As Michelle Steel took her place in Congress as representative of California’s 48th District on Jan. 3, her colleagues on the Orange County Board of Supervisors expressed well wishes and optimism for her in her new role.
Steel served as supervisor for the county’s District 2, and she was chair of the board in 2017 and 2020.
Supervisor Don Wagner told The Epoch Times he’s optimistic about Steele’s position in Congress. He said it’s great that someone who is intimately aware of the most important issues in Orange County will be in the Capitol.
“She understands our issues, lived them, and is going to be a very good advocate for us at the federal level,” he said.
He hopes she can lighten up the government’s “rules, restrictions, regulation.”
“I'd love to see the federal government allocate the next round of CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act funding directly to the counties so that we can provide for our residents, without having to go through the state,” Wagner said.
“I would like to see her just naturally help direct the federal government to lighten up its rules or regulations, COVID-related and otherwise,” he said.
Supervisor Lisa Bartlett told The Epoch Times via email, “I have served with Congresswoman Steel on the Orange County Board of Supervisors for the past six years and have come to know her as a thoughtful, strong and dedicated leader, committed to representing the best interests of our residents and Orange County.
“I am confident she will bring this level of commitment to Washington, D.C. and, as a fiscal conservative and taxpayer advocate, will do an excellent job.”
Steel
told The Epoch Times ahead of the Nov. 3 election, “I’ve been always talking about taxes, lower taxes. … That’s the first thing we’re going to work [on].”
She says on her campaign website she will “fight to lower taxes for Orange County families, oppose any attempts to increase the federal gas tax, and work to restore the state and local tax (SALT) and mortgage interest deductions (MID).”
As supervisor, Steel introduced a county charter amendment that requires a two-thirds majority for any future special tax proposal.
The Epoch Times could not reach Steel for comment after she was sworn in on Jan. 3, but she released a statement saying “I will miss the Board of Supervisors dearly, but my advocacy for the people of Orange County will continue to be my top priority as a Congresswoman. I wish you all a very Happy New Year.”
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