The Flint Courier News: Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet Shares Expectations She Has for the New U.S. Congress
Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet, of Michigan’s 8th District, was sworn in January 3 and shared what she feels is important about serving in the U.S. House of Representative in a time like now. She is the first woman to serve Mid-Michigan in this role. She was also the first woman to serve in the Michigan Senate.
McDonald Rivet shared with the Courier that the first thought she had when she walked down the House floor for the first time was that is an amazing place, which brought to mind the importance of the work of Congress.
“I know that many people in our district are really struggling to make ends meet,” stated McDonald Rivet. “I know that our paychecks don’t go as far as we need them to and the cost of everyday things like food, gas and medicine are starting to come out of reach for people. So, my focus is to work with everyone who wants to reach a solution in that space-or do something that makes things easier for people.”
McDonald Rivet stated she knows there will be moments when she has to fight to ensure communities like Flint have a strong voice in Washington.
When McDonald Rivet was in the Michigan Senate, it was democratically controlled – but with a two-vote margin. The U.S. House in 2025 is Republican controlled, but there will still be a slim margin.
“What’s important is to develop relationships with Democrats and Republican – and find the people who are willing to work down the middle. So, that’s the strategy I’m going to use. The most important thing is that we begin with pocketbook, money-in-pocket issues that many of us on both sides of the aisle campaigned on: reinstating the expanded Child Tax Credit, looking at people who are getting up every day and working really hard.”
McDonald Rivet pointed out U.S. President Joe Biden supports the idea of eliminating taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers.
“Let’s start working on that,” McDonald Rivet said.
She also said she was “a little concerned” the first 12 priorities that came out from Republican leadership in the House had nothing to do with lowering costs for working families.
The Courier asked McDonald Rivet about how she will use her role to help cities like Flint and Detroit that are predominantly Black.
“My approach will be the way that we ran the campaign: we build coalitions of people across the district and really focus on making sure the people in our district, that the people of Flint have a real voice in the decisions that we make. I think it’s important that we are regularly in the community, that we hire people from the community. You’ll notice that my district office is in the city of Flint for a reason, and it’s something that nationally I think we have to look at.”
Budget reconciliation may permit legislation impacting revenues and mandatory spending to pass the Senate with 51 votes rather than the normal 60-vote filibuster threshold typically required for most other legislation. It is especially a concern for many now since Republicans will control the Senate and House in 2025.
McDonald Rivet said she very concerned about such a process that could be rushed and not allow time for the American people to weigh in on big matters.
Leaders in Congress are laying the groundwork for how the chambers may work together.
Congresswoman McDonald Rivet was recently elected by her peers to serve as the Freshman Leadership Representative to the New Democratic Coalition, a group of more than 100 middle-of-the-road Democrats in the 119th Congress. The group works with members of both parties to deliver common sense solutions to problems.
“It’s a coalition I’m very comfortable in because it’s very aligned with the work I did in the Senate with the passage of the Working Families Tax Credit, the work I’ve done to lower the cost of childcare, prescription drugs and housing. All of these things are on the agenda of the New Democratic Coalition…”
McDonald Rivet said “the people of Flint are resilient, passionate and committed to the community.” But, she said “there are really big issues that still face the city.”
“I’m committed to work alongside residents in order to move forward things that they care about…The fact that Flint residents have not seen a single dollar of the settlement from the Water Crisis is unacceptable, and I’m really looking forward to working alongside residents on the issues that really matter to the largest city in the district.”