Incoming House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the problems Congress has had in passing legislation stem from a Democratic majority in the Senate led by Majority Leader Harry Reid.

McCarthy, R-Calif., said he hopes to see that change with Republicans gaining a majority in the Senate after November elections.

Referring to the “Schoolhouse Rock!” song about how a bill becomes a law, McCarthy said Reid, D-Nev., is preventing House bills that stand a chance of passing in the Senate from getting a hearing.

“Just a bill on Capitol Hill, you used to get a hearing,” he said. “That’s not the case today.”

McCarthy was in Bowling Green on Saturday for a fundraiser to benefit Republican statehouse candidates. He spoke with reporters at a news conference with Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Bowling Green.

If given a Republican Senate majority to work with, his party will be able to make strides on issues such as securing the border, reforming tax codes, creating a national energy policy and reforming the role of bureaucratic agencies, he said.

“People run to be able to legislate,” McCarthy said. “I think, given the opportunity, we’ll get things done.”

Securing the border is a pressing priority for the country, he said. After that goal is accomplished, he said he’s willing to sit down and talk about the potential for reforming the immigration system.

“If you do nothing on immigration, you perpetuate the problem,” he said.

However, McCarthy said he prefers to approach the issue through small pieces of legislation rather than a comprehensive bill.

McCarthy said he does see a need to broaden the Republican party to bring in younger and minority voters. In order to do that, Republicans need to show voters that their policies can best help people to achieve the American dream, he said.

“Most importantly we show them, regardless of who you are … there’s a place in this party for you, for your ideas,” McCarthy said.

Looking toward the 2016 presidential election, McCarthy said he could potentially support Sen. Rand Paul, R-Bowling Green, if Paul chooses to run for president and wins the Republican nomination.

However, McCarthy said he differs from Paul on issues of foreign policy.

It’s important for a president to build strong international allies and portray strength abroad rather than being isolated within the country, he said.

“As I travel the world, I feel as if our friends don’t trust us and our enemies don’t fear us, and that becomes an unsafe world,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy was elected to the majority leader position after the primary election loss of Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va.

“Everyone wants to see a leader who has the courage to lead but also the wisdom to listen,” he said.

That, McCarthy said, is the type of leader he wants to be.

He said that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., should not be worried about a loss similar to Cantor’s. McConnell faces Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky’s secretary of state, in the November general election. 

“I believe all elections are local, and I always respect what the local voters say,” he said.

McConnell is known in Washington as a senator who always represents the state of Kentucky, McCarthy said.

“He understands where his home state is,” he said.

Talking about Guthrie, who attended the news conference with him, McCarthy said the congressman has a bright future.

“He has the skill set to go anywhere, but he has the demeanor that brings people with him,” McCarthy said.

— Follow government beat writer Katie Brandenburg on Twitter at twitter.com/BGDNgovtbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.