Sen. John Barrasso Hopes for Sense of Unity to Prevail

Sen. John Barrasso said he hopes a sense of unity can prevail on Capitol Hill following a shooting Wednesday that left a House colleague, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., hospitalized in critical condition.

"We are passing today a bipartisan bill [for] sanctions against Russia, sanctions that are meaningful, and sanctions against Iran," the Wyoming Republican told Fox News' "Happening Now" program. 

"That's going to be a bipartisan effort. I want that to go on further as we continue on efforts of jobs, the economy, national security, certainly the projects we are working on here and Congress."

As for himself, Barrasso said he will be back in his home state this coming weekend and will be traveling "the way I've always done it, without security, visiting people one-on-one."

On Wednesday, Capitol Police working Scalise's security detail shot and killed gunman James Hodgkinson after the Illinois man opened fire on Republican members of Congress holding practice for their upcoming charity baseball game. Hodgkinson's social media postings revealed him as a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential race and as a person who made several posts against President Donald Trump and Republicans.

Barrasso said Hodgkinson was "demented and deranged," and that there is a great deal of history in the United States of people debating politics, and that will continue.

"I'll be in Wyoming hearing about more pain that Obamacare is causing people," said Barrasso. "I'll be hearing about jobs and the economy. I think it's important once I get back here to work together to find solutions that are in the best interest of the American people."

Barrasso said it's also important to focus on growing the nation's economy, and that he congratulates Trump for his action this week on jobs training.

"I had lunch with him on Tuesday and we focused on healthcare, but additionally, it's focusing on jobs and the economy," said Barrasso. "Just removing some of these punishing regulations that we've dealt with over the past eight years have been a big boost to us in Wyoming. A guy in the convenience store in Wyoming said we are hiring again. That's what we want to hear all across America."

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