Today, we are on the verge of seeing Congress pass legislation providing economic assistance for individuals and companies. The debate continued so long that the close observer most likely suffered from viewer fatigue.

But, there is something different going on. A bipartisan group of Senators worked at working together. And, by doing so, they achieved something many had forgotten possible. Namely, the number of Senators backing a relief package exceeded 51 and that meant the Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, faced the possibility of having any one Senator call for a vote on the measure, something allowed by the Senate rules.

None of this just happened by accident. David Brooks tweeted that he was on a conference call discussing these developments with the the No Labels group (www.NoLabels.org) where negotiations on the $900 billion stimulus legislation were being discussed. He described a level of bipartisan enthusiasm not recently witnessed.

The measure does not provide liability limiting elements that Senate Leader McConnell said any bill must have before he brought it to a vote. But, the power of 51+ Senators caused a rare retreat by Leader McConnell. Bipartisanship and process finally worked to favor action over inaction.

It is being suggested that Leader McConnell moved off his objection because Senators in Georgia facing reelection are being hammered by voters for no stimulus package. This is surely true, but it had been true for some time. None the less, the political realities along with the vote count provided a path for McConnell’s endorsement.

Doing the big things that need to be done will require more not less of this. But, as the stimulus package moves to final passage, there is a sign of hope in the governing process.

Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

While some debate whether Albert Einstein is the original source of this quote, the power of the message in these time in which we live is beyond question.

Increasingly, people are asking how to get out of the mess we witness in Washington, D.C. While the balance of power in the Senate will not be fully known until next month with the special elections in Georgia, there will clearly be deep divides in the legislative branch giving the newly forming Biden administration significant challenges.

Can we rise above the course debate of the past several years?

I hope so, and I think so. The will of the people seems to show a strong preference for “getting something done,” as opposed to constant and frequently petty opposition for the sake of improving political positioning. However, if we are to find a more constructive path, the elected officials in Washington need more positive experiences around collaboration. Over time, the acts of compromise and negotiation have been eclipsed by less productive behavior. Simply put, relationships have ruptured and need to be repaired. All parties need to find a better, more productive path.

Just where might that be found? Well, tackling the nation’s infrastructure needs may be one area where agreement can be found. This is something about which there is agreement at the federal level as well as at other levels of government where infrastructure needs are appreciated. If focus on something with broad support can be done early in 2021, then perhaps the positive experience will bring potential agreements around more challenging policy debates.

While reasonable, this becomes possible only if behaviors really do change!

First, we the people as voters need to make clear that the same old approach is absolutely not deserving of our support. Nothing motivates elected officials more than the threat of losing voter appeal.

And, elected officials must be held to a higher standard.

It needs to be made clear that as an elected official, if you focus your time on delivering soundbites on cable news, then you are not serving people.

If you refuse to seek agreement through debate and compromise, then you are not serving the people.

If you think more about blocking action on important measures than finding a path forward, then you are not serving the people.

If you put partisanship ahead of policy making, then you are not serving the people.

And, on this last note, lest one thinks that partisanship is a safer place to be, the most recent Gallup survey asking about which party people identify with found that less than a third of voters identified with either Republican or Democrats. “Independent” is actually the place more people define themselves today than with either party.

There is a path forward, but it surely is not based on doing the same things that have been done year after year in Washington. We do need positive action on a host of issues confronting the federal government and as voters we really do need to demand results from both parties!

Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.

Again, the voters have spoken and one candidate won the necessary Electoral College votes sufficient to be elected President of the United States.

But, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris did more than that. They won millions more votes than an incumbent President. And, they did it campaigning as people who, if elected, would represent all of the people. Indeed, by they way they campaigned, they can now govern in a more unifying way.

So, after this hard fought election, I think we all may benefit from a pause to consider our hopes.

I do hope President Biden can govern in a way that brings the country together.

I hope that process starts now with a collaborative transition leading to a smooth flow of power to a new party and a new President.

I hope Republican leaders will realize that one reason millions more voted for the candidate in the other party is out of a desire to see an honest, fact-based approach to containing the coronavirus.

I hope Democrats and Republicans find common ground on initiatives related to the coronavirus, rebuilding our economy in safe and effective ways and rebuilding the reputation of the United States abroad.

I hope thoughtful conservative Republicans will work to rebuild a party that stands for things that are positive and constructive and lives up to our greatness as a nation.

And, I hope the Republican Party finds a few leaders among the ranks who can lead it back to compete around ideas and policies that impact all people.

I also hope that pundits, commentators and news personalities will leave the gotcha approach behind while holding accountable those in public office to really address facts and issues in ways that benefit us all.

It has been a long time since voters wanted to push reset on a presidency. While George H.W. Bush was not  reelected, he had served in the White House for twelve years when voters opted for a change. Thus, not in forty years has an individual serving in the White House for four years been turned away. May this be a message and the beginning of a process that involves our better selves in actions that address the real needs of all Americans.

Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.

The final debate of the Presidential campaign….and, the winner is? Kristen Welker, the moderator! She actually managed to moderate a discussion of sorts.

The key question to ask, after watching the debate or hearing the news reports, are you more inclined to vote for Donald Trump?

Going into the debate, I know of no poll suggesting the momentum had shifted. Polls tell us where voters are at the moment; and, at the moment a decisive majority of voters have trended to Joe Biden.

All the Trump campaign can do is wake up this morning and seek opportunities in key states.

However, to create an opportunity for Trump, voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Iowa, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and even Texas would have to had seen something about President Donald Trump to encourage them to support his reelection. Only time will tell whether this final debate made a difference in these key states.

There is a good deal of talk about how 48 million people have already voted. Truth is, that really is not all that relevant. Those voters had already made up their mind and it is highly unlikely that anything in last night’s debate would have moved them in a new direction. For most people, the discussion probably reinforced their views going into the evening.

What is important, is how many people go out and vote this weekend. If the numbers are high, it would suggest that people waited for the last debate and then decided. I would not be surprised to see early voting growing.

One other challenge for President Trump. While millions of people watched the debate and the follow on press coverage, millions will also watch President Trump’s performance this Sunday evening on 60 Minutes. And, thanks to the decision by President Trump to release his video of the interview, we know how that will go. And, there is no chance the 60 Minutes version of the interview will be better than the Trump video. What is clear is that most of the interview was a verbal battle over whether the President has a health care plan and on just how damaging Hunter Biden might be to his father’s campaign.

Health care is an important issue, but after watching the 60 Minute interview, Lesley Stahl will repeatedly remind people that the President has no health care plan. And, to the extent the President spends time trying to advance a Hunter Biden story, he is, in my opinion, dwelling on a topic few care to understand and even fewer will be moved by when it comes to their vote. Even on the President’s video, on neither topic did he look particularly strong.

So, the two major media events in the final days of the campaign stand little chance of moving the needle much when it comes to the electorate. In the end, the outcome surely hinges on something as old as elections themselves, voter turnout. If you care about how this election turns out, go out and vote!

Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.

I first learned that James A. Baker III would likely be President Reagan’s chief of staff just prior to the 1980 election. After the election and his announcement, my friend Mike Deaver told me Jim Baker wanted to see me in the Washington D.C. Reagan Transition office.

The meeting lasted minutes, but put me on a path for which I will always be grateful.

While we had met weeks earlier, he really knew me through Mike Deaver, slated to be the deputy chief of staff. He also knew me as a Californian who had been in the Reagan world since my days at UCLA when Reagan was governor. In the rush that is a presidential transition, I offered a California/Reagan lineage that helped Jim Baker as he was building a White House staff.

Craig Fuller and James Baker

The discussion was pretty straightforward. He told me he heard I’d be willing to join the White House staff. He had four different positions on the staff in mind and needed to juggle some things to figure out just which one would be the best fit.

So, he said, find a place to live in Washington, D.C.

This was late November 1980. I found a place to live, but a month later it still was not clear what position would be “best.” In December, he came to me and said the best position looked to be one reporting not to him but to Ed Meese who needed someone that could be counted on to fairly run the Office of Cabinet Affairs. He said it would be a great fit and we’d be working closely together.

Asked what I thought, as a UCLA political science graduate all of 29 years old, it sounded pretty good!

A few days later, in a meeting even more brief, Ed Meese, whom I knew well, asked if I would accept the position. I did. He got up to leave and said, let’s fly back to California in a couple days and we’ll discuss just what it means.

What it came to mean was full engagement for the next eight years in the White House, first as secretary to the cabinet and then as chief of staff to Vice President Bush.

Throughout the entire time, interaction with Jim Baker was a daily, sometimes hourly reality.

This first-hand view allows me to share that the quality of the book by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser about Jim Baker is remarkably accurate over the period of time we worked together. And, the willingness of not only Jim Baker but those who know him so well to let down the shield that often hides public figures, provides plenty of new and valuable light on the developments Jim Baker affected and the times that impacted his life.

It has been said that political power in Washington is like a bank account and you are either making deposits to build the account or taking out withdrawals to deal with challenges. There is no doubt that Jim Baker was a master at gaining power. There is no doubt that he focused on getting things done without always being burdened by philosophical debate.

What I saw, often delivered with remarkable cunning, was an individual determined to serve Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush the best way he knew how. Not even they always agreed with him. But, unlike many, he gathered strong people and cultivated a wide range of leaders not for his personal aggrandizement but to fulfill a mission.

The book just released is a remarkable and worthy study of a time and an individual that seem to have come together at a propitious moment in our nation’s history. His beginnings could not have predicted his impact in Washington. And, events could not have found a more able protagonist in the shaping of two presidencies and our nation’s role in the world.

Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.

Local news organizations have handed us a series of muckraking stories involving the Maryland Environmental Service, its former director, the state legislature and the governor. Seems pretty exciting. Also, might be all wrong.

Stories would have us believe that an individual – someone I have known for a long while –received a payment as he left one high-level position in State Government for the Maryland Governor’s office. The Governor and his staff seemed shocked…never heard of it…never approved it. Then we learn that the Board of the entity granting the post-employment payment did so because they thought the Governor approved of it.

Some story, right?

Well, consider this…the Maryland Environmental Service Act from the 1990s set up a “corporate” “instrumentality” of the state in order “to assist with the preservation, improvement, and management of the quality of air, land, water, and natural resources, and to promote the health and welfare of the citizens of the State…”

In every sense, about three decades ago, the State of Maryland decided to contract out to a corporation established by the state a broad range of environmental services. The Act specifically states: “The Service (MES) has all powers necessary for carrying out the purposes of this subtitle, including the following rights and powers set forth in this section…to have perpetual existence as a corporation.”

Anyone can find a very lengthy description of this in the Maryland Code, Natural Resources 3-102 through 3-130.

The Act separates the Maryland Environmental Service from state personnel systems and calls for it to establish its own. The Act even specifies methods by which people in state government will move into the new entity. The Act grants full authority to MES to set its budget, asking it to send a copy to the state Budget Office for information. The MES is to design its own strategic plan. Additionally, MES was granted authority to borrow money through bonds for projects making it clear these and other financial obligations were the responsibility of MES.

Indeed, the State of Maryland wisely decided that a more private sector approach to the large scale environmental services needed throughout the region would be better than allowing the functions to be part of a state agency.

Turns out, when Governor Hogan appointed Roy McGrath as the director of MES, the new director took his role, responsibility and independence seriously. During his tenure, the functions contracted for by the State of Maryland were performed and then MES successfully won contracts from other jurisdictions who chose to “contract out” for MES services.

Growth was fairly dramatic and the capabilities of MES expanded to better address the needs of entities throughout the region, including the State of Maryland.

Had Maryland decide to contract with a private corporation serving the region and then had the head of the organization been selected to go into the Governor’s office, few would have chosen to examine how the company compensated an outgoing leader.

Somehow, the current state officials who do not to understand the Maryland Environmental Service Act want to treat MES like the state agency it was specifically designed not to be by the Act.

Why then, the drama.

Well, most boards today would reward a very successful leader with a post-employment package. And, most corporate entities would not release the terms of such a package. For some reason, MES elected to do so. However, in doing so, they have allowed for comparisons with other organizations employing over 1,000 people with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues. Such a comparison could fairly suggest the director of MES is underpaid in the marketplace not overpaid.

Then there is the question of the Governor’s role. Honestly, he doesn’t have one beyond the power to appoint certain people. MES exists as independent from his authority. The MES board sets and determines compensation matters. If the Governor has a view, he is certainly entitled to it, of course.

Lastly we come to the intent of the outgoing director. I have not discussed my commentary with him; however, based upon the facts, he would be just in exploring a payment recognizing his success as the head of a multimillion dollar enterprise that has successfully pursued its mission during his tenure. And, knowing that the decision by the MES board to grant a post-employment payment had or would be made, the incoming chief of staff would be faulted for not advising the Governor of the fact.

Our saga could end here but for the fact some key decision makers elected to ignore their authorities and those of the Governor.

Reportedly, MES board members sought to know if the Governor “approved” of the payment before they made a decision.

Asked to confirm the Governor’s approval, the former MES director and current Chief of Staff indicated the Governor was aware and that this action was “anticipated.”

So, the MES board sought something that should not have been given (i.e. the Governor’s approval of a post-employment package) and when told he was aware mistakenly took that for approval.

As for the Governor, there have been three phases: first, no comment; second, there was no approval or knowledge prior to the MES Board’s action; and, three, I knew nothing.

Well, the Governor could be excused for not knowing the timing of the Board’s action, but text messages recovered seem to suggest “knowing nothing” is not a good place to hang one’s hat.

What has been missed in the breathless reporting of this story is the very sound reason for setting up the Maryland Environmental Service as the state legislature did in the 1990s. Also missed is that the structure demands much of the top leader of the organization to balance environmental challenges with financial challenges and considerable public needs. To find someone who actually flourishes in such an environment is without a doubt exactly what the sponsors of the Maryland Environmental Service Act must have hoped for with the Act’s passage.

So, the Summer Sizzler is more a Shakespearean tragedy where a high price is being paid by the one individual who did the most to advance the mission of the Maryland Environmental Service.

I surely will be asked why I took the time to look into this. Yes, in no small part because Roy McGrath is my friend. But, also because if we allow people who engage in important work on behalf of citizens to bear the brunt of criticism and judgements from those who elect not to understand the facts, then we will have a difficult time recruiting people with a record of experience and good ethical judgement to these roles.

What we need is less bureaucratic agency think and more executive leadership. In this battle, executive leadership is not winning.

Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.

You can learn about trends by spending time at smaller local and regional airports like the Easton Airport. While they lack, or are spared from, the arrivals and departures of commercial airlines, air traffic at some of these airports seems to be increasing. Recently a passenger who is also a longtime pilot explained one of the reasons and possibly a new equation about air travel.

At the outset, he suggested what most know, flying in private aircraft today is not inexpensive. However, by observing who is flying it is clear that men and women of all ages and various income groups are piloting private planes and flying in private aircraft.

The advantages are pretty clear and our source suggested that those who fly aircraft have always enjoyed freedom and flexibility when traveling around the country. While the travel time in the air might be longer than a commercial airline option, the flying is often fun and the total time “door to door” can be about the same or even shorter for pilots and passengers than the scheduled airline alternatives.

Reports indicate that the general aviation and business aviation communities have done much to improve the safety record of flying. The technology companies supporting the aviation community produce extraordinary technology now found in the most basic aircraft. Indeed, today’s pilots suggest the array of avionics in private aircraft often exceeds what is in the commercial airliner.

Add to this, there are over 5,000 public use airports in the United States today and the airlines serve fewer than 500 (a number that’s declining).

Some may remember that about a dozen years ago, there were projections that we might suddenly see more air travel utilizing on demand aircraft, so called air taxis. What did occur was number of aircraft used for charter flights and corporate travel grew utilizing the network of small and regional airports across the country as well as the large metropolitan airfields.

However, the most interesting point made was that like so much around us today, COVID-19 may, when it comes to air travel, present a new equation when considering flying in something other than a scheduled commercial airliner.

It was pointed out that no longer is the cost of flying represented just by the ticket price. Today, it must include new risks and not the kind where metal objects are colliding.

All of us know that doing anything in close proximity to others gives thoughtful people pause with the ongoing COVID-19 battle. Surveys suggest people are wary of returning to commercial aircraft. And, if that is not enough, some airlines have publicly announced that they will be filling all the seats again – an announcement that might please some shareholders, but is hardly welcomed by their passengers.

A recent Business Insider magazine headline appeared after an airline announcement: “American Airlines will start selling middle seats again as airlines bet that customers won’t care about social distancing in flight.” To be fair, this announcement and article appeared last month.

However, the threat from hotspots has become a growing concern. Remember when things seemed out of control in Wuhan, China and countries started banning flights from China into their international airports? Well, consider these two facts:

Today, in the middle of July, the following was reported in the Washington Post:

“…Miami was declared the latest ‘epicenter of the epidemic,’ and a senior medical official compared it to Wuhan at the height of China’s struggles with the virus.

American Airlines lists 7 direct flights a day into our region from Miami and another 137 options to take flights with various connections to get into the area…all in one day.

The point raised was that we are now operating in ways thought to present high risks just a few months ago. Thus, in a very real sense, the “cost” of commercial air travel must take into consideration the personal risk associated with moving through more crowded terminals to an aircraft that may well be full.

So, suggested this one non-airline flying passenger, it only makes sense to look at alternatives to the airlines for at least for the next few months and leave the flying to two people sitting just ahead of you in a non-airline aircraft.

All of this prompted a bit of research.

There are numerous travel options today that provide people with safe, comfortable professionally flown aircraft that will actually meet you near where you live….Easton, for example.

A company called Linear Air offers a range of options from single engine piston aircraft to light jets. Another company, Wheels Up, offers a fleet of beautiful and comfortable King Air aircraft flying with multi engine turboprop efficiency as well as a wide range of small and large jets. And, if you want, you can share the cabin with just a few other people going between the same airports.

These and a multitude of other organizations provide space for several people and even pets, not to mention all sizes of bags. And, no one needs to go through busy terminals. The two-person crew take great care to ensure the aircraft are clean and sanitized between flights.

It’s clear that one key to the success of private flying is a strong local airport and we are fortunate to have one of the best run airports in the nation here in Easton. They are fully capable of sharing options for air travel. Take a look at their website for more information.

So, when people feel the need to fly for a family outing, a working meeting best done in person or need to transport members of a family or a group of colleagues, consider an approach that reduces a risk that just could present the greatest cost of all.

Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.

The local Fixed Base Operators (FBO) who operate out of Easton Airport are Trident Aircraft, Maryland Air and Easton Jet Service