Columnist George Will recently described Representative Fred Upton as a “Rust Belt revolutionary.” Upton is from Michigan, a state that has been hit hard by the economic downturn. He is, if anything, a reluctant revolutionary—a consensus-builder by nature, Upton is no bomb thrower and is one of the most well-liked members of Congress. But the woes of his state and the sluggish recovery have him looking far and wide for ways to help create jobs and jump-start growth.

He is the new chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. His committee has jurisdiction over some of the most important sectors of the economy—healthcare, energy, and telecommunications. In all three sectors he is interested in removing barriers to growth and job creation.

He visited AEI recently, where we discussed ObamaCare, reining in the Environmental Protection Agency, regulating the Internet, and more.

Image by Darren Wamboldt/Bergman Group.