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."
Joe Kennedy III, a former congressman and co-founder of Give Us the Ballot, joined Cheddar News to discuss voting protections in the United States and how his campaign is aiming to fix the issue of voter suppression. "Yes, redistricting is critical — Give Us the Ballot though recognizes it's 'redistricting, and —', because voting rights has an implication for every single election at every single level: school board, mayor, city council, House of Representatives, Senate, president," he said. Kennedy also gave his thoughts about the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer.
Big Apple workers who deliver for food apps like Doordash and Grubhub will now receive a number of legal protections provided through a package of new regulations that have started going into effect. These updated rules include more control over their deliveries, pay and tip transparency, a higher minimum pay rate, and access to restaurant bathrooms during the workday. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander joined Cheddar to elaborate on the regulations and how the platform holders reacted. "I have to say it's a mixed bag," he said. "Grubhub actually welcomed the legislation and said they recognize they need to do better by their deliveristas, but DoorDash, unfortunately, has actually been pushing back against the legislation."
Thomas Hoenig, Former CEO of Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and currently Distinguished Senior Fellow with the Mercatus Center, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he says the Fed's decision was no surprise, but believes the Fed is behind the curve on raising rates.
Legal cannabis businesses are having a hard time surviving in California with the high cost of doing business and a still-thriving illicit market. In response, nonprofit Supernova Women, founded by women of color, is advocating on behalf of Black and brown shareholders in the cannabis industry. Amber Senter, co-founder, executive director, and chairman of the organization, spoke with Cheddar News about calling for changes in the Golden State's taxation system for legal marijuana. "We're really leaning on the legislators now to support the industry and make sure that this industry, in particular craft cannabis, can survive," said Senter.
After being among the hardest-hit industries by the pandemic, restaurants are still having a hard time staying afloat, with owners claiming that business is worse now due to closures from staff shortages and customer decline than it was three months ago. Mike Whatley, vice president of state affairs and grassroots advocacy for the National Restaurant Association, spoke to Cheddar News about how the sector is reaching out to lawmakers for help. "Working with Senators Wicker, Sinema, and a whole host of bipartisan leaders, we're trying to get the Restaurant Revitalization Fund replenished," Whatley said.
Communities of color are disproportionately affected by climate change and continuously feel the impacts. Mark Magaña, founding president and CEO of Green Latinos joined All Hands to discuss.
The memoir, "COMPROMISED: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump", tells a familiar story from a bit of a different source: Peter Strzok himself, former FBI Counterintelligence Agents and Agency Veteran who spent most of his very long career investigating some of the most controversial inquiries, most notably in recent American history. Those inquiries were Hillary Clinton's email to even Trump Russia investigations. Former FBI Agent and Author of "Compromised" Peter Strzok, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
