Patch Exclusive: Q&A with Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger

Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger was just elected to serve his fifth term representing Maryland's Second District, which includes parts of Baltimore City along with Anne Arundel, Howard and Baltimore counties.

The Baltimore County Democrat has spent more than three decades in public life, including time as a prosecutor, county councilman and as Baltimore County executive. Ruppersberger, 64, recently spent 40 minutes speaking with Patch on a wide range of issues, including the recent election, working with Republicans, immigration and even his political future.

Here is the first of two parts of the interview:

 What can be accomplished in a "lame duck" session of Congress?

The most important thing that can be done is to keep the country moving ahead. I think you'll see a continuing resolution to keep funding the government until the new Congress comes in.

From my point of view, the elections are over and the people have spoken and we should just do the basics and the Democrats [in the House] who are in the majority now but will soon be in the minority shouldn't try to push through bills that are controversial because that will just cause more problems and we should only do things like cleaning things up for the next Congress.

Where do you stand on the "Bush" tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of the year?

I think for at least the next year we should retain all of the Bush tax cuts and here's why. We have one major issue and that's to get the economy moving and jobs going. We almost went into a depression and when we look back at history at the decisions that were made, they weren't all popular, but eventually it kept us out of a depression.

If you look at the numbers, we are starting to come out of the recession and the jobs are coming but not as quickly as we would like. To continue with the tax cuts would only add to the deficit and we can't have that. Once we get the economy going again we have to address the deficit because it's making us weaker as a country. We can't continue with the debt we are carrying. We have to have a plan to cut the deficit.

On the short term, at least for the next year, let's see what the tax cuts can do. Anything we can do to create jobs and get the economy moving has to be on the table. I don't think it would be wise to have a tax increase at this point when you're trying to get people to invest into business.

The key is to reassess where we are after a year. As soon as we get to the point where then economy is moving forward, we have to make deficit reduction a priority.

How do you feel the dynamics in Congress with change with Republicans in control of the House and the Democrats in control of the Senate and the White House?

The country has clearly spoken in terms of their votes. They sent a message and the one issue we have to deal with as a Congress is to work together. It's always been my philosophy dating back to my time as a county councilman and as county executive that once the election is over, it's time to work together for what's right for our constituents.

Unfortunately in Congress, it hasn't been that way. One of the main reasons is that the House has to run every two years. Our forefathers created a great system of government. However, they didn't anticipate in this media age, that either side – Republican and Democrats – would hold out in hopes of gaining control.

A prime example of this is the health care bill. That bill would have been a whole lot better if Republicans had invited to the table. We would have had tort reform and a lot of other issues that are out there addressed. I believe the message that was sent that the country wants Congress to work together and that partisan politics has got to stop.

What do you think is the long-term future of health care reform?

The votes aren't there to repeal the bill and President Obama would veto any bill that would do just that. I anticipate from a political perspective that the Republicans will put it out there just so they can use it in two years.

If Democrats and Republican mean what they say and can come together – and that's on the leadership of both sides – there's a lot of things that can be done to fix the things in the health care bill that needs fixing. The first thing is we have to communicate with seniors is that they make out well in the health care bill dealing with issues like prescription drugs and preexisting conditions and that they won't lose their coverage if they get sick when they have more health issues.

The president said, "If you like your insurance, don't worry, you won't lose it." We have to follow through with that. I'm working in my district now to break the bill down into more simplistic terms and let them know what's in it. The Congressional Budget Office clearly states that this bill in 10 years will save more than $1 billion. In the short term, it will cost more, bit it will eventually save more than $1 billion and 33 million more Americans will be insured.

What can be done to spur job creation in Congress?

I think we have the opportunities; it's all about implementation now. When you talk about BRAC [locally], it not only creates jobs at the Army bases, it creates jobs with all the companies that wants to surround it. Then there is a multiplier affect. If you're a doctor, a pharmacist, a lawyer or a small business owner or whatever you benefit from the people that are coming to the area and have more buying power. It's just going to help the economy.

How concerned are you about border security and immigration concerns?

There's another threat that's not talked about and that's Mexico. We have to do more in Mexico and secure our borders. We have not done that. We're the most powerful country in the world and we can't secure our borders. We have to deal with that. Mexico is getting so out of control and we can't let that happen.

What happened in Arizona [with their immigration enforcement law] is shame on Congress for not dealing with this issue years ago. Every year that the left and right fight over this it only gets worst. We have to deal with the issue of immigration and it starts with securing the borders.

If you're here illegally, you're breaking the law. We should not tolerate breaking the law. You just can't have amnesty, because you're condoning breaking the law. But what we need to do is make a plan that's going to make people legal. The first thing they have to do is that anyone who wants to be a citizen should have to learn how to speak English. 

Do the extreme wings of both major parties hold too much influence in Congress?

 I think you have the far left and far right members whose districts are safe and they don't have to compromise because they know they will always win. When you see how each party takes control, it's usually by defeating moderates in various districts.

What happened in this election is that all moderates got knocked out. Now you have the far left and the far right in control and is that best for the country? One of the issues I have with Congress is that you don't have a lot of members who are former county executives, mayors or governors. They very smart, but are more idealistic, and they get caught up with the philosophical issues and not what's best for the constituents.