Last Days in Office for Arkansas Congressman Ross
By: Matt Porter, KARK 4 News, Washington Correspondent
Updated: August 11, 2012
It's been 12 years since Arkansas' 4th District Congressman Mike Ross was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and now the lawmaker says he's ready to move on.
Rep. Ross says it's been a privilege to work for Arkansas' Fourth District in Washington D.C.
For him, the best part of the job was being a direct advocate for the people of Arkansas.
"Whether it's a veteran, helping a veteran get the services that they've earned," says Ross. "Whether it's helping a senior citizen that's having issues with Medicare billing or with their Social Security check."
Not all of Ross's duties have been routine.
In his first year, after the 9/11 attacks, he had to make a call to the mother of a Navy petty officer from Pine Bluff that died at the Pentagon.
"Picking up the phone and calling his mom was one of the toughest things I've ever done," Ross says.
Now, Ross says the constant push to raise campaign dollars every two years has taken its toll.
"I loved getting out seeing the people," he said, "but I never enjoyed calling people and asking them for money."
Working in a conservative district, Ross understood the value of reaching across the aisle. He worked to find compromises with legislation like the first minimum wage increase in a decade and a modernized GI bill.
People who work for Ross say he's resisted an increasing partisan attitude.
"He's just got a great reputation for being somebody that is willing to compromise," said Jarrod Yates, Ross's Chief of Staff, "and is willing to come to some sort of middle ground on challenges that we face."
Despite an 18 point win last election, Ross says he's ready to pass the torch.
"I never believed that my service in Congress should become a permanent career," said Ross. "I think that's part of the problem. Some people come, and stay too long."
The Congressman says it was a privilege to serve Arkansans in Washington, but he's ready to go back home where he will return to the private sector for the first time in almost 22 years.
Rep. Ross's new job will be in Little Rock with Southwest Power Pool, a non-profit committed to managing the electric grid for nine states including Arkansas.
Rep. Ross says it's been a privilege to work for Arkansas' Fourth District in Washington D.C.
For him, the best part of the job was being a direct advocate for the people of Arkansas.
"Whether it's a veteran, helping a veteran get the services that they've earned," says Ross. "Whether it's helping a senior citizen that's having issues with Medicare billing or with their Social Security check."
Not all of Ross's duties have been routine.
In his first year, after the 9/11 attacks, he had to make a call to the mother of a Navy petty officer from Pine Bluff that died at the Pentagon.
"Picking up the phone and calling his mom was one of the toughest things I've ever done," Ross says.
Now, Ross says the constant push to raise campaign dollars every two years has taken its toll.
"I loved getting out seeing the people," he said, "but I never enjoyed calling people and asking them for money."
Working in a conservative district, Ross understood the value of reaching across the aisle. He worked to find compromises with legislation like the first minimum wage increase in a decade and a modernized GI bill.
People who work for Ross say he's resisted an increasing partisan attitude.
"He's just got a great reputation for being somebody that is willing to compromise," said Jarrod Yates, Ross's Chief of Staff, "and is willing to come to some sort of middle ground on challenges that we face."
Despite an 18 point win last election, Ross says he's ready to pass the torch.
"I never believed that my service in Congress should become a permanent career," said Ross. "I think that's part of the problem. Some people come, and stay too long."
The Congressman says it was a privilege to serve Arkansans in Washington, but he's ready to go back home where he will return to the private sector for the first time in almost 22 years.
Rep. Ross's new job will be in Little Rock with Southwest Power Pool, a non-profit committed to managing the electric grid for nine states including Arkansas.
