By Holli Deal Saxon

Special for the Effingham Herald

Now that Republicans have regained the majority in the House of Representatives, Georgia First District Congressman Buddy Carter said he is excited about the party’s future and foresees many accomplishments between the House and the Senate regarding the country’s energy concerns, police support and citizen’s rights. 

Carter was first elected to Congress in 2014, succeeding Jack Kingston. Carter and fellow Republican Rick Allen from the 12th District represent Effingham County. Carter also represents 14 other coastal Georgia counties.

Despite partisan issues, Carter said he is optimistic about working with Democrats to solve some problems, such as the high cost of prescription drugs. But he said he would support a strong Republican agenda.

“It is time to implement our commitment to America and reclaim our energy,” he told the Effingham Herald. 

“While President Joe Biden and most Democrats have supported limits on using America’s oil, including less drilling and relying on foreign oil, most Republicans take an opposing view, feeling the country should return to being less dependent on foreign oil and use more American resources,” he said. 

Carter said anticipates efforts to create more support for law enforcement. He said trends over the past few years have included efforts at “defunding” police, and the decline in respect and support for police needs to be reversed, he said.

“We need to back the blue and make sure America is safe.” 

Carter said he sees “a future based on freedom” and believes many American rights need to be restored. He is an avid gun rights supporter. 

“We need to make sure our 2nd Amendment rights are protected” and as a Congressman, he will do his part to protect those rights, he said, and “see that we have a future based on freedom.” 

Of particular interest to Carter is education, and he said close attention will be paid to controversial issues such as gender identity and critical race theory. He also believes in more family involvement in children’s education. 

“We need to give our parents and grandparents the right to be involved in our children’s education,” he said. 

Too much happens in the government’s realm that is not covered by enough checks and balances. 

“We need to have a government that is accountable by having more oversight,” and hopefully having a Republican majority will lead to that, he said. 

Of course, budget issues top the list of concerns as Biden moves into the second half of his term. “I am running for chairman of the Budget Committee – this is very important to me,” he said. “Right now, we are $31 trillion in debt, and that is nothing but intergenerational theft.” 

The national debit is expected to be higher next year than ever. “I predict the interest in 2023 will be the third highest line item on the budget – it is fourth now, surpassing defense.” 

Carter, a pharmacist by trade, is particularly concerned with the current cost of prescription drugs. He hopes to find “common ground” with Democrats in lowering that cost through legislation and he believes prescription drug costs are an area for bipartisan support. 

On a local level, Carter is anticipating good things for Georgia and expects positive growth from projects such as the Hyundai electric vehicle plant and related businesses pending construction in Bryan County. 

“I see the industrial trend in Bryan (and surrounding areas) continuing because Georgia is such a great place to do business,” he said. 

The strong growth trend in the areas between Savannah, Effingham, Bulloch and Bryan exemplify the powerful business aspect of the area, and he looks forward to continued growth.

Hopefully the House and Senate cam collaborate to support such progress across Georgia as well as nationwide, he said. 

He said the federal government should take Georgia as an example. 

“Congress needs to move towards a pro-business mandate.”