As we enter week #4 of the shutdown, 800,000 federal workers have not been paid, and the pain from the shutdown is spreading,
it may be helpful to remind the voters of what we are fighting for:
- President Trump has demanded $5.7 billion for new border wall construction. He has shutdown portions of the government because he did not get his way.
- In 2017 and 2018, Republicans in control of the House and Senate never passed funding for the Trump Wall. Many Republicans know the Trump Wall is not the best way to secure our border, but they seem to have given in to the Trump Tantrum.
- Vice President Pence told the Senate that President Trump would accept $1.3 billion for improved border security, and the Senate passed it, Democrats supported it. But President Trump decided to change his mind, after hearing from the loud minority in his party.
- The American people know that we do not have a crisis at the border. They know illegal border crossings are at an all-time low.
- The American people know that visa overstays are a larger immigration problem than border crossings. The Trump Wall does not address this.
- The American people know that 90% of the illegal drug flow occurs at ports of entry and that the Trump Wall would do nothing to address this.
- The American people know that President Trump and Republicans have lied about potential terrorists who attempt to cross the southern border and the Trump Wall would not make us safer.
- The American people know that apprehensions at the border have declined everywhere — whether or not there was a barrier. And even in areas that have fences, people still get through.
- The American people want border security, but not money wasted on a wall that can be cut through with common tools found at a hardware or home improvement store. Or tunneled under, as already occurs along our border.
- The American people want smart, effective and modern solutions to protect our border, not foolish, ineffective solutions simply to fulfill reckless and uninformed campaign promises. More agents, better technology at points of entry to find drugs and stop human trafficking.
- The American people want the government to work for them and to protect them. They do not support shutting down the government for political games.
- The American people are feeling the pain the shutdown is causing and they want the shutdown to end.
- The American people do not support holding federal workers hostage.
- The American people know that giving to a bully or a tantrum simply causes other problems in the future.
- Democrats stand with the American people.
- Democrats in the House have passed spending bills that would re-open government and provide additional funds for smart border security. Republicans in the Senate refuse to even hold a vote.
- Democrats agree that we should not spend $5.7 billion as a monument to the foolishness of Donald Trump. We cannot give into hostage takers or bullies or tantrums.
- The American people elected Democrats to provide a check on President Trump. We provided a path forward to re-open government and get everyone back to work. Democrats support smart border security.
- President Trump needs to do what the American people want: no wall, smart border security, and re-open the government.