DPCC Incoming Chair Cicilline: Democrats Will Get The Work Done For the American People
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Cicilline, Incoming Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on Sunday Morning Futures on FOX to discuss the Trump Shutdown. Cicilline highlighted how the new Democratic majority will fight for the people by driving down health care costs, rebuilding the infrastructure of our country and tackling the pervasive corruption in Washington. Below are excerpts from the interview. Click here to watch the video
"Not at all. Look it's not about border security because Democrats support border security. We appropriated in the last two years $1.6 billion for border security. And Democrats support that. We just think it should be done in a smart way: use technology, use sensors, use drones, use more personnel. Use it in a way that's effective. So I think what the opposition to this is not a campaign promise but it's just not a good use of taxpayer money. Let's secure the borders in a cost effective way using the best technology."
"Democrats have a long history of supporting and investing border security. In the last two years we approved $1.6 billion. The Administration has spent less than 6% of that. So this notion of this is urgent, I need the money - the President has $1.6 billion he hasn't spent yet. So let's just be smart about it. Democrats are as committed to border security as Republicans, of course we are."
"We have voted for border security. And I have voted for border securing. The reality is we want to be sure we are investing in security that works. We have great technology. We can use drones, we can use satellite, we can do cargo inspections. Let's do things that the experts say will actually secure the border rather than wasting money on a very costly, ineffective physical wall that just won't provide the kind of security we need. We also need to deal with the underlying causes of immigration. We need to have additional personnel. We need to fix our broken immigration system. So there's a lot of work to be done here. But the idea you can solve the problem by putting up a wall, just won't work."
"We should in fact have border security - but we can do it in a way which is consistent with our values as a country. And so I think what the Leader is saying is that it's costly, it doesn't do the job, it's ineffective, and it really undermines our values. The idea of a physical barrier around our country…I don't know a single democrat who doesn't think that we ought to have an organized system for people to come into this country legally. Every Democrat I know supports comprehensive immigration reform, supports our asylum system, supports additional personnel, additional resources. We voted for $1.6 billion to help secure the border. So there's no disagreement. The disagreement is really about this wall. And I think the truth is there's an easy deal to be had here. I don't think the President wants a deal. I think he wants the government shutdown. He said it himself. I think he's dealing with a Secretary of Defense who rebuked him and left. He's dealing with difficulty finding a Chief of Staff. The stock market tanking he's dealing with. So I think he has a lot of things he's trying to distract from and he's not anxious to reopen the government."
"I hope so. As I said, I think this is easy to do. The Senate already voted on a continuing resolution 100 to 1. The President said he would support it. It would passed the House if the President supported it. What changed? The President's world is starting to kind of crash on him. And so he says I'm going to shut the government down. What are we talking about today? We're talking about the government shutdown. Mission accomplished for the President. I don't think he has a big interest. I think when Democrats take back the House will swiftly move to reopen the government.
"I – along with Hakeem Jeffries and Cheri Bustos - we put together the Democratic Agenda for this last election cycle that demonstrated we were for the people of this country - committed to driving down health care costs, particularly the cost of prescription drugs, rebuilding the infrastructure, raising family incomes, and taking on serious corruption in Washington. We're going to deliver on those three promises. We also have the responsibility to do oversight, but I can tell you our first priority is going to be to get the work done for the American people."