Republican Freshmen: Four Faces of Washington's Reshaped Political Landscape

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GRAVES: We're representing our districts. I make decisions on my district. I vote my conscience first and my constituents next regardless of the direction of our leadership.

Gosar and Buerkle are leaning yes.

TIME: For the two who are voting yes, have you gotten any blow back from the Tea Party or from some groups that are very disappointed that the number isn't higher?

BUERKLE: Well, as I mentioned I'm not convinced. You know I'm still looking at the numbers to make sure they are there are actual cuts. But this is ideology versus reality. We wanted more. But we didn't get it, and so we need to get on with the business at hand. And we're getting some significant cuts. We're going to make the Senate vote on up and down votes in a couple of very important issues, specifically a healthcare bill. So it's a good opportunity to flesh out some of these issues.

GOSAR: We've had numerous town halls; we've had an open discussion with my district. And the thing about it is that they're being heard. And that they are having an influence upon the process of getting this country back into fiscal shape and getting it back to responsibility and common sense. I think that's what they're finding. And I think that once they hear about that they understand this is a process. This didn't come overnight. This process had been going on for some time and being driven by both sides, by both parties to be quite honest with you.

On Paul Ryan's budget:

All four indicated they would be voting for Ryan's budget when it comes up at the end of the week. Buerkle now says she has not yet made up her mind.

CNN: Do you buy into this idea of overhauling Medicare and Medicaid in a way that Paul Ryan proposes — do you think it's a good idea?

GRAVES: I see this as a great starting point and something we can build upon. As Paul Ryan says, it's a blueprint. When you have a blueprint doesn't mean you can't add another room. So, I think you'll see us work harder to make improvements.

TIME: Many of you ran in 2010 against Democratic cuts to Medicare. Now, you're saying you would support cuts to Medicare in terms of —

LABRADOR: The Paul Ryan plan doesn't cut Medicare. What it does is over time it doesn't increase at the rate that it's expected to be increased. There are actually increases in Medicare every single year. They're just at a slower rate, which I think the American people understand.

BUERKLE: We may go further when the [Republican Study Committee] comes out with a budget. But to not face Medicare and the fact that in six years it's going to be defunct — this is a disservice to the American people. And not to have that discussion, it's time to change the paradigm. It's time to change the way we do business and preserve Medicare – that is what this budget is about.

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