Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) rejected President Donald Trump’s offer Saturday to provide temporary protections for DACA recipients in exchange for border-wall cash, and Minnesota’s congressional delegation promptly followed suit.
“Democrats were hopeful that the president was finally willing to re-open government and proceed with a much-needed discussion to protect the border. Unfortunately, initial reports make clear that his proposal is a compilation of several previously rejected initiatives, each of which is unacceptable and in total do no represent a good faith effort to restore certainty to people’s lives,” Pelosi said in a statement, which was released before Trump delivered his remarks.
Pelosi called Trump’s proposal a “non-starter,” taking issue with the fact that it didn’t “include the permanent solution for the Dreamers and TPS [Temporary Protected Status] recipients that our country needs and supports.”
Minnesota’s DFLers fell in line Saturday afternoon, saying they wouldn’t negotiate on border security until the government reopens.
“While I welcome many elements of the president’ proposal, negotiations cannot begin during a shutdown,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN-03) wrote on Twitter. “I believe a bipartisan deal can be reached that satisfies our need for enhanced border security and immigration reform, but government must be reopened for that to occur.”
While I welcome many elements of The President’s proposal, negotiations cannot begin during a shutdown. I believe a bipartisan deal can be reached that satisfies our need for enhanced border security AND immigration reform, but government must be re-opened for that to occur.
— Rep. Dean Phillips (@RepDeanPhillips) January 19, 2019
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) agreed, and said she wouldn’t “negotiate border security or immigration reform until the government is reopened.”
“Let’s reopen the government first and secure pay for federal employees, and then hash out our policy differences,” she tweeted.
We can’t negotiate border security or immigration reform until the government is reopened. Let’s reopen the government first and secure pay for federal employees, and then hash out our policy differences.
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) January 19, 2019
In another tweet posted to her non-congressional account, Omar accused Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) of “holding workers hostage for their wall.”
Until @realDonaldTrump and @senatemajldr McConnell open the government and stop holding workers hostage for their wall, I have only one response to their divide and conquer immigration proposals. pic.twitter.com/cItunNXeJa
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 19, 2019
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-04) responded to Trump’s proposal by claiming that “Dreamers deserve permanent status.”
“Mr. President, open the government—now! We need federal workers on the job and getting paid!” she said on Twitter. “The White House and Republicans in Congress are using federal workers and Dreamers as pawns. Open the government now!”
Mr. President, open the government – now! We need federal workers on the job & getting paid! Dreamers deserve permanent status. The White House & Republicans in Congress are using federal workers and Dreamers as pawns. Open the government now! https://t.co/hSMsGATM0s
— Rep. Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) January 19, 2019
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Nancy Pelosi” by Nancy Pelosi.
Photo “Ilhan Omar” by Ilhan Omar.
