DPCC Co-Chair Cicilline: Democrats Are Committed to Working For the People
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on America's News HQ on FOX to discuss how Democrats will hit the ground running to get the work done for the American people while governing the U.S. House of Representatives in January. Below are excerpts from the interview. Click here to watch the video.
"Look, I think the President is right. Nancy Pelosi is smart and tough, but she will be elected Speaker with Democratic votes. And, you know, what's most important is we'll get to work immediately, getting the work done of the American people. We ran on a very specific agenda and we will hit the ground running."
"Nancy Pelosi doesn't need Donald Trump's support. Democrats will elect their leadership. The Republicans will elect their leadership. I have every confidence that we'll elect a leadership team lead by Speaker Pelosi."
"I think there is no question that we will have a leadership team led by Speaker Pelosi and a leadership team that reflects the full and wonderful diversity of our Caucus."
"I think what will happen is Nancy Pelosi will get the majority of votes in Caucus. She will get the votes on the floor and become Speaker. There will be some Democrats who won't support her. Look, this is a great problem to have. We have 57 new members, lots of new ideas, lots of great contributions. We are having a family discussion about who is going to lead our Caucus. That's healthy for our democracy. It's healthy for Democrats. Out of this process will come a great and strong leadership team that will reflect the diversity of our Caucus and that will be sure that we hit the ground running driving down health care costs, rebuilding our country, raising family incomes and taking on the corrupting influence of money in our political system. That's what matters."
"Nancy Pelosi will get enough votes from Democrats to become the Speaker of the House. There will be some people who campaigned ‘I'm not voting for her.' I expect they'll keep that commitment."
"In the end, Nancy Pelosi will have a majority of the votes on the floor to make her Speaker of the House. That's my prediction. But, guess what, we're going to have this discussion in the Democratic Caucus when we come back. We are going to elect our leadership."
"First of all, we're not relying on one person. We have a strong and diverse Caucus. We have great leadership. The DPCC, Hakeem Jeffries, Cheri Bustos and I worked very hard. The DCCC chair, Ben Ray, did a great job. Jim Clyburn, Steny Hoyer. We have lots of new people in leadership. And, so I expect when we have our leadership election, we are going to elect a team that reflects the talent and the diversity in the Caucus. And, Nancy Pelosi has been a very effective Speaker. She brought us the Affordable Care Act. She brought us Wall Street Reform. She brought us the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Millions and millions of Americans now have health care because of work of Nancy Pelosi."
"She is an effective legislator. When you just won the Super Bowl, you don't fire the quarterback."