U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman,
Republican of Sheboygan County was re-elected in November
in a clean sweep where his party picked up wins for president
and Wisconsin's U.S. Senator.
He joins is now with his take on what's going on in Washington
on the eve of the Electoral College vote.
Congressman, thanks very much for being here.
- It's great to be on "Here and Now."
- Well, thank you.
So, as we said, the Electoral College electors vote Monday,
what's your response to any electors who will not in fact
vote for Donald Trump?
- Well, they really should, but given their margin,
I think if one or two jump, it's a minor story.
- As for President-elect Trump, he rejects the
CIA's intelligence on Russian hacking of the U.S. elections
but now the FBI is saying they concur with the CIA on this.
What is your take
on all that Russian hacking of the U.S. election?
- Well, I don't know where the information came from,
and I'm not sure how much impact it had on the campaign.
I think most people suspected that the Clintons
were making money off their charitable enterprise anyway.
I think it is not really a surprise that somebody
apparently employed by CNN was feeding Hillary questions
in advance prior to her debate.
I don't think it was particularly a surprise
when the DNC tried to act nice
to Bernie Sanders, it wasn't sincere.
But I don't think any serious political commentator thought
the DNC's neutrality was sincere and I don't think any serious,
on-the-ball person didn't think the Clintons
were personally benefiting from their foundation.
So I think it had very little effect on the race.
- You think it may have had little effect
because of those other matters you just mentioned,
but what about the idea of the Russians
and apparently Vladimir Putin himself directing this kind of
cyber alleged sabotage on the United States?
- Well, it's concerning, obviously, and I think
it's just one more reason why politicians should be honest.
Obviously there was a lot to be found there with the Clintons
and quite frankly, currently
these findings may or may not be political.
I hate to jump to a conclusion there.
I hope they aren't hacking us.
I hope they aren't trying to influence the election.
But like I said, I think most people realize the DNC was not
being honest when they said that they were impartial and I think
most people given the Clintons' past history probably suspected
already that they were make some money off their foundation.
- Would you support a congressional investigation
into Russian hacking?
- I don't think it's a bad thing to do.
I think if the Chairman Chaffetz wants to do it,
I'll certainly encourage him to.
- On the policy going forward, what do you most want
from a Trump administration?
- Well, I think first of all the big issues.
I think we have to finally take our immigration laws seriously.
I think that's one of the reasons why he won.
I think neither President Bush nor President Obama
really were serious about our immigration laws.
So I would like to see him do that.
I think he mentioned in Milwaukee the other night
or West Allis, kind of implied
that we have to get people off welfare.
I think we are becoming more and more of a welfare state.
Insofar as that is rolled back to stop discouraging people from
working, to stop discouraging people from having kids
in an old fashioned mother-father environment.
I think if Donald Trump does that, that's a good thing.
Hopefully begins to make a dent in the out-of-control regulation
that -- so much paperwork is strangling American business.
Insofar he tackles those issues, I'll be very happy.
- You say you would support him building a wall.
- Yes, I think it's something he promised
throughout the campaign.
I think it's a sign that we are going to
take our immigration laws seriously.
He made the statement again the other night in West Allis.
It will sure be shocking if he doesn't.
- What is your reaction to his cabinet picks so far?
- Obviously, I don't know a lot of them, but some I do.
I think Flynn is very good.
Tom Rice is one of my best friends
in legislature at Health.
His new Interior Secretary is somebody I know.
I think they're one of the reasons his popularity
has shot up since the election.
A lot of these scare mongers were implying I don't know what-
that he was going take people he knew
from Hollywood or something to put out there,
but instead he's taking some very well respected people
and putting together a very distinguished cabinet.
And I think as he does that,
his popularity will continue to go up.
- What do you think of his Secretary of State nominee,
Rex Tillerson, and his business and personal ties to Russia
and Vladimir Putin going back to the Russian thing?
- Well, it's obviously of concern.
On the other hand he's certainly had dealings
with many countries around the globe.
He's going to come at it from a different perspective
as other people have in the past.
I'm glad that overall Donald Trump
has not picked so many academics.
I mean let's face it.
The Obama Administration I didn't think did very well.
Focused primarily in academics doing things.
Donald Trump is focusing more on the business community,
which is what people expected him to do.
That's why he won.
People felt we don't want permanent politicians.
We don't want college professors running the country.
We want people who have had a history of being successful in
business.
I don't think it should surprise the public.
- One last question about his cabinet picks.
Betsy DeVos, who champions private school vouchers,
to the Secretary of Education, what's your opinion on that?
- Well, I hope she comes at it with an attitude of we want to
get the federal government out of education.
You know, it's all fine and good to say
we respect the 10th Amendment.
We don't want the federal government involved in these
things but all of a sudden when you're part of the federal
government, you have ideas.
And I hope she is willing to get the federal government
out of education more and more,
regardless of her feeling on vouchers.
- All right. We need to leave it there.
Congressman Glenn Grothman, thanks very much.
- Glad to be on the show.