Voters should have the information they need to make an educated decision in the next election, no matter what party they are voting for, Rep. Steve Pearce said.
Pearce spoke to about 20 students and community members Thursday in the SUB.
He said it doesn't matter what side of the party line a voter is on - Democrats and Republicans should work together to find solutions.
Pearce, a Republican vying for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici, spoke about his views on issues that face Americans.
He said a country divided by party lines cannot adequately govern the country. Democrats and Republicans should work together to pass legislation that will benefit Americans, he said.
"He's never going to come here, and I'm never going to go there. You are electing people that are further and further apart," he said. "Every district should be a toss-up district where people have to fight on the battlefield of ideas. If my ideas won't stand the scrutiny with you, then my ideas would fail, Democrats or Republicans."
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Student David Goldenberg said he is a registered Democrat, but that doesn't dictate the way he votes.
"I thought he said some pretty good things, but I didn't agree on everything he said. I am personally a Democrat, but when I find Republican candidates that can kind of come to the middle on a couple of the issues, it shows he actually wants to get things done," he said.
Goldenberg said it is impossible for voters to know how an elected official will vote while in office, but it is reassuring to hear a politician who is willing to work with others.
"Nothing gets done when you have two people at completely opposite ends talking about their ideas all of the time," he said.
He said politicians should go beyond party lines and work together on legislation.
"When I see more people like Barack Obama and Congressman Pearce, it is a good sign to me, because it is people that want to work for the people and not worry about the left or the right, Republican or Democrat," he said. "Because at the end of the day, we are all people. We all have the same needs."
Pearce said people need to work together to understand different political perspectives, especially when it comes to the future.
"Your generation has tremendous risks economically to maybe not have the standard of living that you are used to in your lifetime," he said. "What that means is that there is going to be economic chaos in the lives of our families."
The power of young people to earn a living could depreciate by 20 to 40 percent, he said.
Pearce said he has worked to combat that by voting to lower taxes and work to implement regulations in the U.S. government.
He said it is important politicians reach out to younger and inexperienced voter constituencies, such as college students.
"We cannot stand here and do political gamesmanship for an hour. I get down. I get into the subject," he said.
