Op-Ed: Tony Wied: I'm ready to work with President Donald Trump to bring common sense back to Washington

For nearly 30 years, my wife and I ran gas station convenience stores. I understand what it takes to manage a budget and cut unnecessary spending. That’s exactly what I intend to do in Washington.

In November, the people of Wisconsin, alongside the rest of America, sent a clear message to Washington: we will no longer tolerate the status quo of open borders, historically high inflation, and global instability. President Donald Trump and House Republicans were given a mandate to govern, and I look forward to getting to work with the incoming administration on January 20th to address these issues for the people of Northeast Wisconsin.

A mandate to govern

President Trump’s victories in both the Electoral College and in the popular vote, coupled with Republican gains in the U.S. House and Senate, show that the American people trust the GOP to address the nation’s biggest challenges. For four long years, Americans have suffered under the Biden administration and the Democratic Party’s policies. We’ve witnessed inflation at levels we haven’t seen in over 40 years, a self-inflicted crisis at the southern border with unprecedented illegal immigration, and growing conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

The Republican Party is united and is ready to work with President Trump on day one to get our country back on track.

Tackling inflation

Let me be clear: inflation is a tax. It’s a tax that hits the poor and middle class the hardest. Over the past four years, we’ve seen rising prices at the grocery store and the gas pump, stretching household budgets to their limits. The root cause of this inflation is reckless government spending. Under the Biden administration, we’ve seen government spending at levels that have never been seen. Our country is already $36 trillion in debt, and we’re now paying more in interest on that debt than on the debt itself.

Yet the Biden administration’s solution to inflation is more spending. The so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” authorized billions in new spending, only further driving up the cost of everyday goods. During President Trump’s first term, we saw lower prices and interest rates. I believe he can achieve that again.

Like President Trump, I come from a background in business. For nearly 30 years, my wife and I ran gas station convenience stores. I understand what it takes to manage a budget and cut unnecessary spending. That’s exactly what I intend to do in Washington. It’s time we finally get our budget under control.

Additionally, it’s crucial that we not only become energy independent, but energy dominant. The Biden administration canceled new drilling leases on federal lands and shut down pipelines while allowing other countries like Russia to develop infrastructure such as the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

The House GOP will work with President Trump to remove red tape and unleash American energy. This will drive our economy and reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries for oil.

With Trump’s tax cuts set to expire next year, another major priority of the House GOP is the extension of these cuts. I believe strongly that the American people work hard for their money, and it belongs to them, not the government. I will work to ensure that we put more money back in your pockets.

Securing the border

Over the last four years, we’ve seen unprecedented numbers of illegal immigrants crossing our border. This is nothing short of an invasion. Every state is now a border state. Back home in my district, I’ve spoken with sheriffs who have criminals in their jails who aren’t U.S. citizens.

Securing the border is a top priority for myself and for President Trump. We cannot have a nation without control of our borders. We can take tangible steps to secure the border on day one. First, we must reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy from the first Trump administration. Second, we need to continue building the border wall. Third, we need to properly fund our border agents and provide them with the resources they need to do their jobs.

The House GOP will work with President Trump to ensure that these policies are permanent, so future administrations cannot undo our progress and bring us back to the chaos we’re seeing today.

Peace and security around the world

Restoring both national and global security is a top priority for the Republican majority. Under President Biden, we’ve seen wars erupt in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and currently have drones flying over U.S. airspace that the administration seems either disinterested in or incapable of addressing.

President Trump was the first president in recent history who did not have any new wars start during his tenure. When he returns to office, the world will know that the U.S. means business once again. The House GOP has already demonstrated its commitment to strengthening our military, as seen with the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 25 with my support.

Under a new administration, we will put an end to endless wars abroad and lead the world with peace through strength.

There is plenty of work to be done, but I am ready to get to work with President Trump to solve these problems and get our country back on the right track.

Tony Wied is the congressman-elect of Wisconsin 8th District.