Herald Democrat - Ratcliffe Discusses National Politics, Constituent Services at Sherman Visit

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By Nate Strauch

Rookie Rep. John Ratcliffe spent more than an hour Friday chatting with Sherman leaders at the monthly meeting of the Grayson County Republican Women, his latest of several visit to the area since winning election to Congress last November. Ratcliffe focused heavily on his commitment to constituent services during his remarks.

"This is really the economic growth corridor in the 4th Congressional District of Texas -- the area where we are," said Ratcliffe, who makes his home in Rockwall County. "On the campaign trail, I talked about the importance of this area and made a commitment that I would be here -- I would be here a lot. Because I understood the significance of this region."

Ratcliffe introduced his staff to the crowd of nearly 100 gathered to hear him speak, highlighting his newly appointed regional representative, Denison native Kris McKinney, who will office at the Grayson County Courthouse in Sherman. The freshman lawmaker said he plans to have two full-time employees in Sherman -- twice the number staffed by his predecessor Ralph Hall -- as well as interns from Austin College.

"I talk about Ralph and his great legacy; I very much want to continue that in this area and, in fact, expand upon it," said Ratcliffe. "So, you know, one of the things that I have done, in connection with that, is expanding the availability of my office in this area. … So take it to heart, take it to the bank, we will have someone -- if you need a representative from my office, if I can't be there, someone from my office will be there."

Shifting gears into the business of the federal government, Ratcliffe championed his conservative bonafides to the heavily Republican crowd, including his votes to repeal Obamacare and defund President Barack Obama's executive order granting a reprieve from deportation to millions of undocumented immigrants.

"The only way to have a secure nation is to ensure the sovereignty and integrity of our territorial borders," said Ratcliffe, to raucous applause. "It's the only thing the federal government is supposed to do, and it's the one thing we don't do very well."

Prior to heading north to Denison to meet with city councilors there, Ratcliffe took several questions from the audience, including a query about Common Core education requirements. In response, the representative repeated his talking points from the campaign trail last year, saying the federal government has no place in education policy.

"I've been real clear about the fact that I think we shouldn't even have a federal Department of Education -- I mean, I grew up when we didn't have one," said Ratcliffe. "I've asked for states, like Texas, to have the opportunity to opt-out of No Child Left Behind. … I think we'd be better served if those decisions were made right here in Texas, at the state and local levels."

Ratcliffe saved his most biting remarks for the 2016 presidential race, which he said will be instrumental in shaping the nation's future. Defeating Hillary Clinton, the putative front-runner for the Democratic nomination, and installing right-leaning leadership in the White House will be vital, he said.

"One of the things that I feel is my primary role, is to help Republicans govern for the next few years so we have an opportunity for a Republican president."

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