WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) appeared on MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki to discuss House Republicans' continued civil war and the Democrats' call for a bipartisan path forward. Below are highlights from her interview:
On the consequences of the House GOP's dysfunction and chaos:
“We are twenty five days from the next shutdown. Three weeks of chaos and dysfunction. And there still is one clear path forward, and that is work with Democrats on behalf of the American people. That has been our offer and continues to be our offer. Let's get back to doing the work that we were sent to Congress to do.
“You’ve listed the things that are so important. Avoid a shutdown. Address our national security and the needs of our allies. Continue the Democrats’ work of lowering costs for the American people. And finally, elect a Speaker who is going to defend democracy – not degrade it.
“What we've seen so far, if we just look at last week, all of that was rejected to pursue a speakership of Jim Jordan. So we are in a very dangerous and extreme place with the House GOP.”
On Republicans embracing MAGA extremism instead of bipartisanship:
“I think there are many different candidates that we could work with, because it's not about a single person. It is about who is going to end this civil war and get back to work for the American people. Who is going to work with us on the deal that we already made and voted for back in June that set budget levels?
“What we're seeing is a Republican Party that has rolled back that agreement and put national abortion bans in everything from defense to agriculture bills. Their full, wholehearted adoption of the most MAGA extreme parts of their Caucus is a rejection of what the American people are asking us to do: Come together, put them first, and, get back to the real work we have to do on their behalf.”
On Democrats’ commitment to finding a bipartisan path forward:
“Since January, and the fifteen rounds it took to elect Kevin McCarthy, the Democratic Caucus has been extending our hand in bipartisanship. We have been saying: ‘We understand you're in the Majority. You're going to have a Republican Speaker, but let's have somebody who brings the bills that are important to the American people to the Floor, just like we did in the Majority.’
“We were able to pass a Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that's making key investments right now in communities that are paying off – whether that's roads or bridges or broadband or expanding EV infrastructure. Key things, getting lead pipes out of our communities, that I hear from constituents and people across this country is making a difference in their lives. When we were in the Majority with the exact same thin Majority, we were able to do amazing things because we were willing to work on what the American people sent us there to do. Not a partisan, extreme agenda.
“So, I hope that they will come out of this next round […] with that goal in mind.”
To view the complete interview, click HERE.