WI Republicans look to capitalize on Congressional oversight, investigatory powers with slim House majority in 2023

 

WASHINGTON D.C. (CBS 58) – Over the last two years of Democrats’ one-party rule in Washington, Republicans are looking forward to capitalizing on their slim majority in the House next year.

Ringing in the new year will mark the beginning of divided government, with Democrats maintaining control of the Senate, while Republicans take control of the House.

While it will be a challenge for both parties to get their priorities signed into law, House Republicans will now have subpoena and agenda-setting powers in 2023.

“I think D.C. is going to change and I think you'll see a lot of significant movement, specifically from the standing committees,” said Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, (R-WI-5th District).

The new majority will allow House Republicans to use their chamber's investigatory powers aimed at government officials, federal agencies and the private sector.

House Republicans have talked about opening investigations into Hunter Biden, the FBI and the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"I think in all of these instances, whether it's the FBI or Hunter Biden, we need to hear information that comes forward and see if it's actionable," said Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI 7th District).

Congressional oversight will be a crucial tool Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif), who's posed to become Speaker of the House, said Republicans will utilize on top of advancing their priorities such as tackling border security, cutting back on government spending, and inflation.

Rep. Fitzgerald said addressing the surge of migrants waiting to cross the US-Mexico border is an issue he believes needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

“This continued lack of focus on the border is something I think Republicans are going to try and make some inroads on by directly negotiating with the White House,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s this huge influx of individuals coming across the border. It is completely unchecked despite what DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been saying.”

When the new Congress convenes in January, Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI 7th District) said on top of border control, he wants to address deficit spending in an attempt to ease inflation.

“People don't want this inflation, so let's get control of it. And how to control it, you stop the deficit spending at the federal level,” Tiffany said.

Big tech and free speech are also on Republicans' agenda. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI-8th District) has been leading an effort to ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok on state and federal government devices. The app is owned by China’s ByteDance.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, have voiced concerns that the Chinese government can use the app to spy on users and spread propaganda.

“My biggest fear is that we are allowing an app controlled by the Chinese government to become the most powerful media company in America,” Gallagher said. “That's a massive tool.”

The bipartisan spending bill Congress passed Friday includes a federal ban on government devices, which still needs a signature from President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, Gallagher’s push to prohibit TikTok on state devices has been met with resistance by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Evers said he’s often in contact with the FBI and other cybersecurity efforts about TikTok's potential risks but doesn’t have plans to ban the app on state devices.

Fourteen governors in other states have prohibited state employees from using the app on government devices.