Shuster talks Trump, priorities
On the eve of the inauguration of the 45th president, U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster said he was excited to witness the upcoming peaceful transfer of power – especially with a Republican at the helm.
“It’s exciting to be in Washington, as it is for every inauguration … I can tell you this is a happier day for me knowing Donald Trump is going to be in the White House,” said Shuster, who represents the 9th Congressional District. “To me, it’s just a magic moment in history.”
Republicans account for 241 of 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and control 52 of 100 seats in the U.S. Senate.
With “a Congress more to his liking,” Trump should be able to get to work quickly, Shuster said during a media conference call.
Shuster, whose district includes eastern Washington and Greene counties, believes Trump, who has vowed to increase coal extraction in the United States, will make it a priority to ease restrictions on the industry.
“Some of these regulations will be turned around by the stroke of a pen,” he said.
He’s confident the new administration will work to find ways to make coal burn cleaner, thus creating new jobs.
Shuster also got behind Rick Perry, Trump’s nominee to run the Energy Department.
“He said a number of things I’ve been thinking,” Shuster said.
The congressman also praised the president-elect’s plans for Affordable Care Act repeal, national security and tax reformation.
“If nothing gets done, Obamacare will collapse under its own weight,” he said.
Shuster supports expanding health savings accounts so consumers can use their own money for health care expenses, and allowing the purchase of health care across state lines. Two items he’d leave in place are insurance coverage for college students under their parents’ plans and coverage of pre-existing conditions.
“Doing nothing is not acceptable,” Shuster said.
Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Shuster believes Trump will address his plans to privatize air-traffic control in his second 100 days in office.