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Representatives Stivers, Beatty take ‘Civility Tour’ to Columbus School for Girls

WCMH-NBC4

COLUMBUS, OH (WCMH) – Central Ohioans in Congress say it’s time for the country’s political parties to work together, and to disagree politely when they don’t see eye to eye.

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D) and Rep. Steve Stivers (R) call it the Civility Caucus, and they took their message to the Columbus School for girls last week.

Beatty and Stivers led students through the same Civility Pledge that members of the congressional Civility Caucus take.

“Thirty of our colleagues have joined [the caucus] and they join in pairs: one Democrat and one Republican,” Stivers said. “It’s not just something we’re taking to central Ohio — we’re taking it across the country.”

“We’ve agreed to not be disagreeable and isn’t that what good government is about?” Beatty added.

Beatty said voters are thirsty for collaboration in Congress and their civility efforts resonate with young people.

So far, more than 1,000 students in Columbus and Upper Arlington have watched Beatty and Stivers wok together against bullying and for what they call the 3 C’s:  confidence, courage and collaboration.

Some of the students who have seen Beatty and Stivers’ so-called Civility Tour are surprised to see a Democrat and Republican going around asking others to be nice to one another.

“It’s surprising because it doesn’t happen that much today in this political climate,” one student said.

Stivers and Beatty say the concept of civility doesn’t apply to just politics.

“It’s about life. Social media and the things some kids are doing on social media, there’s lessons in here for everybody at every age,” he said.