Missouri Republicans have reason to celebrate Tuesday’s election, holding their U.S. Senate seat and contributing to the Republican takeover of the House.
It was a “+1” for Missouri Republicans in the U.S. House as the only seat that changed hands among parties was that of Democrat Ike Skelton, losing his seat to Republican Vicky Hartzler.
It was at least “+60” for Republicans nationwide, and Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party Lloyd Smith says the GOP majority in the House will change things.
“I think what happens is you see a new dynamic. You see a ‘stop gap’ to the Obama, Reid and Pelosi agenda. We’ll take the gavel away from Nancy Pelosi and put it in the hands, in all likelihood, of John Boehner from Ohio… I think what we will see is folks saying, ‘Wait a minute. This agenda is too liberal. They’ve gone too left too fast and we’re going to stop it and we’re going to stop it with the purse strings,” Smith said.
Despite some Republican gains, Democrats held on to a slim majority in the U.S. Senate.
“The financing of the United States government starts in the House of Representatives and I think that’s where we’re going to be able to negotiate with the Senate. I think you’re going to find a lot of Senators who are up for election in 2012, are going to say, ‘Wait a minute.” Whether they’re Republican or Democrat, they’re going to say, ‘We are going to slow down the growth of government.’ I think that’s what’s going to happen and they’re going to send a signal to the White House,” Smith said.
Meantime, new Southwest Missouri Congressman Billy Long says this will make his job more meaningful in Washington.
“I think it’s all the difference in the world being in the minority and majority. I think we’re going to see a lot of changes. I think the Republicans finally ‘get it’ this time and the remaining Democrats are going to have to get it or their heads are going to be on the chopping blocks in a few years; because the people want action. The people are fed up,” Long said.
He says he was in a different mindset when he started his campaign.
“People would say, ‘Billy why do you want to serve in the minority? You won’t get anything done’. I said, ‘Well I can get more done in Washington D.C. in the minority than I can sitting on my couch in Springfield,” Long said.
Long won the seat that was vacated by fellow Republican Roy Blunt, who won his U.S. Senate race.
AUDIO: Ryan Famuliner reports [1 min MP3]
