Rep. Ben McAdams has joined 29 other Democrats in signing a letter asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi to guarantee President Donald Trump a vote on his border funding request if he ends the government shutdown.
Roll Call reports the letter does not guarantee passage of the $5.7 billion Trump is asking for his border wall. Instead, it simply guarantees there will be a debate and vote on the issue in the House. The letter was spearheaded by freshman Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia.
The letter is not designed to signal support for the president’s funding request. Rather it is intended to lay out a process for the House to truly debate the proposal — with opportunities for Democratic amendments — in hopes that would be enough of a commitment for Trump to agree to reopen the government.
“Effective governing should not result in winners and losers,” Luria said in a statement after releasing the letter. “Our job is to do the most good for the most people. We feel this proposal would gain support across the aisle, allow a transparent process, and encourage much-needed reforms to our immigration system.”
McAdams’ office said in a statement he signed the letter as a way to push forward on ending the shutdown.
“We need a bipartisan solution to move forward on border protection and immigration reform, including permanent protections for DREAMers,” said McAdams in an email. “Let’s end the shutdown and begin governing, which is what the voters sent us here to do.”
McAdams took to the House floor on Wednesday to decry the economic toll the shutdown is taking on families in Utah.
“Small businesses are hurting. They can’t shop in local stores. The shutdown is hurting the entire American economy. As one worker said to me, our jobs have nothing to do with the border. They have had enough of political games,” he said.
Watch the clip below via CSPAN:
