|
Cantor |
Rep. Eric Cantor, newly elected chief Republican House of Representatives minority whip, says part of his job will be guiding GOP members in Congress toward offering practical solutions instead of mere ideology.
Cantor, who represents the 7th District which includes parts of Orange, Culpeper and Louisa and parts of Caroline and Spotsylvania counties, was elected as chief whip this week.
That puts him in the party's No. 2 leadership position in the House. He had previously been a deputy whip.
Cantor said Republicans, who suffered losses in the elections earlier this month, must "rehabilitate ourselves" in the way they espouse conservative principles.
Cantor, who earlier this week told the Washington Times that Republicans in Washington are no longer "relevant" to voters, said he doesn't think those principles are unappealing to voters, but they need to drive solutions to problems of job security, the economy, health care, defense and other issues.
"It is to not just talk in ideological terms, but to make sure those terms are applied to practical solutions," Cantor said.
Cantor said the chief priority of Congress must be to get the economy going, and that he as whip is ready to work with President-elect Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and other Democrats--as long as they're working to lessen the tax burden on working Americans.
If Democratic proposals would run counter to that, he said, "it is our duty to serve as the check and the balance" on Democratic control of both chambers and the presidency, and "make sure our voice is heard on the floor of this House."
Cantor also said he hasn't seen Democrats offer specific plans for change, especially to solve the problem of the failing American auto industry.
He doesn't support the proposed bailout for the auto industry, which seemed doomed anyway yesterday.
"We would just be throwing good, hard-earned taxpayer money after bad," Cantor said.
He said Washington has for years operated under an "antiquated system of bureaucracy, and that Republicans want proposals to solve problems in a "radically different way," and want them soon.
For example, Cantor said one obstacle to people's feelings of security is the fact that if they lose their jobs, they usually lose their health insurance.
He'd like to see the law changed to provide more flexibility, so that health insurance is not tied to one's employer.
Chelyen Davis: 804/782-9362
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com
