Rep. Tiffany talks positions, priorities in House majority
By: Evan J. Pretzer
Today, control of the United States House of Representatives officially switches to the Republican Party. It brings new division to the federal level after years of total Democratic Party control and puts Wisconsin’s Seventh Congressional District Rep. Tom Tiffany into the majority after several years in the minority.
The one-time member of the Legislature spoke to The Wausau Sentinel about his priorities in the coming session. While in a new position, he said how he conducts himself will not change and those who watch his actions should expect similar interest in what Republican peers have spoken about for years.
“I just think there are three big priorities for the people of Wisconsin and America at this point,” he said. “One is secure the border, second of all is to reduce energy costs and get back to energy independence and the third is to spend taxpayers’ money appropriately and get back to fiscal responsibility. Those three things are what I have consistently talked about while being in Congress and those are going to be the three big issues I am focused on here.”
Of course, in the past when one party controlled a chamber of Congress and not the presidency or the other half of the legislative branch, there has been a focus on messaging legislation not necessarily likely to pass. Republicans voted numerous times to repeal the Affordable Care Act when former President Barack Obama was in office and could have vetoed such a bill if it had succeeded. As well, Democrats have sent bills to the narrowly-divided United States Senate seeking to codify abortion into law which could not overcome the filibuster.
Tiffany added - despite presently supporting a bill he acknowledged does not stand a chance of passing with President Joe Biden in office - this is not something he has ever been too much into. For him, it is possible to set aside party squabbles to focus on serious issues at a time when Americans are expressing soaring dissatisfaction with the nation. He has partnered with Democratic Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson on proposed legislation already and hopes to do more regarding China and its aggressive posturing with anyone.
“We’ll continue to do that,” Tiffany added. “We’ll continue to do that with colleagues on the other side of the aisle that want to go along to end the permanent trade relations status that Communist China has at this point. I think it should be done on an annual basis and there’s places that we can agree to work on and I will work with people wherever I can to find common ground.”
Tiffany also said he voted to ban earmarks in contrast to the majority of his colleagues in an earlier decision, wants to improve regional rail service, and will continue serving constituents as he has so far. However, for Will Mowchan of Superior, there is a long way to go before he will ever be a supporter of Tiffany.
“Where is your or any GOP plan for immigration, or anything else?” he wrote on a post of Tiffany’s criticizing money given to Ukraine in a recent budget vote. “You attack. You whine. You misrepresent positions you disagree with. You play Mr. Good Neighbor. You stoke resentment. But you do little to support Americans.”
Those wanting to track Tiffany’s record during his time in Congress can here.
Read the article here.