By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Republicans had a disappointing showing in the mid-term elections.
But northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says his party had some surprising successes. Graves says, overall, Republicans are disappointed the party didn’t gain more seats in the United States House of Representatives.
“But we did pick up seats in New York we didn’t expect to. We picked up seats in Florida. We picked up seats in California,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, that was a little bit of a surprise, the number of seats for instance that we picked up in New York.”
Graves says the party failed to play better defense, losing some seats Republicans had gained in the last election.
Graves says the priorities will change when Republicans take control in January.
“We’ll be working very hard to try to get a handle on slowing down this spending so we can get our arms around inflation,” Graves says. “We want to make the United States energy-independent again. That’s something that is vitally important.”
Republicans hold only a slight majority in the House. Once all the elections have been settled, it appears Republicans will hold the slim majority Democrats did with only about eight seats separating the two parties in the U.S. House.
Eastern Kansas Congressman Jake LaTurner, who won his first re-election bid, says that razor-thin majority means Republicans need to choose their fights wisely.
“So, for example, I think one of the fights that we should be willing to have is to defund 87,000 IRS agents,” LaTurner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I don’t recall anyone across the district telling me that we need more IRS agents. I think that’s a fight worth having.”
LaTurner also agrees Congress must get spending under control.
“We are $31 trillion in debt and counting,” Turner states. “We have to have a solution for that. We have to live within our means. We have to actually pass budgets. We’ve got to stop the trillions of dollars in out-of-control spending that’s happened over the last two years that has really contributed to inflation.”
LaTurner adds that since the party will enjoy only a slight majority in the House, Republicans need to stick together.
“In order to get anything done, we’re going to have to stick together,” according to LaTurner. “Of course, we’re going to have disagreements internally, but we would do best to keep those disagreements internal.”
Graves agrees it’s important for the House Republican Caucus to be united when the new Congress convenes at the beginning of the New Year.
“Obviously, what’s good for urban California is not necessarily good for rural Missouri,” Graves says. “So, you do have some differences when it comes to geography and some philosophical differences in many respects. But we are a united conference and we’re walking through the process of transition right now.”