US Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Amarillo) has hit the ground running as the new member of Congress from the 13th District of Texas, and he’s finding the job is somewhat different than what he expected.
Jackson sat down with The Clarendon Enterprise Tuesday morning and said he ran with the expectation that President Donald Trump would be re-elected, which would have given him an advantage as a former White House official.
“That seemed like a far-fetched idea,” Jackson said of the possibility that Trump would not be re-elected.
Now, the freshman representative is looking to work with moderates in the opposition party to try to get things done for the nation and the Panhandle.
“I’m going to try to work with moderate Democrats, but they are being suppressed by the far left,” Jackson said. “My hope is that they (the far left) will overstep, they will go too far, and the moderates will stand up so we can get some things done.”
Jackson has been appointed to the House Armed Services Committee, of which former Congressman Mac Thornberry of Clarendon was a member, as well as the Foreign Affairs Committee. He’s also part of the minority whip team; and even though he wasn’t named to the House Agriculture Committee, he will still plan to be a strong voice for area ag producers.
“No freshmen Congressmen from Texas were named to the ag committee,” Jackson said. “I’m going to be part of the leadership of a new House Ag Task Force that will work to find bipartisan solutions for our producers.”
He also said that he is first in line as soon as a position opens on the ag committee.
Until such time as moderate Democrats raise their voices to accomplish more bipartisan solutions, Jackson said he has no problem being the voice of conservative values in the face of a liberal agenda.
“They will not influence me,” he said. “They can come after me and come after my family, and I don’t care. I am willing to stand up to them.”
Jackson’s term in office began like no other. He was sworn in on January 3 and just three days later an angry mob stormed the Capitol. He said the day began with a peaceful rally for President Trump, but as Congress began the process of certifying the Electoral College votes, rioters entered the building and were soon trying to break down the door to the House chamber.
Jackson initially helped people ready their gas mask hoods before joining with three other Texas freshmen Congressmen in bracing the door to the chamber and arming themselves with pieces of furniture. As shots broke out, Jackson said Capitol Police evacuated the chamber through the Speaker’s Lobby.
“It was a terrible day for our nation,” he said. “Nobody thought that would happen, and 99.9 percent of Trump supporters would never do that. Most of them (Trump supporters) are people who don’t even leave trash behind after a rally, but (House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi is spinning the riot.”
Jackson said he plans to focus on ag issues, armed forces, foreign affairs, rural health care, and election integrity as he begins his term. He will continue to be pro-Second Amendment, pro-life, and pro-First Amendment, he said. He also is urging Republicans not move to the new MAGA Party or Patriot Party, which began organizing this week.
“It will be the biggest blessing for Democrats if it is successful,” Jackson said, noting that it will split the Republican vote. “As Republicans with relationships with the MAGA crowd, we have to work to bring everybody together and stay united.”
In looking for areas of common ground, Jackson thinks infrastructure is an area that Republicans and moderate Democrats can work together on, especially in terms of improving broadband access to rural areas. Defense issues and ag issues are also areas he hopes Congress can find agreement on.
As President Joe Biden issues a series of executive orders to overturn Trump’s executive orders, Jackson said he thinks that may be another area the parties can find some agreement on – the need to reign in the power of the executive branch for what should be legislative issues.
“Both parties need to take back some authority on these executive actions,” he said.
In working for the 13th District, Jackson said he has new people staffing his office with a combination of experience and new blood. His chief of staff and his legislative director in particular both have congressional experience, while he has new faces working in offices in Amarillo and Wichita Falls, including Clarendon native Jake LaGrone, who is serving as Jackson’s district director.
Jackson lives in Amarillo, but he still owns a home in Maryland from his time working in the White House. He says he plans to sell that as soon as possible and will be traveling back to the district whenever Congress is not in session so that he can continue to keep in close contact with the people he represents.
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