Ga Rep. Tom Graves continues to make waves in Washington

U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga) continues to build a powerful, conservative record in Washington with an announcement that he will serve as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch in the 114th Congress. Graves will only be in his third full term as the member of the House of Representatives in 2015, making him the most junior "cardinal" of the influential committee. He represents Georgia's 14th congressional district. 

”I joined this committee because of the unique opportunity to fight for taxpayers and reform the federal govement, said Rep. Graves in a statement released last Thursday. ”I want the Appropriations Committee to be known as a place where taxpayer dollars are saved, not spent. As the Legislative Branch Subcommittee chairman, I’ll have a prime opportunity to walk the conservative talk. It’s an honor to have Chairman Rogers and the House Majority entrust me with this major responsibility.

The Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee controls the budgets of committee, member and leadership offices as well as numerous congressional support agencies such as the Capitol Police.

This is quite a tuaround for Graves, who just two years ago was facing removal from the subcommittee altogether. The gutsy, young congressman from Georgia got into office in 2010 after winning a special election to replace Rep. Nathan Deal (R), now Georgia Goveor.  As soon as he got to Washington, Graves became a major pain for the Republican establishment in the House. 

In 2011, Graves voted against every major govement funding bill proposed by the House leadership.  When the congressman voted against a short-term spending bill in September of 2011, rumors spread around the lower chamber that he'll lose his prime spot on the Appropriations Subcommittee. The Republican Steering Committee ultimately decided against this measure of retaliation, but Graves' life in Washington was far from easy.  

Clearly, if they were trying to rattle the newcomer, it didn't work.

"I’m going to vote my conscience and my constituents, not make decisions based on political positions," said Graves in 2011 about the GOP infighting. ”I didn’t get elected to come to Washington for a group hug. I did it to fight for America’s future. That’s why I push so hard."

With time, as the House moved further to the right because of representatives like Graves, the young congressman became more popular. In 2013, he made headlines when he authored a plan to defund the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) as part of a short-term spending bill. The plan was discussed everywhere in the media, and Graves made several appearances on national political programs.   The bill failed to pass the Senate, but many conservatives labeled Graves as the new "rising star" of the GOP.

In 2014, Graves has continued to walk the conservative line on every issue. Most recently he publicly opposed President Barack Obama's executive orders on immigration, supported the building of the Keystone Pipeline, opposed new EPA water regulation proposals, and supported expansion of U.S. oil production, among many more.

His perseverance, good looks, and truly an inspirational life story could very well create an excellent future presidential candidate.  He grew up in a trailer in the Georgia countryside. A star athlete and mathlete, according to his biography, Graves started his first landscaping business at 17. He paid his way through University of Georgia degree in finance, and eventually became a real estate investor.  His wife Julie is an educator and they have three children together.