefs and perspectives. Both of us know that’s OK. Having the opportunity to find ways to work with him, to find ways to advance things we both believe in, is important for the people we serve and the people of the country, to have that hope.”
Welch is working with Republican senators on a number of bills
Last year, Welch worked with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to get signed into law the TRANQ Research Act. The bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop new tests to detect xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, in the nation’s illicit drug supply, and to establish partnerships with the organizations dealing firsthand with the deadly drug, also known as tranq.
In addition, Welch is working with senators across the aisle on:
- Patent Thicket Bill, with Sens. Mike Braun, R-Indiana and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota
- ReConnect Rural America Act, with Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas
- SAP Act and MAPLE Act, with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine
- Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, with Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio
- Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, with Sen. Mike Braun, R-Indiana
- Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) Act, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska
Why bipartisanship matters
Welch believes there are several reasons to take a bipartisan approach to legislating. The first is that to be effective as a legislator you have to get allies in the other party, and the best way to achieve that is through bipartisanship.
Second, Welch said, a bipartisan bill is durable.
John Shinkle
“If it’s all R or all D, you win that battle, but the fight goes on,” he said. “It’s the only way to have your accomplishments endure.”
Third, and most important, Welch takes the view that the people he represents are facing the same challenges as the people in red states.
“We have to get better broadband in Vermont,” Welch said. “When I talk to Republican colleagues in Kansas, they need better broadband. We need less expensive medication. (That’s the goal) of the Patent Bill with Senator Braun from Indiana. His folks are paying too much for prescription drugs.”
Welch hopes to continue working with former Sen. JD Vance, soon to be Vice President Vance, not only on expanding the availability of broadband in rural America, but also on reducing interchange fees, also known as swipe fees, charged to businesses by credit card companies.
“Visa and Mastercard charge the highest fee to our merchants, our small businesses, in the world,” Welch said. “Our merchants pay three to four times as much as Europe, so they’re getting ripped off. JD understood that. I will continue to work with him.”
Strong areas of disagreement remain between Welch and his Republican colleagues.
“I’ll fight against (the Department of Justice) going after political adversaries,” Welch said. “I’ll fight against the extension of the Trump tax cuts and threats against Social Security and Medicaid.”
Fetterman: Welch is ‘nicest dude in D.C.’
Welch and Britt have also formed a friendship with fellow freshman Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, who has become known for not always toeing the Democratic party line. Politico reported last January that Fetterman’s strong support of Israel and of stricter border policies have been welcomed by Republicans.
“This is honestly the truth, I thought, ‘Is this guy f-ing with me, is this some kind of Jedi mind thing, or whatever?'” Fetterman said.
But Fetterman soon realized there were no ulterior motives behind Welch’s friendliness.
“He really is a nice dude,” Fetterman said. “Peter and I can disagree on some issues. That’s never gotten in the way of that. I look forward to hanging out with him, having dinner. My gosh, he’s really a treasure here. He definitely makes the Senate better.”
Fetterman is anticipating a difficult start to the year under the Trump administration.
“For the first two years minimum they’re going to have the majority and the presidency and they’re going to drive the narrative and they’re going to have the votes,” Fetterman said. “The thing is, Peter’s never going to be the bomb-thrower, he’s not going to be the guy getting in people’s faces. He’ll be the guy to extend his hand or find a way to work together on things we can agree are important for the states and the nation.”
Story Written by Dan D’Ambrosio, Burlington Free Press