Retiring GOP rep: Congress ‘worse off’ than when he was first elected

Retiring Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) said Sunday he believes Congress is worse than when he first joined more than a decade ago, pointing to an increasing lack of bipartisanship.

“I think it’s worse off. I just don’t see how this is sustainable for the long term. But I believe things will right themselves. Sooner or later,” Dent said on ABC’s “This Week.”

Dent, who was first elected to the House in 2004, announced earlier this year he will not seek reelection in 2018. He has been critical of his own party under Trump, and was a vocal opponent of Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.

{mosads}Moore ultimately lost his election to Democrat Doug Jones.

Dent, who is co-chairman of the moderate Tuesday Group in the House, said he believes the primary process leads to fringe candidates who refuse to work with the other party. 

He said he’s encouraged his colleagues in Congress to think that it’s acceptable to reach across the aisle and argues that most voters will be understanding.

While Dent said he believes most Americans don’t support fringe candidates, he does believe that the country has become more polarized.

“I think that people are now just throwing up their hands and saying, you know, the two sides are just so different and so opposite that they can’t, they can’t agree on anything. And so why even try?” Dent said.