Problem Solving and Bipartisanship
People in the 36th District are sick of the partisan bickering and political gamesmanship that has led to extreme gridlock in Washington. As a doctor, I have always put people above partisanship and solutions above ideology, and those are the values I’ve brought with me to Washington.
I have made it a top priority to work with anyone who has a good idea, Republican or Democrat, to find pragmatic solutions to the challenges facing my constituents and our nation. Just recently I worked together with Representative Phil Roe to co-lead the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act, which eliminated the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a well-intentioned but misguided attempt to control rising medical costs, it threatened to put an unelected and unaccountable panel in charge of making cuts to Medicare. Dr. Roe and I gathered 270 cosponsors, worked it through the process, and it was signed into law as part of a larger legislative package. This is how we, working together on bipartisan solutions, can start making government work for the people.
Over the years I am proud to have sponsored 5 and been the Democratic lead for 5 Republican bills that have become law. My bills aimed at getting veterans the benefits they have earned and deserve more quickly and efficiency, reducing the appeals backlog, recruiting the best doctors to give veterans the best care, and most recently a bill which protects communities in the wake of a severe wildfire.
The fact is, it doesn’t matter whose name is on the bill, or what party it comes from, if it’s a good idea we have a responsibility to come together and support it.
More on Problem Solving and Bipartisanship
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Palm Desert) introduced three bills to increase transparency in Washington and protect taxpayers from unethical use of their tax dollars. The Ruiz Ethics Package includes the Public Service Transparency Act, the Coach-Only Airfare for Capitol Hill (COACH) Act, and the Campaign Spending Integrity Act. The fourth bill included in the package, the Public Service Spending Transparency Act, passed the House as part H.R. 1, the For The People Act, earlier this year.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) announced that his legislation, H.R. 1626, the Public Service Spending Integrity Act, passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support as part of H.R. 1, the For the People Act. The bill prohibits taxpayer dollars from being spent on businesses owned by the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and their immediate family. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), four of President Trump's trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort during his first months in office cost the U.S.
PALM SPRINGS, CA — Today, on the second anniversary of the deaths of local heroes Officers Gil Vega and Lesley Zerebny, Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) announced additional support for H.R. 5060, the Heroes Lesley Zerebny and Gilbert Vega First Responders Survivors Support Act, and discussed next steps for advancing the bill. The bipartisan bill was originally introduced in February of this year, and has steadily gained bipartisan support in Congress.
