Rep. Gregg Harper said he’ll try to influence the debate in Congress, “although it may not carry the day today.”
Harper, 52, officially became the newest member of Mississippi’s congressional delegation Tuesday as the 111th Congress was gaveled in. Harper, who defeated Democrat Joel Gill to win the seat formerly held by Chip Pickering, is the only Republican member of Mississippi’s four-member House delegation.
Congress now has a Democratic majority, and the incoming president – Barack Obama – is a Democrat, which will make it tough for Harper to press his conservative agenda.
The son of a petroleum engineer, Harper said his priority will be energy policy. But he said it will be a challenge to convince Americans more domestic production is needed.
Magnolia Tribune
