You're watching...
Rep. Markwayne Mullin, (R-Okla), on being a new member of Congress and bridging the divide between Republicans and Democrats.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
When the fiscal -- DO and the debate over the looming debt ceiling.
Show the difficulty -- makers face in tackling that nation's biggest problems a new crop.
Of US lawmakers joined the house and senate but will the new faces help the 113 congress.
You more productive -- the laughs let's get a fresh perspective from the freshman congressman mark -- -- a Republican from Oklahoma.
Thinks -- for joining us today what is your first impression.
Well.
My first impression congressmen -- walking into.
Did he land and -- things -- strong real the way they either way they get treated this.
Almost funny and we need to come home more so we get a reality on what think what limelight.
Why have you what was most shocking you when you first at Disneyland at but you're gonna say that it was great -- it's not looking to -- -- and it Disneyland.
I didn't really I don't know I'm Kelly was very shocking -- year.
You know I guess the way you treated.
They don't we're still we're still elected officials and that were there to represent the people first because the people we get their people start -- you'd like your bike or somebody else -- results be an expert.
You know I -- I run a pretty good business I'm pretty good at that.
Around lot of cattle on a real good at that.
But on everything else they expect should be an expert and an extra treat you like it's -- not real -- -- -- congressman every time -- walking every place and yes perk up a copy entry before try to handle Hannity and and I think that's were released -- reality were -- dared to do -- job.
And that's to hold the government accountable that's our wrap their -- not up there be treated -- some special now and -- and it immediately statue of reality I think real quick.
You said that you've sworn to serve more and no more than six years in August and that really reflects their what you're -- right now but you don't wanna be out of touch.
You run your daily planet plumbing company you also mention that you have a cattle ranch.
What do you think that has taught you that you can bring to congress.
You know two dead as the huge issue that we're facing our country and win in my life and I took correspondent company we had over 500000 dollar today I know that doesn't sound like a whole lot but does.
Almost forty years old and we -- at six employees at the time.
It took just three years are working around the clock to get -- out of debt to.
And it gives you a whole new perspective.
-- just because you work dealing with 500000.
And not sixteen trillion.
We still have to understand there's gotta be hard decisions made that you have to make now on your own terms.
And he can't always go back to continue borrowing money because eventually the banks start saying no the only thing is we are the bank that we keep saying yesterday.
But it.
I made a difference I mean.
You know what I say to people I would never you would never -- your household like -- he would never run a business like best and the response is always but it's different when it's the government.
You know we are able to issue our own debt sort of indefinitely and there seems to be an appetite for in the market -- do you get resistance when you say.
You know I wouldn't read my plumbing business like that's.
Well eighty absolutely we do to a certain extent but not everybody there's a lot of people out there you gotta think about how many new faces Europe -- of the just the last two years.
There's a lot of people that are saying the same thing except -- bourses haven't been quite as loud but we're starting to unite and come together.
And if we continue to operate this way we all know we're going to be in trouble and you know I wasn't looking -- -- job I just simply got fed up the way the government's work and and I realize that.
120 employees now that worked my wife and I.
Ended -- caught in that the their -- in their ourselves.
Jobs at the same time we you know they talked -- in the economy started and what their donors are making it harder and harder for business owners like me.
To comply with more so.
Like convince Democrats -- back as you are you know you're the first Republican to be elected in your district I think ever I am not sure about that that's what it says.
And I know that you did something unique you Whitney got on the bus with the Democrats because you said that we -- got to Washington it was very divided it you wanna sort of bridge the divide.
What was that like what was the reaction on the bus trip -- what was that like.
Not different -- -- walk into any county in my district did Republicans and Democrats who cares what we judge from people because because hardy and -- their names yes there's people that support Nancy Pelosi and there's people that support speaker Boehner and there's people -- amid all the same as the same -- what we really got to realize is we can't be -- -- because or.
It's -- -- out there to get America back on track yet this country back sound and on stable ground again and if we continue.
To operate.
And -- basis that it's -- it's it's politics first it's it's party first and not country first.
We're gonna continue to go down that slippery slope and we're not gonna ever build a bridge the gap between the two.
Bipartisanship should even be a -- be something that were trying to do constantly -- eight workspace seen.
Right now workspace seen over over sixteen trillion dollars of debt.
-- it's it's a huge problem and I think you're gonna help us solve -- congressman -- We're out of time but I hope you come back in the -- -- let us know if you're making progress we want to check back in with -- can't really appreciate that -- you know you aren't.
I -- you have breaking.
