CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
Feb. 16, 2012 – 11:11 p.m.
House GOP Freshmen Shift Focus to Districts
By Richard E. Cohen, CQ Staff
Some freshman House Republicans have turned their focus to local issues that appeared to be of little concern to them when they arrived on Capitol Hill a year ago, eager to make bold changes in federal spending and in Congress.
Tea party–inspired firebrands are now championing nitty-gritty constituent needs they once derided as congressional business as usual and as pork-barrel politics.
The shift comes as the freshmen find themselves entering tough re-election campaigns as incumbent members of an institution with record low public-approval ratings.
But the rebellious nature of the members of the Class of 2010 has not disappeared. In fact, their new attention to parochial concerns has made it difficult for Speaker
Many conservatives oppose specific provisions in those measures that are drawing criticism from voters in their districts.
Colorado Rep.
Gardner’s rural constituents, some of whom transport horses as part of their livelihoods, are unhappy. “Local rodeo operators are up in arms,” he reported.
Without Earmarks, a Tougher Sell
Some freshmen find themselves torn between the pledges they made in their 2010 campaigns to rein in spending and a mounting need for public-works projects in their districts.
“This is the first time that we have a transportation bill without earmarks,” said House Republican Policy Committee Chairman
Illinois cities received “a windfall” of transportation projects when J. Dennis Hastert, then Speaker of the House, represented Hultgren’s district. “Now,” Hultgren said, “expectations are being downsized.”
Hultgren has tried to explain to constituents that decision making has moved from the leadership and appropriations committees to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on which he serves.
House GOP Freshmen Shift Focus to Districts
Wisconsin freshman
Duffy wants exemptions from an environmental law for a proposed bridge across the Mississippi River, separate from the consideration of the highway bill.
Some Broader Concerns
Not all of the freshmen concerns are parochial. Some of them are unhappy that the House-Senate agreement to extend the payroll tax cut, federal unemployment benefits and current Medicare physician payment rates (
“I have gone around Colorado and said that it was important that we pay for this bill,” Gardner said.
Conservatives say they understand the challenge that Boehner and other House GOP leaders face, but they will not vote for the payroll tax package or the infrastructure bill.
At the House Republicans’ three-day retreat in Baltimore last month, leaders stressed the need to maintain a united front and avoid brinkmanship that would divert attention from the GOP effort to reduce the budget deficit.
But many freshmen appear to have their own priorities. Their unwillingness to embrace Boehner’s bill linking highway funding with increased energy production forced the Speaker to delay action on the measure this week.
Compromise Becomes an Option
For some freshmen, however, compromise has become acceptable — even if it sacrifices conservative principles.
Boehner was mindful of the need to reach out to the huge freshman class when he tapped three of its members to be among the eight House GOP conferees with the Senate on the payroll tax bill. Each of them signed the conference report filed Thursday, and GOP leaders hope that will prevent mass freshmen defections when the House votes on the agreement Friday.
Some freshmen, especially those who do not face re-election worries, were looking beyond the payroll tax compromise and said they hope for a strong conservative message in the fiscal 2013 budget resolution that House Republicans will write next month.
“The freshmen came here to change Washington,” said