Senator Marshall: It’s Not Good to Negotiate with Kidnappers
Senator Marshall Joins NewsNation to Discuss The Schumer Shutdown & The Filibuster
Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Leland Vittert on NewsNation’s On Balance to discuss what will become of the Senate filibuster, President Trump’s conversations with Republican Senators, and the negotiations with Democrats to end the Schumer Shutdown.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
On what the President wants Republicans to do about the Schumer Shutdown:
“I don’t feel like that. Leland, I think the President is very intent on getting his agenda across the finish line, and there’s no doubt that ending the filibuster would help him do just that. And every day the Democrats keep the government shut down, I’m more inclined to go along with him.”
On whether or not the President is blaming Republicans:
“I don’t feel like the President is blaming Republicans in any way, shape, or form. What I heard him say, and I was there this morning, is that he thinks that perhaps this government shut down the Democrats, the legacy media was able to pin this on Republicans, and I don’t happen to agree with that. I think the die was cast in these very deep blue states that they were going to be what they’re going to be, but he’s using that as leverage to end the filibuster. I think that’s his goal here. He’s always negotiating for something.”
On how many votes are out there to get rid of the filibuster:
“I think that’s still very accurate. I don’t think anyone has moved. If I had to vote today, I would vote no. I would vote to keep the filibuster in place, but I’m reserving the nuclear option. We do need to open the government. There needs to be a day and time when the Democrats quit holding these Obamacare Biden funds hostage and set America free. And now they’re sitting there thinking, this is what they’re saying today, the Democrats very clearly feel the longer they keep the government shut down, the better they’re going to do next November. So like we’ve always said, this is a political shutdown, and that’s why it’s so hard to solve. They’re using this as leverage.”
On Axios’ report about President Trump pressuring Republican Senators about the filibuster:
Senator Marshall: “Leland, that makes no sense to me. I’m not going to believe that reporting. President Trump and the Senate caucus have never been closer. Look, he’s negotiating. That’s all he’s doing here? He’s negotiating. He’s made a really good point.”
Leland: “What are you negotiating? Because I keep hearing from Republicans that you won’t negotiate with a gun to your head.”
Senator Marshall: “He’s negotiating that he wants to end the filibuster. It’s that simple. And he’s absolutely right. He can get his agenda through, but the fear is, what goes around comes around, and then the Democrats could do the same thing to us in so many ways. They would pack the Supreme Court. Puerto Rico would become a state. The whole litany of things.”
On the ongoing impact of the Schumer Shutdown on the American people:
Senator Marshall: “Leland, you’re a better journalist than this. You know, it takes 60 votes in the Senate to fund the government. Okay, so despite us controlling the House and the White House and the Senate, it takes –”
Leland: “You’re right. I’m a better journalist. And I guess implying that I was saying that you don’t need seven Democratic votes, you do. I’m also a good enough journalist to know how things are playing politically. And don’t ask me, ask the President of the United States. I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative for Republicans. So do you also disagree with the President that the shutdown is bad for Republicans?”
Senator Marshall: “It’s not good for anybody, that’s for sure. It’s kind of like, who’s the worst of the bunch? But I really think you’re conflating a lot of different things here, Leland. To me, I think we need to go back to why this is important: that Republicans want to work towards a balanced budget. Yes, we want to get the government open, but we’re not going to do it at the expense of compromising more of the budget. We’re not going to give the Democrats another $1.5 trillion. So we’re not going to let them kidnap us like this. It’s not good to negotiate with kidnappers. We’re not going to, once they open the government, then we’ll work on these other issues.”
On the negotiations with Senate Democrats to end the shutdown:
“That’s right. Then the negotiations are happening as far as how to work through appropriations. All those things are happening. But what’s non-negotiable is negotiating with someone who’s kidnapped us right now. Again, the Democrats are the ones who are voting against them; they’re the ones who should be held accountable. Now, I can’t make sense of what the legacy media is doing right now and blaming the Republicans for it. But listen, I think everyone should take a breath here. I mean, last night was totally expected. It’s not a seminal moment at all. A year from now, the voters…the voters are going to be focused on the economy. They won’t even remember that we had a shutdown.”
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Contact: Payton Fuller
