Eastern Washington Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers wished President Joe Biden success in a statement released after his swearing in on Tuesday.
McMorris Rodgers had previously planned to support objections to the Electoral College votes as they were being certified on Jan. 6, but changed course after the riot at the Capitol.
"We have many immediate challenges ahead to beat this pandemic, save lives with the vaccine and reopen the economy. To achieve those goals, it's my hope we can work in a bipartisan way and advance solutions that will uphold the Constitution and empower people with the courage to dream again," she wrote.
McMorris Rodgers went on to caution against some of the executive orders Biden plans to sign during his first day in office:
"There are many opportunities for us to build a brighter future for all but a word of caution on the long list of policies President Biden rolled out today like rejoining the Paris Agreement, revoking the Keystone XL permit, and bringing back Green New Deal style mandates. There couldn't be a worse time to double down on these executive orders as our economy recovers from the COVID-19 crisis. They will raise costs on families and also hamper America's global competitive edge to lead a new era of innovation. to win the future, we should come together on free-market strategies to protect our environment and unleash innovation without job crushing mandates. Republicans in the last four years led with success to lift the regulatory burden on many fronts. As a result, America's booming economy broke records before the pandemic. We have also led the world at reducing carbon emissions. We can do it again for an even stronger comeback to give every person a chance at a better life.
"This has been a challenging year- a year of isolation, fear and the unknown. Looking out from the people's House to the National Mall today without the American people made this a somber occasion. However, it renewed my conviction to listen and lead every day to rebuild, restore, and renew hope in the American Dream. Through it all America remains to be the greatest experiment in self-governance the world has ever known. this gives me hope. Now, let's get to work."
Representative Dan Newhouse joined McMorris Rodgers in cautioning against some of Biden's executive orders he plans to sign on his first day. Newhouse, who represents Washington's 4th District, wrote on his Facebook page that he "will not stand by as Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi enforce their socialist agenda."
He later issued a statement saying:
"“As President Biden takes his oath of office to become the 46th President of the United States, my commitment remains strong to stand up for the people of Central Washington and rural communities across the country. From creating jobs and encouraging economic development as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensuring that every American can freely exercise their rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, it is clear we have a lot of work to do.
“President Biden’s misguided day-one priorities are beyond concerning for those of us who have worked to strengthen border security, promote innovation, and work toward American energy independence. By rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, halting the work on the Keystone Pipeline XL, and proposing an immigration package that encourages illegal passage over our borders, President Biden is demonstrating that it is more important than ever that conservatives come together to promote our shared values. Before COVID-19 spread to the United States from China, we had the strongest economy in more 50 years with wage gains across all demographics. With these actions, President Biden is sending our country in the wrong direction. I will work to hold this Administration accountable and advocate for policies that support communities throughout the 4th District.”
Washington Governor Jay Inslee took to Twitter to congratulate President Biden.
"We have two things to sustain our nation this morning from our new president;
"First, disagreement cannot lead to disunion. Second, we will get through this together. What we needed on this sunny morning in our nation's Capitol, we have received.
"Congragulations, Mr. President."
