Congressman, good to see
you for it to be with you.
Jason, let's talk about something
we haven't heard a lot in DC.
That is problem solving.
You're a member of this
Problem Solvers caucus.
We haven't addressed it on this program.
I know you've been around
for three or four years,
but tell me what? What the
caucus is doing, and whether you think
it's actually made a difference, sure.
Well, the problem Solver Caucus
is a is a caucus of today,
56 members of the US House, Half Republican,
half Democrat and we have started.
We basically built a Senate chapter
or they called themselves the Common
Sense Caucus over in the Senate.
And that's actually eight
Republicans and eight Democrats,
and we are meeting regularly in
discussing important issues, and I.
And really, the cares for package
was really the result of that
bipartisan bicameral discussion.
It's very important that when
you come up with a solution,
it's not just working in your Chamber,
it's gotta work in both chambers
and the acceptable to the executive.
Yes, the hard work that was done in
the fall we announced the bicameral
bipartisan cares for package
actually right after the election.
It was actually passed into law in
before Christmas so that that was
very proud of the rich across the
aisle getting things done and trying
to solve real problems for Americans.
You obviously have a reputation for that.
Let me ask you about about cares and
a follow up to any stimulus that
might be out there because a lot of
Texans are wondering will there be.
More stimulus president. Former
President Trump and now President Biden.
They want the additional $1400 added to
the 600. The house is already passed.
Do you see that happening,
and if so, when? You
know, obviously been in been in
discussions with with Republicans
Democrats in the House with Senators,
Republicans and Democrats and and actually
the White House over the last week.
And I think you're really going to
have to see a more targeted approach.
Sort of a lesson everybody. A check.
I'm actually later not gotten complacent.
My district, you know.
Hey, why am I getting a check?
I haven't gotten a pay cut.
My hours have been hurt.
I actually got a raise.
I got a bonus.
Things are actually good for my family.
I don't. I don't, this isn't right.
Yeah, appreciate that sense of of
hey let's help people that need help
and that's certainly where I am and
so I think we need to be thoughtful
and targeted in how we think about a
rather than just sort of blasting it
out and knowing that we're spending
too much money to people that don't
need it and not sending enough
money to those who really great.
How long will that take though?
To figure that out to solve that
problem? Well, we're we're.
We're working on that as we speak, you know.
And so you're watching.
Republicans in the House and
the Senate sort of say, hey,
let's target morning you're seeing
some Democrats sort of quietly
discussing with the White House.
Hey, let's try to target this.
Let's try to take the price tag down
to something that we can all afford,
because remember, we're borrowing that money.
Went back today. It isn't free.
And so to think he was going to spray
eight out and it'll all be fine.
Don't worry about it,
I think is his irresponsible. I
want to ask you about moving
forward because you're widely
seen as somebody who's kind of a
middle of the road type of a guy.
The FBI, just a few days ago,
put out that warning of about potential
violence from domestic extremists.
I'm curious how you think the
country moves forward from here,
especially after what we
saw in DC this month.
Sure, well, let me first say I condemn
political violence on the left and the right.
This is not the way that our
country should solve problems.
We have a political process
to solve problems.
We have a Democratic Republic.
People can vote for their representatives
and then send them to go discussion.
Hash out those issues.
I think that there are
certainly some very raw wounds.
Right now you know around
this country and in Congress.
And I'm certainly working to try
to bind those wounds up because
there are important things that we
need to do as a country to come out
of this pandemic and rebuild our
economy. Politically speaking to congressman,
former President Donald Trump.
He's really kind of becoming a
wedge inside the Republican Party.
Some people like Senate
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell,
suggested that it's time that
the GOP moves on, but many Trump
supporters are not ready for that.
How do you think this is going to end?
Well, look at you.
You've had a former presidents since
George Washington and they have an
influence in the in the country's future
and overtime that influence fades.
And as the course of time.
And so I think that you know you're
going to continue to see President Trump
be a very influential figure within
the Republican Party for years to come.
But I think that you know different
issues and different challenges are in
front of us and we're going to address
those as best we can in summation.
Finally, Congressman,
ask about the Four Country Caucus
you likely might have sent to a
leadership position inside the caucus.
This is something different
from the Problem Solvers Caucus.
Tell me briefly what
this is sure for Country Caucus is.
About 25 members of the US House,
approximately half Republican,
half Democrat, all Post 911 veterans.
Most of us served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As you know, I served as a marine in Iraq.
It looks like I'll be the Republican
Co head of the Four Country Caucus in
my Democrat counterpart Jerrod Golden,
another Marine infantry squad leader
in Iraq and Afghanistan from Maine.
And so we worked together were.
A more diverse ideological,
physiologically group.
Then the problem solvers.
But we we got some good things done
last Congress helping Gold Star
families working on responding to
the health pandemic by expanding the
reserve healthcare or other things.
And we're going to work to try to
make our country better country
and governed by working together,
reaching across the aisle,
building on our common bond as veterans.
Alright,
Congressman is always good to talk
to you. Thanks for that.
I'm great to be with you, Jason.
Congressman is fantastic.