Rep. Rouda Wants to Hit Ground Running on Wage Growth, Climate Change After Flipping GOP Seat
*By Justin Chermol and Carlo Versano*
Rep. Harley Rouda, the newly elected Democrat from California's 48th district, doesn't want to waste any time getting legislation to the floor that will stimulate wage growth, which showed better-than-expected strength in Friday's blowout jobs report but remains a concern for economists.
The freshman congressman, who flipped the seat held by 15-term GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher in the Republican bastion of Orange County, Calif., is concerned with the lack of income growth among American workers. Rouda intends to sponsor the Small Business Innovation Act, which will amend small business laws and allow federal agencies to dedicate money for research and grants to develop new products and technology. The [bill](https://twitter.com/RepHarley/status/1080967950385983488) is still in its inception, but Rouda said the goal is to help drive job growth.
"Everybody on both sides of the aisle supports small business's growth and development," he said.
Although Rouda is coming into Congress ready to work, the United States remains in the midst of a partial government shutdown, the fourth longest in U.S. history.
"It's unfortunate for the American public that we even have the Trump shutdown," said Rouda. He went on to echo a line repeated by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.): "His failure to do what our public wants, what our citizens deserve, is simply a temper-tantrum of the president."
The former Republican-turned-Democrat comes from a district that was swept from wildfires last year and represents nearly 80 percent of Orange County's expansive Pacific coastline. He said he intends to stake out ground on climate change initiatives, which will be a priority for Democrats in the House.
"This isn't an issue that just affects my district," he said. "It affects the entire world."
While other members of the Democratic freshman class have been dubbed the face of the new Congress, Rouda's traditional conservative looks aren't likely to attract the same attention. But Rouda expressed enthusiasm about the diversity on display Thursday as new Democratic representatives were sworn into office.
"That's exactly what our country needs is diversity in the House of the people to represent the people across our country," Rouda said. "It was a stark distinction between the two sides of that House yesterday and I'm very proud how the Democratic Party has embraced diversity at all levels, especially in the House of the people."
But Rouda differs from some of his progressive colleagues who are already calling for Trump's ouster, including fellow freshman, Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who made waves by saying on the night of her swearing-in: "We’re gonna go in there and we’re gonna impeach the motherf**ker."
Another California Democrat, Rep. Brad Sherman, has already [introduced articles of impeachment](https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-congress-impeachment-20190103-story.html). Asked by Cheddar's Megan Pratz whether impeachment talk was distracting from the shutdown, Sherman said no, and that "impeachment is on the table."
Rouda, however, demurred on whether he would call for Trump's impeachment, saying he wanted to give the Mueller investigation time to wrap up.
"We need continue to let him have that process," Rouda said. "And take appropriate action if the conclusion suggests we have to."
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