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U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison said transitioning from a member of the Missouri General Assembly to Congress has resembled being a cast member on the television show “The Office.“

The Battlefield Republican began representing Missouri’s 7th Congressional District, which takes in portions of southwest Missouri, in 2023 after serving about 12 years in the state House and Senate. A big chunk of his tenure in Congress so far has featured high-profile and bitter leadership fights over who should lead his caucus.

“I would certainly say it has not been boring,” Burlison said on an episode of the Politically Speaking podcast. “I never thought that I would be in the basement of the United States Capitol with 200 Republicans that are screaming at each other.”

Burlison said the inability for the GOP-controlled House to accomplish many policy initiatives can be disconcerting, adding “when you’re sitting in the boat has no rudder, and there’s nothing, no propeller, there’s no wind, and you’re just sitting there — very frustrating for a guy like me.”

“I’m a guy who just wants to get things done,” Burlison said. “I want to actually move the ball forward and be successful.”

Other topics Burlison discussed on the show include:

• Whether former President Donald Trump will be able to consolidate GOP support.
• Why he opposes the United States providing military assistance to Ukraine without taking more action on immigration policy.
• The need for Republicans to embrace early voting methods instead of reflexively denigrating them. He noted that in California, Republican groups made efforts to get voters to cast a ballot early, and that led to GOP candidates winning elections.
• The impact of a potential ballot measure legalizing abortion on Missouri’s 2024 election cycle.

Burlison spent eight years in the Missouri House, where he backed of legislation that would institute “right to work” in the state. That legislation prohibits unions and employers from requiring workers in a bargaining unit to pay dues as a condition of employment. Voters eventually rejected it.

After two years away from the legislature, Burlison won a state Senate seat taking in portions of Greene and Christian counties. He became a member of the now-defunct Conservative Caucus, which often battled GOP Senate leadership on a multitude of issues.

In 2022, Burlison chose to forgo reelection and run for the 7th Congressional District seat. He easily won the GOP primary, which was tantamount to election in the heavily Republican district.

Since taking office, Burlison has served on the House Oversight, Transportation, and Education and Workforce committees.

Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, last faced a primary opponent in 2018 when the longtime lawmaker cruised to victory with nearly 84% of the vote.

However, this year former GOP gubernatorial nominee and former state legislator Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, is trying to unseat Bost from the 12th Congressional District when voters go to the polls next month.

“He says I’m a professional politician,” Bost said of Bailey on the Politically Speaking podcast. “Well, he’s a professional candidate.”

The winner of the high-profile GOP matchup will likely go on to win the November general election with ease because of the district’s strong conservative leanings. After the Illinois General Assembly — controlled by Democratic supermajorities — redrew the districts, the 12th became an apparent lock for Republicans.

The district stretches from the Metro East — including parts of O’Fallon, Shiloh and Scott Air Force Base — to the southern tip of the state that borders both Missouri and Kentucky.

Bost said the key difference between himself and Bailey is that he’s more pragmatic. That makes him a “governing conservative,” Bost said.

“That means I am a conservative, and my voting record shows that I’m a conservative,” Bost said. “But I’m not willing to all of a sudden just keep saying no.”

Bost chairs the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He also serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Bost previously spent 20 years in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Bost says the U.S.-Mexico border is one of his key issues. He recently objected to a bipartisan Senate proposal that would loop border reform with funding for Ukraine and Israel. Specifically, Bost believes the proposal allows too many migrants into the country before U.S. officials could remove others.

“That’s not controlling your borders,” he said. “That’s just saying, ‘OK, we’re going to slow it down so people won’t notice this is bad.’ That’s not the way to go.”

On Ukraine, Bost has voted twice to send funding to support the country’s ongoing defense against a Russian invasion. To further that support, Bost said he wants to make sure lawmakers include oversight on Ukraine’s spending of that money.

Bailey and Bost are ardent supporters of former President Donald Trump. The 45th president has not yet endorsed a candidate in this race.

Bost said he last spoke to Trump in early 2023. However, he’s had multiple discussions with people close to Trump since, Bost said.

“Both the former speaker and the existing speaker have spoken to him about this race and on our behalf,” Bost said.

Trump has endorsed previous Bost reelection campaigns. Trump endorsed Bailey in his failed attempt at governor in 2022.

Currently, Bost holds endorsements from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; Byron Donalds, R-Florida, and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas.

Early voting began last week in Illinois, and election day is scheduled for March 19.

Bailey appeared on STLPR’s Politically Speaking on Monday. Both his and Bost’s podcasts can be found at stlpr.org.

Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, last faced a primary opponent in 2018 when the longtime lawmaker cruised to victory with nearly 84% of the vote.

However, this year former GOP gubernatorial nominee and former state legislator Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, is trying to unseat Bost from the 12th Congressional District when voters go to the polls next month.

“He says I’m a professional politician,” Bost said of Bailey on the Politically Speaking podcast. “Well, he’s a professional candidate.”

The winner of the high-profile GOP matchup will likely go on to win the November general election with ease because of the district’s strong conservative leanings. After the Illinois General Assembly — controlled by Democratic supermajorities — redrew the districts, the 12th became an apparent lock for Republicans.

The district stretches from the Metro East — including parts of O’Fallon, Shiloh and Scott Air Force Base — to the southern tip of the state that borders both Missouri and Kentucky.

Bost said the key difference between himself and Bailey is that he’s more pragmatic. That makes him a “governing conservative,” Bost said.

“That means I am a conservative, and my voting record shows that I’m a conservative,” Bost said. “But I’m not willing to all of a sudden just keep saying no.”

Bost chairs the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He also serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Bost previously spent 20 years in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Bost says the U.S.-Mexico border is one of his key issues. He recently objected to a bipartisan Senate proposal that would loop border reform with funding for Ukraine and Israel. Specifically, Bost believes the proposal allows too many migrants into the country before U.S. officials could remove others.

“That’s not controlling your borders,” he said. “That’s just saying, ‘OK, we’re going to slow it down so people won’t notice this is bad.’ That’s not the way to go.”

On Ukraine, Bost has voted twice to send funding to support the country’s ongoing defense against a Russian invasion. To further that support, Bost said he wants to make sure lawmakers include oversight on Ukraine’s spending of that money.

Bailey and Bost are ardent supporters of former President Donald Trump. The 45th president has not yet endorsed a candidate in this race.

Bost said he last spoke to Trump in early 2023. However, he’s had multiple discussions with people close to Trump since, Bost said.

“Both the former speaker and the existing speaker have spoken to him about this race and on our behalf,” Bost said.

Trump has endorsed previous Bost reelection campaigns. Trump endorsed Bailey in his failed attempt at governor in 2022.

Currently, Bost holds endorsements from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; Byron Donalds, R-Florida, and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas.

Early voting began last week in Illinois, and election day is scheduled for March 19.

Bailey appeared on STLPR’s Politically Speaking on Monday. Both his and Bost’s podcasts can be found at stlpr.org.

Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, last faced a primary opponent in 2018 when the longtime lawmaker cruised to victory with nearly 84% of the vote.

However, this year former GOP gubernatorial nominee and former state legislator Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, is trying to unseat Bost from the 12th Congressional District when voters go to the polls next month.

“He says I’m a professional politician,” Bost said of Bailey on the Politically Speaking podcast. “Well, he’s a professional candidate.”

The winner of the high-profile GOP matchup will likely go on to win the November general election with ease because of the district’s strong conservative leanings. After the Illinois General Assembly — controlled by Democratic supermajorities — redrew the districts, the 12th became an apparent lock for Republicans.

The district stretches from the Metro East — including parts of O’Fallon, Shiloh and Scott Air Force Base — to the southern tip of the state that borders both Missouri and Kentucky.

Bost said the key difference between himself and Bailey is that he’s more pragmatic. That makes him a “governing conservative,” Bost said.

“That means I am a conservative, and my voting record shows that I’m a conservative,” Bost said. “But I’m not willing to all of a sudden just keep saying no.”

Bost chairs the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He also serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Bost previously spent 20 years in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Bost says the U.S.-Mexico border is one of his key issues. He recently objected to a bipartisan Senate proposal that would loop border reform with funding for Ukraine and Israel. Specifically, Bost believes the proposal allows too many migrants into the country before U.S. officials could remove others.

“That’s not controlling your borders,” he said. “That’s just saying, ‘OK, we’re going to slow it down so people won’t notice this is bad.’ That’s not the way to go.”

On Ukraine, Bost has voted twice to send funding to support the country’s ongoing defense against a Russian invasion. To further that support, Bost said he wants to make sure lawmakers include oversight on Ukraine’s spending of that money.

Bailey and Bost are ardent supporters of former President Donald Trump. The 45th president has not yet endorsed a candidate in this race.

Bost said he last spoke to Trump in early 2023. However, he’s had multiple discussions with people close to Trump since, Bost said.

“Both the former speaker and the existing speaker have spoken to him about this race and on our behalf,” Bost said.

Trump has endorsed previous Bost reelection campaigns. Trump endorsed Bailey in his failed attempt at governor in 2022.

Currently, Bost holds endorsements from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; Byron Donalds, R-Florida, and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas.

Early voting began last week in Illinois, and election day is scheduled for March 19.

Bailey appeared on STLPR’s Politically Speaking on Monday. Both his and Bost’s podcasts can be found at stlpr.org.

Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, last faced a primary opponent in 2018 when the longtime lawmaker cruised to victory with nearly 84% of the vote.

However, this year former GOP gubernatorial nominee and former state legislator Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, is trying to unseat Bost from the 12th Congressional District when voters go to the polls next month.

“He says I’m a professional politician,” Bost said of Bailey on the Politically Speaking podcast. “Well, he’s a professional candidate.”

The winner of the high-profile GOP matchup will likely go on to win the November general election with ease because of the district’s strong conservative leanings. After the Illinois General Assembly — controlled by Democratic supermajorities — redrew the districts, the 12th became an apparent lock for Republicans.

The district stretches from the Metro East — including parts of O’Fallon, Shiloh and Scott Air Force Base — to the southern tip of the state that borders both Missouri and Kentucky.

Bost said the key difference between himself and Bailey is that he’s more pragmatic. That makes him a “governing conservative,” Bost said.

“That means I am a conservative, and my voting record shows that I’m a conservative,” Bost said. “But I’m not willing to all of a sudden just keep saying no.”

Bost chairs the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He also serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Bost previously spent 20 years in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Bost says the U.S.-Mexico border is one of his key issues. He recently objected to a bipartisan Senate proposal that would loop border reform with funding for Ukraine and Israel. Specifically, Bost believes the proposal allows too many migrants into the country before U.S. officials could remove others.

“That’s not controlling your borders,” he said. “That’s just saying, ‘OK, we’re going to slow it down so people won’t notice this is bad.’ That’s not the way to go.”

On Ukraine, Bost has voted twice to send funding to support the country’s ongoing defense against a Russian invasion. To further that support, Bost said he wants to make sure lawmakers include oversight on Ukraine’s spending of that money.

Bailey and Bost are ardent supporters of former President Donald Trump. The 45th president has not yet endorsed a candidate in this race.

Bost said he last spoke to Trump in early 2023. However, he’s had multiple discussions with people close to Trump since, Bost said.

“Both the former speaker and the existing speaker have spoken to him about this race and on our behalf,” Bost said.

Trump has endorsed previous Bost reelection campaigns. Trump endorsed Bailey in his failed attempt at governor in 2022.

Currently, Bost holds endorsements from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; Byron Donalds, R-Florida, and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas.

Early voting began last week in Illinois, and election day is scheduled for March 19.

Bailey appeared on STLPR’s Politically Speaking on Monday. Both his and Bost’s podcasts can be found at stlpr.org.