Heitkamp`s Plans for D.C. | Video

Jessica Roose | 11/9/2012

Now that Heidi Heitkamp is heading to Washington, she`s getting her plans ready for when she gets there. In her own words:

"You came to the rallies, you opened up your checkbook, you donated, you volunteered, you put some skin in the game and you made this happen," she told supporters at a victory party earlier this week.

"I really wasn`t confident until the last Mercer County came in with the last absentees, and then I knew that was a margin that would hold through really even a recount."

"Day one will be going out and visiting with as many of my colleagues as I can, especially ones across the aisle."

"Obviously, health care will be on the agenda in the next Congress. Let`s live in reality, let`s quit talking about this like you could get it repealed. It wasn`t going to get repealed, and so I`ve said all along, there`s good and bad in that health care law. You need to keep the good and get rid of the bad, and I`ve asked Senator Hoeven if he would be willing to think about putting together a biparisian kind of advisory group of providers here in North Dakota to talk about the health care law."

"This I will say. If in the House, they pass a bill that repeals it but in the same bill replaces it, I certainly would consider whatever replacement the House of Representatives would send across. But a simple straight up repeal with no explanation of what you`re going to replace it with, to me is not a way forward."

"I`m extraordinarily grateful to all the people in North Dakota who have put their faith in me, who have given me this opportunity once again to serve. It`s a huge honor but also it`s a responsibility I take very seriously."

Heitkamp also talked about committees she is interested in. They vary from Energy and Agriculture to Indian and Veteran Affairs.

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