She’s been mistaken for an intern, teased by Paul Ryan for not knowing what “Magnavox” is, and she was a fan of ’90s pop: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.), 30, is the voice of Republican millennials.
Stefanik on Tuesday began her duty as chairwoman for the first hearing of the Republican Policy Committee’s Taskforce on Millennials.
“This first chair meeting is all about getting to know the Millennial generation, their political demographic, and cultural attributes,” Republican policy chairman Rep. Luke Messer (R., Ind.) said to the taskforce. “We want to know what makes them tick. They want their voices heard, and their ideas to be taken seriously.”
Stefanik is the only female millennial and the youngest woman to serve in Congress. In an effort to educate the public on this demographic, she brought together a panel of pollsters, researchers, and authors to identify the issues that matter the most to millennials.
Data submitted to the committee by the Pew Research Center polled samples from all generations to see what political issues are top priorities. While baby boomers focused on terrorism, the economy, and social security, millennials focused on education, the economy, and jobs.
“Millennials have surpassed Gen Xers as the largest labor force in America,” Stefanik said in an interview with the Washington Free Beacon. “They are concerned about the economy, massive student loan debt, and finding a high-quality job in their skill set. Hierarchal business practices don’t appeal to millennials anymore, and many resonate with bottom down growth and entrepreneurship.”
In addition to concerns about employment and debt, millennials also show a general distrust of government. A poll submitted to the taskforce by the Harvard University Institute of Politics showed that only 17 percent of millennials trust Congress to do the right thing. They are skeptical of government and desire transparency.
“Millennials, unfortunately, are losing interest in public service to bring change to government,” Stefanik said during the hearing. “A recent Time magazine poll found that 89 percent of millennials are not interested in running for office in the future. As members of Congress begin to retire from previous generations, it is imperative that a new generation of leaders step up to the plate.”
Stefanik wants to be a role model for this generation. The 30-year-old Albany native confessed to theFree Beacon that she is a true ’90s kid: in her youth, she enjoyed shows such as Saved by the Belland Full House, and listened to the Swedish pop group Ace Of Base. She also is active on social media and thinks it is key in gaining millennials’ trust.+
