DPCC Co-Chair Jeffries: Democrats Are Fighting For The People
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy & Communications Committee (DPCC) and a member of the Judiciary Committee, appeared on MSNBC Live and CNN Situation Room to discuss how Democrats are fighting for the people and continue to focus on economic issue in order to improve the lives of all Americans. Below are excerpts from each interview and a link to both videos.
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MSNBC Live: "Well, one of the reasons why Democrats have indicated in our conversations with the American people that we're going to be focused on pocketbook issues is because we know when we're out talking to our constituents that they care about things like the health care cost – that are skyrocketing out of control and that Republicans are making worst not better, as result of their attacks on the Affordable Care Act.
"We're going to work to drive down healthcare cost, strengthen the Affordable Care Act, and dramatically reduce the cost of prescription drugs – which we hear from our constituents all across the country. We have a crumbling infrastructure and what we're going to do is rebuild America and that will create 16 million good paying jobs. We have a trillion dollar plan, the Republicans have a fake plan. Our plan will actually result in increased pay for those who are involved in rebuilding our crumbling bridges, roads, tunnels, mass-transportation system and ports. And we're also hearing from our constituents that they want us to do something about cleaning up corruption in Washington so that government works for them, not for the privileged few. And so that's what we're going to be focused on as part of our For The People agenda. Not for the privileged, For The People."
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CNN Situation Room: "Certainly, they are not. There's some criticism here or there, but overall, when you think about the Republicans in the House of Representatives and a small but growing subset that I refer to as the Cover-up Caucus, they have refused to recognize that we don't work for Donald Trump. We work for the American people. We are a separate and co-equal branch of government, and we have a responsibility of making sure that we serve as a check and balance on an out-of-control executive.
"Time and time again, Donald Trump has been out-of-control. Yet the Republicans have refused to hold him accountable; to undertake our responsibilities to have hearings; to bring forth information to the American people. And so, a handful of members who are uttering criticisms, many of whom are in tough re-election campaigns, doesn't cut it.
"Well, that's not clear, based on the fact that the president seems to have made up his mind. He wants to continue to play footsy with Vladimir Putin. Apparently, he's willing to criticize everyone else, all of our allies, whether that's Great Britain or France or Germany or Mexico or Canada or Australia or NATO, the European Union. He doesn't mince words when it comes to the people who are part of the free world.
"And yet, he refuses to criticize Vladimir Putin, who we know is a thug and a dictator and who engineered an attack on our democracy. That's unfortunate. But what's been made clear is that, while we as Democrats, we're going to continue to stand for the people and work on issues of lowering health care costs and raising pay and cleaning up corruption, Donald Trump is going to continue to stand for Vladimir Putin and that's shameful."