Congressman Mike Johnson, R-Shreveport, might not be a name that’s in heavy circulation in Baton Rouge, but he just recently became a major player in Washington, D.C., thanks to his election as the new chairman of the Republican Study Committee.
It’s a notable feat for a first-term legislator. The RSC is Congress’ largest gathering of conservatives that was formerly chaired by U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Jefferson Parish. So it’s known as a stepping stone to bigger things. Johnson recently agreed to the following interview with LaPolitics about his new position and the happenings on the Hill.
Here are the highlights from the Q&A with Shreveport lawmaker (edited for length and clarity):
You’re someone who has a keen interest in the nuts and bolts of policy, going back to your days in the Legislature and even earlier than that. How does this interest in policy fit into your new role as chairman of the Republican Study Committee?
“I really feel like in the 116th Congress, which starts in January, I think RSC will arguably have the most important moments in its history to provide a steady voice and what’s always been known as the intellectual firepower to defend and advance our core conservative principles.”
Have you heard from some of your predecessors in this position and, if so, what kind of advice and insight have they been offering?
“I sought that out, of course. Many of those former chairmen are close friends and confidants of mine already. Jim Jordan is a very close friend of mine in Congress and, of course, Steve Scalise and I go back a quarter century. I have already spent time with several of those guys, sort of grilling them on their thoughts and ideas. We’re entering unchartered waters in so many ways.”
Two big-ticket items for Louisiana, the flood insurance extension and the Farm Bill, are on the table before the 115th Congress wraps. Are you confident that both of these measures will get resolved before the term ends?
“I certainly am. Obviously, it’s critically important to Louisiana that we get both of those items accomplished. You know, with the Farm Bill, the conferees from the House and Senate are currently debating discrepancies between the House and Senate bills still. With the flood insurance program … we’ve been working on a long-term reauthorization and that’s desperately needed because we have got to provide certainty for individuals who want to buy or sell or build a home or business. There are a lot of negotiations still going about the long-term fix, but I’m very confident that we will get a temporary reauthorization before Nov. 30 so nobody is left hanging on it.”
They said It: “I don’t think we should panic at all.”—Economist Greg Albrecht in a Tweet about falling oil prices, during this week’s Revenue Estimating Conference meeting
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
