Marion Chronicle Tribune - Brooks Frustrated with Senate
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By Unknown
U.S Rep. Susan Brooks said she's been frustrated by the way legislation passed in the House has died in the Senate during her first few months in office, but she promised to keep a laser focus on her main priority -- job creation -- while assuring that homeland security remains funded.
Brooks was the featured speaker at the Local Elected Officials Dinner Thursday night at Converse's Rainbow Conference Center.
The event was started back in the 1980's by the Grant County Economic Growth Council as a way for elected officials to gather and share ideas and knowledge, said Executive Director Tim Eckerle. It's also the only event in the state that invites all elected officials.
Brooks' speech at the dinner was just the latest appearance in a hectic day.
Earlier Thursday, Brooks spent an hour in her Marion satellite office, affording her constituents the opportunity to express concerns, comments or questions in a face-to-face setting.
She also toured Marion's General Motors plant and spoke at the groundbreaking for Café Valley.
She said days like Thursday were actually the best part of her job as a Congress member.
Visiting with employers and employees, talking to community leaders and learning what all these diverse people care about is valuable, she said.
Brooks, a Republican representative for Indiana's Fifth District, assumed office in January, replacing the retired Rep. Dan Burton, and she sits on the Education and Workforce, Homeland Security, and Ethics committees.
She said the biggest challenge during her tenure has been "The way I believe we're getting things done in the House that go nowhere in the Senate."
"I come from branches -- the executive and judicial -- where you can get things done more efficiently than in the legislative branch," she said. "It's even tougher with a divided Congress."
Despite the body's low approval ratings and struggles to pass legislation, Brooks -- a self proclaimed optimist -- said she believed this calendar year provides a window to pass legislation before 2014, when representatives will begin campaigning in earnest for the mid-term elections.
Two issues she cited are tax code and immigration reform.
Tax reform has become a bipartisan issue, with President Obama and Congressional Republicans both claiming it as a priority.
Immigration reform would almost certainly prove to be a much more difficult task, and Brooks acknowledged any movement on the issue might have to be piece-by-piece, rather than one major bill.
She's been surprised by the rapid pace of being a member of Congress.
"The pace is intense, and there are a lot of meetings, but they're quick, and you don't get a chance to talk long," she said. "You're also expected to be well-versed in a wide variety of subjects quickly."
Despite the low opinion many Americans have of Congress, Brooks said she's actually been "really impressed with the quality of passion and intellect of all members of Congress."
"They are smart people who care very much about this country, but the partisanship is what prevents things from getting done," she said. "In the House, people are constantly running (because of elections every two years), and I don't believe our country is rewarding bipartisanship."
She said job creation remains her top priority, which is a major reason she's on the Education and Workforce Committee.
"It's a very job-focused committee," she said.
In addition, she appreciates her role on the Homeland Security Committee because "the federal government's top role is to keep our citizens safe here and abroad, and that's not something the private sector should be doing."
Gas City Mayor Larry Leach said he tries to attend all the Local Elected Officials meetings, which move around Grant County.
"We usually have a good speaker -- and tonight is no exception -- and you get a good cross section of (officials)," he said. "You can hear how other (local elected officials) are approaching problems, some of which you may have as well."
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