Russell Reflects On First 10 Months In Congress
U.S. Rep. Steve Russell talks leadership turmoil, female Rangers and China
By Chris Casteel
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Steve Russell came to Washington this year after 21 years in the Army, one term in the Oklahoma state Senate, creating a small business and years on the lecture circuit talking about U.S. history and his book about the capture of Saddam Hussein.
Given his background, including years in combat roles in the Middle East, he views the often manufactured drama in Washington with some scorn, and he has little use for outside groups that gin up controversies, lecture members of Congress on the Constitution and issue “scorecards” on votes.
In that way, and others, he is similar to former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, of Oklahoma. In fact, in filling out his congressional staff, Russell sought out some of Coburn’s aides, including the one in charge of writing Coburn’s annual Wastebooks, which chronicled questionable federal spending.
Russell’s office created a quarterly Waste Watch report and issued a new edition last week.
The retired lieutenant colonel, who graduated from the Army’s elite Ranger school, put himself in the middle of the debate over increased combat roles for women when he asked the Army for the records of the first two women to make it through the tough Ranger training.