Bucshon says he has lots of juice left for final year in Congress

EVANSVILLE — Declaring he has lots of juice left, U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon looked forward — and backward — in a far-ranging interview with the Courier & Press.

The veteran 8th District Republican congressman announced in January that he will not seek an eighth two-year term in Washington this year, a development that surprised most political observers. It kicked off a wild, unpredictable and packed race to succeed him in the 21-county 8th District, which includes Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey and Gibson counties.

But the 61-year-old Bucshon, who recently denied speculation that he may resign before his term expires in January, said he won't go for a rocking chair and slippers when his 14-year career in Congress ends. A former heart surgeon, he has carved a reputation among colleagues as a subject matter expert in health care.

More: Bucshon built a very specific profile in Congress. He says he won't seek re-election.

Bucshon envisions a post-Congress career, but he said he has not spoken to any potential employers and won't do so until the fall.

"I’ve been telling people this: I’m leaving Congress, but I’m not retiring," he said. "I’m hopeful, whether it’s in the consulting space, whether it’s in like a trade association space, whether it’s government advocacy space, to continue to be involved in health care policy and energy policy, primarily at the national level."

That doesn't mean he will pitch his tent in Washington, said Bucshon, who lives in Evansville when he's in the 8th District.

"Unless I’m like the CEO of a trade organization, most of the other things like consulting or government advocacy stuff, my plan would be to come back home and live at home and only be in Washington when I need to be," he said.

"Just like I am now."

More: Bucshon denies and slams Newsweek report that he may resign

Bucshon on backing Trump

An aide to Bucshon told the Courier & Press before Friday's interview that the Republican congressman wouldn't be talking politics since the interview had been set up by his official congressional office. But Bucshon brushed that aside, noting that he is, after all, a politician.

In August Bucshon predicted former President Donald Trump would not be the Republican Party's nominee for president in 2024, given the intense feelings Trump engenders from both supporters and opponents. Bucshon held high hopes instead for Trump's vice president — former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. Pence was a mentor and a friend to him when they served in Congress together a decade ago.

But Trump trampled Pence and the GOP's other presidential candidates in party primary elections as Republican voters showed overwhelmingly that they want to give him another chance to be president.

More: With 13 candidates, Indiana's 8th District Congressional race is a free-for-all

Bucshon urged Republicans who had backed other candidates, like Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, to reconcile themselves to Trump.

Trump's personality shouldn't be the overarching issue, Bucshon said.

"If you’re a Republican, look at the values and the policies that you believe in and look at the candidates in the race — taking out the personal aspects of it," he said.

"Look at the candidates in the race and what their positions are on the issues that you care about. If you’re Republican, you should be voting for Donald Trump."

'A very big issue'

In his final year in Congress, Bucshon has set his sights on a handful of cherished health care-related objectives, including passing the VALID (Verifying Accurate, Leading-edge IVCT Development) Act. He introduced the bill alongside Colorado Democratic Congresswoman Diana DeGette.

The VALID Act, which was the subject of a hearing Thursday of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, is typical of Bucshon's health care-specific regulatory policy objectives.

According to a statement the 8th District congressman's office released Thursday, the VALID Act would "modernize the review process for diagnostic testing, clarify the regulatory authority between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and ensure uniform standards are in place that support innovation, giving Americans the assurance they need to rely on their test results."

It may not be the sort of clickbait that will get him on the cable television networks, roil activists in the street or spark waves of national news coverage — but Bucshon said the VALID Act is "actually a very big issue."

"It’s an in-the-weeds thing that most people don’t think about, but it’s actually very impactful," he said. "If you go to the hospital and you get a test, is that test accurate? Has that test been approved by the FDA? Well, maybe not."

Of such issues Bucshon has made a career in Washington. He's retiring in January, but he noted that that's nine months away.

"I’m planning on finishing Congress strong," Bucshon said.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Bucshon says he has lots of juice left for final year in Congress