GALENA, Kan. — With a sharply divided Congress, recently elected U.S. representatives agree they need to work with those on the other side of the aisle to get things done.
After his win on Tuesday night, Kansas 2nd District Congressman-elect Jake LaTurner spoke in Galena about his agenda, which includes items such as term limits, balancing the budget and welfare reform.
But he'll be in the minority in the U.S. House, as Democrats will hold the power for the next two years.
LaTurner addressed the need to get support from across the aisle to pass his platform.
"I know how to work with people across the aisle to find common ground," he said. "It’s not always on the big household issues that you hear about at the dining table every night. It’s hard to find compromise on some of these big issues that are so fundamental."
LaTurner will be working in the House along with Kansas 3rd District Congresswoman Sharice Davids, who won reelection for the first time, as well as Missouri 5th District Congressman Emanual Cleaver II. Both are Democrats, who make up that majority in the House, and they too look for common ground.
"I know that there are a lot of folks in this district who cast their vote for my opponents, and I want to make sure that everyone knows I’m going to work hard to make sure all voices are heard and every person in this district feels represented," said Davids as she addressed supporters Tuesday night.
"The extremes on both sides are going to have to be drowned out," Cleaver said. "They’re not going to stop. They’re going to continue to be hostile and saying things that are not helpful for the reuniting of the United States, but they got to be drowned out by those of us who are more or less in the middle. I believe we can do much better; if we don’t, we are in trouble as a nation."
The new Congress convenes at noon on Jan. 3, 2021.
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