Ohio's Governor Mike DeWine and Kentucky's Governor Andy Beshear recently came together at the University of Cincinnati for a chat that seems to have genuinely shown bipartisanship isn't just a pipe dream. They were there to discuss, not just the mundane workings of local government, but the broader strokes of infrastructure and national issues that impact us all. The event, smoothly moderated by former U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, was fittingly titled “Across the River and Across the Aisle,” and apparently, it hit a nerve because they had folks lining up out the door.
The talk, organized by the UC's Portman Center for Policy Solutions, wasn't just an academic exercise. It brought to the table real-world collaborations like the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, and even the touchy subject of the federal government's shutdown. You could pretty much feel the political tension just waiting to snap, but the governors, according to accounts, managed to successfully navigate to keep the conversation constructive and focused.
According to a University of Cincinnati report, Center Director Andrew Lewis introduced the speakers and highlighted the significance of such a bipartisan effort. UC President Neville Pinto also chimed in to stress the governors’ shared view on higher education. “Gov. Beshear and Gov. DeWine, each of you has consistently prioritized the importance of strong, well-supported universities and colleges as engines of opportunity, discovery and talent,” Pinto said in his welcome speech.
The event also had a bit of a homecoming vibe, as Pinto noted Gov. Beshear's Kentucky ties—paving the way for this kind of cross-border collaboration doesn't exactly come out of thin air. It's built on a bedrock of interconnection that, when done right, can certainly shine as an example of states working together. The full-house event drew coverage from C-SPAN and local news outlets, making it clear that folks are still interested in civil dialogue and cooperation, no matter how rare it might appear on the national stage these days.
