113th Congress: Jackie Walorski, R-Ind. (2nd District)

By Frank Oliveri, CQ Staff

Jackie Walorski, a favorite of the tea party movement, intends to push for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and the repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul.

Walorski also has a “huge” interest in national security, arguing Indiana could lose thousands of jobs if further defense spending reductions are put in place.

“Indiana would lose 16,000 jobs in defense and public and private sector jobs,” she says.

Walorski was elected to her first of three terms in the Indiana General Assembly in 2004. She rose to leadership, becoming the assistant floor leader for the Republicans. While in the legislature, she backed lower taxes and worked to eliminate what she called wasteful government spending.

Walorski said she would fight to preserve Social Security and Medicare, arguing that she has a vested interest given her mother benefits from both programs. She has expressed support for letting younger workers invest a portion of their Social Security taxes how they choose.

“It’s disconcerting to sit with your parent and find you’re turning over your future to your government, which can’t manage their money,” she says.

Like many colleagues on the right, Walorski has called for reining in EPA rulemaking and cutting taxes on small businesses. She also is anti-abortion and favors gun owners’ rights.