GOP, Democratic lawmakers pairing up again for State of the Union

It was mocked as a congressional prom, a date night and an empty gesture, but bipartisan seating for the State of the Union is back.

Sens. Mark Kirk and Joe Manchin -- a Republican and a Democrat, respectively -- will sit together during the president’s Jan. 24 speech, the senators announced Friday. They’ll join at least 40 others who have agreed to sit with a member of the opposite party, although some have not announced their date.

The list is being kept by the nonpartisan group No Labels, which pushed for bipartisan seating last year and is reviving its efforts. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) are leading efforts in Congress.

[For the record: 1:55 p.m., Jan. 13: An earlier version of this post incorrectly said Sen. Mark Udall is a Republican.]

The idea had special resonance last year as a way to show signs of unity in the wake of the shooting of Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords. Lawmakers said they found the pairing up a welcome and rare opportunity to get to know a colleague from the other party. Tradition dictated that Democrats sat to the left of the podium in the House chamber, and Republicans on the right.

“After spending a year in Congress, it’s clear to me that we must find ways to work together for the good of our country, and I believe that this new tradition demonstrates our commitment to put party and politics aside,” Manchin, of West Virginia, said in a statement.

Kirk (R-Ill.) said he and Manchin plan to take the gesture a step further “with a renewed launch of our weekly bipartisan lunches and inviting both parties to join us in finding common ground on deficit reduction and tax simplification.”