Time with my constituents. When i leave here, i get on the plane, travel home, get off the plate and go right into district work. People say when you go home, you relax. That is not the case. Host how did you first make your way around the hill . How did you find out where to go . The whole orientation. i think rep. Lawrence i think that the Administration Committee did an amazing job with orientation. What they did that was so profound was that they included your spouse. Get a sense ofld what your world would be like. It was two weeks of going to all of our orientation except for security briefings, they were included in ethics, going on the floor to see where we would be sitting. What we would be doing. That was important. The other thing is that you got lost a lot. This is a massive building with tunnels that will take you places you have never heard of. Staffe Start Building i know how to get to the floor to vote and to the cafeteria. It was trial and error. They kind of laugh as you. They know you are Walking Around with that look and will say, are you lost . [laughter] host our cspan viewers may see you and other members in small chunks. Two minutes on the floor at five minutes at a hearing. Is that enough to express yourself and ask the right questions of people . What should viewers know . Rep. Lawrence what you see on tv are hearings, Committee Work is where legislation is groundouts. And they may not see all of that because it is another channel with the actual hearings. It could be like paint drying. That is where the work is and what the gives me a freshman here in congress where i have learned more. You also, when you see us on the floor, one thing that many people do not realize, we were actually talking about bills and legislation. And debating with our colleagues. You can see us cross over and talk to a republican, i need your support and why cant you do this . A lot of work happens on that employer when we are taking a load. That was surprising to me. Before coming to congress, it was like chaos. Its like people running around, just talking why arent they , sitting down being orderly . That is one time when every member of congress is on the floor. You can touch somebody and say i need to talk to you. That is something people need to look at. Our briefings have an amazing legislative staff. Every congressional office, we hire people and that is all they do is grind and dig into legislation. We have a lot of reading to do. We have caucus meetings. We have with meetings whip meetings. That goes on all day long. On issues and you learn more. Sometimes you go to another committee and sit in single or sit in so you can learn more about it. Host overall, what you make of the way the town and capitol hill operates . Rep. Lawrence whoo. There are some traditions on the hill i find amazing we still use. I do not know if a lot of people know that a person with white gloves and brings in the and puts it down that we are in session. I found that amazing. A tradition that has gone on for years. And i question sometime the partisan, i am concerned about that. Because for some issues we are all on board and it gets locked into a partisan issue. I just cannot understand. I will give you an example, Homeland Security budget. And there was not a member of congress who doesnt realize we needed to fund it and we got sidelined on an issue put into the bill. I keep saying this. If we agree on the issue and it is good for our country, and it is good policy, lets vote on that and take care of the peoples business. There are some things we fundamentally disagree on. Separate that. Lets grind that out. There is nothing wrong with partisan and discussing debate. Our country was built on that, democratic republican philosophy. Everyone thinks we have one of the best democracies in the world. I am not afraid of the grind or but do not grind on things we agree on. Do not implant devices, legislation into something we agree on. Lets put new eyes on the system. That causes me some grief. Host besides the massive reading you have to do for legislation, what else do you read . What do you like to read . In the office, outside the office, or at home. Rep. Lawrence well, for me i like to read newspapers. I like to know what is going on. I like to read editorials, comments. To me, is it gives me a broader view of what people are saying. If i read, i am going to read something that is fiction. I need some time to get away from the real hard issues and read a feelgood book. I love motivational books. That will give you tools on how to get through difficult, challenging times. I love the books on women in leadership. I am writing one it now. It is important to me for women who have been given the opportunity of leadership to really navigate through that and share that so other women can avoid some of the pitfalls or roadblocks. Host the size your staff, what is important in this room, your office . Mementos, pictures . Rep. Lawrence well, family. I never want to lose sight of how important family is. I have been married to my childhood sweetheart and i have an amazing granddaughter. I have two just great children. I just i think in everything you do, right now when im talking about education and my granddaughter is currently in school being educated. That brings it home. When i talk about it Long Term Care insurance, i think about my parents and grandparents who i was a caretaker for. So family kind of defines everything that we talk about here. It is hard for you to dismiss it from that. I will tell you that there are other things in here, different pieces of detroit i brought into my office. I am a member of a security, sorority, Delta Sigma Theta and i am so proud of the women. I would say life is defined, everybody has the same thing, the begin date and the end date. What is different is the dash in between. Im so grateful for me to be able to, for this dash that i have to be able to say i made a difference, not only in my city and school but in the country. , host as we begin to wrap up, you mentioned leadership. You were elected as a senior whip. Freshman went and then appointed senior whip. Why do you think they gave you those assignments and what do you hope to accomplish . Rep. Lawrence the senior whip, i was offered that by steny hoyer before i swore in. I said, you do know i am a freshman, right . He said, yes, but when i look at your background, the path you have taken and the experience and skills you bring, he said that is a voice i want at the table. As a senior whip, you are hearing the challenges, the legislation, and the bills. You are sitting there with other seniors to bring perspectives. How does this impact . What i want to do and continue to bring that skill set i have and i am so proud of the discussion of federal government. We were a freshman class of amazing people. And we have stayed really close. To have that trust in me, and i sent out a newsletter telling that what we are doing and different members and making sure we keep that closeness. Host and finally, back to the people you represent. How long would you like to serve in the house if they keep you . You ran for Lieutenant Governor at one point in michigan. Do you have larger aspirations of back home in michigan . Rep. Lawrence i am living and working my dream job. I have been given this wonderful opportunity. I want to serve as long as the people keep me there. As long as i have the fire in my belly, i was telling my staff and walking down the hall and said, i never want to lose this sense of awe. I still stand here and think about the history. And the people who walked the halls. I never want to walk in just feel like i am in a special place. If i ever lose that, i am going home. If i have that fire if i am , truly doing public work and taking care my constituents, i want to stay here. Host representative brenda lawrence, democrat from michigan. 14th district. Thank you for your time. Rep. Lawrence thank you. Cspan congressional freshman profiles continues with republican Tom Macarthur of new jerseys Third District. A longtime insurance executive, he talks about efforts to bridge the partisan gap. His familys charitable foundation, and his impressions of washington. This is about 20 minutes. Host congressman Tom Macarthur of new jersey, can you recall the first time you visited washington, d. C. . Rep. Macarthur a great question. It was when i was a kid. The first time i really remember being here and taking it all in was not a long after i was married. I came with my wife and before children. I would say 33 years ago, 32. Host just as a visitor . Rep. Macarthur just a visitor. Host what surprised you as being a member of the 114th . Rep. Macarthur an incredible privilege and tried to frame the to be part of the discussion, tried to frame the issues and move the country forward, represent people back home in new jersey and do the right thing by them. I hope it never gets old for me. Host what is the makeup of the Third District . Rep. Macarthur southern part of new jersey, only one district out of 12 south of me. It goes from the Delaware River outside of philadelphia clear , across the state to the ocean. And of the eastern side, the ocean side of my district, 30 miles of the most beautiful part of the jersey shore line. In Burlington County as you get towards philadelphia, a lot of farmland and beautiful country. It is a great place, hardworking people raising their families. A great place to live. Host as you came here as a member representing, what were some of the issues top of your mind or constituents they wanted you to address . Rep. Macarthur then and now, the economy. We have had a recovery that does not feel like a recovery. Unemployment numbers are going down but largely because people are dropping out of the workforce or taking part time jobs and trying to hobble together a living. It is really unfortunate but not a recovery at all. That is what the people back home most want to see if Congress Work together, democrats and republicans, and get it seems done to move our country forward. Host we saw news article that said it you have a regular practice of entering the House Chamber through the doors on the democratic side area why do you that . Rep. Macarthur i started to do it just because sometimes you go in one side and sometimes the other side. I stop and talk to people. And ever since which is been really most of my time, i do it every time now. I see my republican colleagues at different events, social events, political events. We convene as a republican conference. I have plenty of opportunity to be with my republican colleagues , but less so with my democrat colleagues. One of the things i observed, even before i took office during orientation process, the partisanship is built into the dna of this place. If you are not intentional about overcoming it, you slip into being a republican or democrat with very little interaction. It may seem like a simple gesture but an opportunity to get to know people. Host have you seen other members try to make that intentional effort of bipartisanship . Rep. Macarthur yeah, there are classmates of mine that came in at the same time, that believe that we were sent here to make the place work and you cannot do that if you only focus on your own party. You can get away with it some of the time on issues perhaps that have broad support across party lines. But on issues where it could go one way or another, if you dont cultivate real, genuine relationships with people in the other party, then i think those are lost moments. Host tell us about your background, and the experiences that you had trained you most or qualified you most for the position you are in now. Rep. Macarthur well, i always said as i was running as a businessman. The things that have shaped me and made me able to function and in this place with other people, because it is really a very human environment, are not just business but further than that. I grew up in a middleclass family. My dad was a midlevel government worker. My mom was a stayathome mom with five kids. It was a pretty lively house. My mother was a very liberal democrat and my father was a very conservative republican. He has moderated a bit through the years, he is 85 now. My mom was a democrat and my father was a republican. Grew up literally arguing religion and Politics Around the dinner table. I think it shaped me a lot. And i say mom, the mom that raised me. My birth mother died when i was four of cancer and my father had no insurance. I watched him work at least two jobs. For most of my upbringing, three jobs. I did not know it but to pay for family to Stay Together and have a life. It took him until i was about 19 to pay off medical bills from my mothers death and she died when i was four. I watched his work ethic and it shaped my work ethic a lot. I got married out of college, 33 years ago. My wife and i had our first child was born with special needs. And that kind of grew me up fast. I was in my early 20s. We had to make a decision that nobody wants to make which is what to do. We found out in the fourth month of the pregnancy if she lived, grace, would have severe handicaps. That shaped me a lot in life. We had grace and she lived to be 11 years old. Very, very difficult when she died. Very dark couple of years. We have adopted a child and another child about a year and a half after passed. Greece passed. Before i talk about business at all, those are the things that make a person a person. The things that make me feel compassionate when i see people struggling. My life has not been all roses. And i think government cannot do everything but the government , can certainly help. When i look at issues Like Health Care or immigration or job creation and economy, all of the issues whatever you might think of for me, it is trying to find were government can help real people have better lives. Host given your background, your experience with your mom and health care, is obamacare getting their rights . Rep. Macarthur unfortunately, i think not. I think free market is better. The intent is good and i think there are things i will keep , like coverage for the kids up to 26 years old, i think is good. Preexisting condition coverage is important. I came out of the Insurance Industry. These are things that came out of the Insurance Industry and Insurance Companies can model. I support that. I also believe we should have safety nets for those with no access to coverage. I think the federal government is the wrong place to do it. I think state plans like that would be a better place. I mentioned i was in business and as the other major thing that shaped my life. Host Insurance Business . Rep. Macarthur i got out of college, i was very lucky. Fell in love with my first job. I investigated insurance claims in the new York City Housing Authority projects. It was an eyeopener. I grow been a farm town working on a neighbors dairy farm and i was transplanted into manhattan. I really found it interesting. I ended up going into management and ultimately had a chance to run a very small company. And grew that from one office, 100 or so people to thousands of people. And i saw some things that helped and hurt. I saw where state and federal actions enabled us to do things and where it made it more difficult for us to do things. I learned to work with other people whether they agreed with me are not. Or not. That is how you get business done. Sometimes i made acquisitions. I sat at the table with somebody was my opponent in the workplace. And figured out what they wanted and needed so we could do a deal together. Those things i think combined with the things that have shaped me personally, have given me the ability to actually get things done. That is what i hope to bring. Host politics became something of all calling for you became a mayor. Rep. Macarthur ive always been interested in Public Policy and the role of the government. Studied history in college, and focused a lot on American Social history and political history. And yeah, i ran for local office and actually became a local councilman and a deputy mayor and mayor. I really liked it and felt i was pretty good at it. I have solved some problems that have been unsolvable in a town,
comparemela.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.