Mooney ready to get to business in D.C.
U.S. Rep talks talk agenda, McCarthy vote during Wood County visit
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PARKERSBURG -- U.S. Representative Alex Mooney said he wants to open opportunities for business to grow and address the needs of the people of West Virginia as he recently took his oath to represent this area in the House of Representatives.
The Republican congressman was in the Mid-Ohio Valley earlier this week touring businesses and meeting with people as he introduces himself to the area as its new U.S. Representative.
After West Virginia lost one of its U.S. Representatives due to the last census, Mooney defeated Republican U.S. Representative David McKinley for the new 2nd Congressional District in the primary.
"This is my debut tour as the U.S. Representative for Wood County," Mooney said. "We are here to hear from the constituents and hear what their needs are."
Mooney was not able to be sworn in until the early morning hours of Jan. 9 as Republican representatives in the House held numerous votes to elect the Speaker without the required majority until things worked out and Republican Kevin McCarthy was eventually elected as the Speaker. Mooney said such an event hadn't happened in over 100 years and there will be people in the future studying what they did.
He said he supported McCarthy throughout the process.
He talked about rules where members of both parties to make motions and offer amendments to bills as he felt individual members have had less ability to affect the legislative process in recent years with the understanding a proposed amendment can pass or fail by a majority vote.
"At least I get a vote on it," he said. "That is the whole process."
He said that while there were holdouts to McCarthy who wanted assurances to a better open process to how bills were presented and voted on which they think they got.
Mooney said McCarthy is going to try open Wednesdays where anyone can provide amendments on the House floor.
"There are some big bills," he said. "You may not agree with everything in there, but you have to make a judgment call whether to vote for it or not.
"Sometimes I will not if I think there is really bad stuff in there."
He said he has regularly voted against increased deficit spending, even if there is a lot of stuff he supported in the bill. He wants to see spending get under control as the national deficit is over $31 trillion.
"We have needs but let's live within our budget like everyone else has to," Mooney said.
Mooney said his legislative priorities include supporting legislation that supports oil and gas development , access to capital for people in rural states like West Virginia so people can start businesses or buy a home, make federal money available to build/repair roads and more.
"I still believe helping with the little things still matters," Mooney said.
People he has talked to in the area are concerned about tax policy relating to businesses to allow deductions for their taxes on equipment.
Other states are looking at recruiting businesses and something needs to be done that will keep businesses in the state, he said, adding broadband access is also a priority for many people. He pointed to Hardy County who was able to develop a broadband system that he feels others should look at and try to duplicate.
Others talked about workforce needs and getting people to fill positions. With some unemployment benefits, people could make as much not working as they can working.
"I want to make sure the policies I vote on don't create a system where welfare and government assistance is greater than working," he said. "That is a terrible system."
Some businesses rely on people coming into the country on visas to fill positions in agricultural businesses. There were issues getting the visas in place and getting the people in time for the beginning of the season.
"I hear a lot about not being able to find the people to fill the positions," Mooney said.
Officials at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center talked about a nursing shortage here and doing something that would make it attractive for people to come here. He talked to officials with Mister Bee Potato Chips about being able to buy more potatoes locally.
"A lot of it is reflecting the needs of the local community," Mooney said.
When the federal government cannot help or they get in the way, Mooney said he would look at the various regulations that might be hindering businesses or might be hindering infrastructure from being built. He wants to keep things safe, but do away with unnecessary regulations that allows people to do business.
"I would make sure regulations would not get in the way," he said.
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com