Rep. Pat Harrigan, a Republican from North Carolina, says the key to solving broad disagreements in Congress is “principled compromise” — and getting more veterans elected to Congress.
“I think there’s a difference between what the Constitution calls us to do to get anything done, which is principled compromise, and principled means you have a shared set of values on either side that can reach that consensus position. That is genuinely principled compromise,” Harrigan told NOTUS’ Reese Gorman on the latest installment of the On NOTUS podcast. “But there is also compromise devoid of principle, and that exists in great volume up in Washington, D.C. I have no interest in being a part of that.”
Harrigan, a freshman lawmaker and a former Green Beret, said having more veterans on Capitol Hill could help cut through some of the conflicts and gridlock.
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“Veterans don’t really argue about the problems,” Harrigan said. “Like, we know the reality, we know the consequences of decisions that are made up in Washington, D.C.”
“By and large, we get along because we see the world the same way,” Harrigan added. “We have a shared set of values, and if you have that shared set of values, that can let you get to principled compromise.”
In November, Harrigan was among three House Republicans from North Carolina who asked the governor to send the National Guard to Charlotte, citing crime in the city and across the state. Though President Donald Trump did not send the guard, the Department of Homeland Security deployed a surge of border patrol agents to the city later that month.
Despite these issues bringing North Carolina to the forefront of national attention, Harrigan says local policy issues serve as a uniting force for the state’s congressional delegation.
“A lot of things like infrastructure projects, you know, they aren’t really political,” Harrigan said. “It’s like, ‘Hey, what do we need in North Carolina? We’re one of the fastest growing states in the country. Let’s figure out how to solve this problem.’”
Harrigan says he doesn’t have long-term political aspirations and plans to leave Congress after accomplishing his policy goals, especially because he has two young children.
“I’ve never looked at politics as a career,” Harrigan said. “I want to go up, I wanna make a difference for a period of time, and then I want to get out, I wanna leave.”
“It’s super difficult every day before I take off for Washington, whatever day of the week that ends up being,” Harrigan added. “I’ve got two daughters, 6 and 8 year olds, and my 6-year-old daughter is at the door, plastered in front of the door, like blocking me, leaning up against it.”
On NOTUS is a weekly podcast in which host Reese Gorman talks to lawmakers about how they got to Washington and what motivates them. You can download or listen here.
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