Ripon Forum


Vol. 53, No. 1

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In this edition

Shortly after he was elected House GOP Leader, then-Congressman Gerald Ford was asked a simple but straightforward question: “What is the mission of the minority?”

Straight Talk from El Paso on Border Security & Immigration Reform

Mexico is Texas’ largest trading partner, and instituting policy that will detrimentally affect that trade is unacceptable.

The Rise of Free Lunch Economics & the Growth of Our National Debt

Even if we are successful in implementing a comprehensive plan to grow the economy, it is not going to be enough to grow our way out of our debt problems.

Ballot Harvesting: Mend It, Don’t End It

The 64% registered voter turnout was the highest in a mid-term election in the state since 1982. This should be celebrated — as long as it is accomplished legitimately.

Making the Minority Matter: Advice for the House GOP

Pursuing a positive agenda does not mean capitulation; far from it. Opposition is as much a part of governing as is compromise.

Winning Back the Suburbs

The ongoing “war” between the White House and the media has created an increasingly toxic political environment that has turned off many suburban and moderate voters.

Building a More Diverse GOP

There is a crisis in Washington among Republicans that has been ignored over the last few election cycles. Republican women make up just 6% of the House GOP Conference and are just 12% of the total number of women in the House.

A Final Post-Mortem on the 2018 Mid-Terms

Perhaps the least discussed, but probably the most important change, in the 2018 election dynamics was the huge Democratic spending advantage in Congressional races.

State of the Electorate 2019

Despite the challenges of the current political environment, most voters continue to agree with the premise for conservative governance.

Ripon Profile of Carol Miller

The freshman Congresswoman from West Virginia discusses why she ran for Congress and how the political service of her father shaped her political career.

Ripon Profile of Carol Miller

Name: Carol Devine Miller

Current Job: Bison farmer, small business owner, and U.S. Representative of West Virginia’s Third Congressional District

Past positions held: I served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2018, where I became the first female Republican Whip in West Virginia history. Previously I also served as Assistant Majority Leader and the Chair of the Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Committee.

Why did you run for Congress in the first place? I ran for Congress because I knew West Virginia needed a strong leader who would fight for important issues in our community and work to make our country a better place.

What was the number one issue that people asked you about during the campaign? Jobs and the economy. Throughout the campaign, I met so many people who are excited about the new opportunities in our growing economy and are ready to get to work. I want to make sure that West Virginia remains a place where people can live, work, and prosper for generations to come.

Following up on that, what are your top legislative priorities over the next two years?  I’m focused on fighting for important issues like diversifying our economy, creating new jobs, developing our infrastructure, protecting our borders, supporting West Virginia’s energy industries like coal, oil, and natural gas, and always serving my constituents.

Finally, your father, Samuel Devine, served in the House from 1959 to 1981. How has his political service shaped your political career? I learned my passion for public service from my father. He committed his life to making our country a better place than it was before he was here. This is what inspired me to get involved in organizations within my local community, run for office at the state level, and ultimately run for Congress.