Stutzman puts focus on family, budget

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Northeast Indiana's new congressman, Marlin Stutzman , has only been in office for about a month and a half. So what are his first impressions of life in Washington?
 

"I love Washington. It's a beautiful city. [I'm] very proud of our nation's capital. But it's also... when you start looking at the size of government, the federal government is large. And especially when you're in Washington, you realize how big it is," said Stutzman, who represents the Third Congressional District.

The federal government is too big, in the congressman's estimation. That's why his top priority next year -as a member of the House Budget Committee in the new Congress- will be to make sure the federal government cuts spending.

"The federal budget is out of control," said Stutzman.

Stutzman admitted he's still learning the ins and outs of Congress, and he's really appreciated two other Indiana congressmen - Steve Buyer and Mike Pence - who've helped bring him up to speed.

His new job has also meant a big adjustment for his wife and his sons, ages 9 and 4.

"The boys are not necessarily thrilled about being gone away from home and in Washington all the time," said Stutzman.

Stutzman's family has moved east with him and he thinks they're close to buying a home in the Mount Vernon area. For now, they're home-schooling their boys. The new congressman says family stability is his first priority, and he's built safeguards to protect his marriage; namely, hiring trusted friends and Christian men like Chief of Staff Tim Harris and District Director Dan Harman as his top staffers so that they can hold him accountable.

"What I wanted is to have people around us [who say] 'First of all, we want to protect your family and protect you. But at the same time, we're going to hold you accountable'," Stutzman said. "If I would lose my family after leaving Congress, I would have failed."
 

Congressman Stutzman is also on the House Veterans' Affairs and Agriculture committees.

Some of his other priorities next year: cutting spending in the farm bill, and fighting to secure funding for and keep in-patient care at the Fort Wayne VA Hospital.