Utah’s newest congressman learns from veteran Democrat
Jan 3, 2019, 7:56 AM | Updated: 9:11 am
FILE PHOTO: Peter Samore, KSL NewsRadio
SALT LAKE CITY — Democrat Ben McAdams, the newest congressman from the state, says he’s used to negotiating with Republicans in the state of Utah to get things done. But now, he says he’ll need to learn how to find middle ground with those who are to the left of his political beliefs.
That’s where Jim Matheson comes in. The former Utah congressman is also a Democrat and held the seat that McAdams will be taking up on Thursday. Matheson, who is a Democrat, voted against his own party several times during his tenure. The most notable departure from the party voting was when he voted against the Affordable Care Act.
McAdams has already vowed not to vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, although he did meet face to face with Pelosi and says their meeting was amicable.
Nov. 15, 2018 file photo of Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi has proposed having the government match campaign donations 6 to 1. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Matheson advised the new congressman to be upfront with everyone about what he was going to do and which way he’s voting. That’s how Matheson did it, and he says it helped develop a level of respect on both sides of the aisle.
McAdams will be sworn in Thursday.
