NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe talks with Senator Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, about his birthday party’s technique heading right into a imaginable govt shutdown.
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
President Donald Trump will meet day after today with best congressional leaders from each events. The White Area assembly comes simply someday prior to a closing date to approve regulation to steer clear of a central authority shutdown. For the newest at the negotiations and what it method for civil products and services, we are joined now by way of Senator Andy Kim. He is a Democrat representing New Jersey. Excellent morning, Senator.
ANDY KIM: Excellent morning.
RASCOE: Senate leaders John Thune and Chuck Schumer and Area leaders Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries will meet with President Trump day after today. What do you are expecting to return out of that assembly?
KIM: Smartly, I am satisfied this assembly is occurring, and I am satisfied that President Trump modified his thoughts. I believe it displays that the president is feeling drive from his place prior to pronouncing that he does not need to take care of Democrats, does not need to negotiate. And I believe that is since the American individuals are feeling a large number of ache presently. , I am right here in New Jersey, going round my state. Other folks right here had been telling me overwhelmingly about simply the continuing demanding situations that they are dealing with in the case of price of residing, well being care and housing, and they would like aid, and they do not see that from Donald Trump presently.
RASCOE: What’s the birthday party’s technique – your birthday party’s technique – going into those negotiations?
KIM: Smartly, the negotiations are about addressing those precise wishes from the American other people. , they are terrified about their well being care prices. Beginning October 1, we are going to see well being care prices build up dramatically for such a lot of American citizens, and we need to ensure that this is addressed by way of this president, by way of this Republican management that has performed such a lot with the intention to harm them by way of gutting Medicaid and such a lot of different problems. So we are going to be combating with the intention to decrease the ones prices for American citizens and lend a hand them be capable to cope with the desires of their households.
RASCOE: If Republicans are unwilling, as they’ve stated, to roll again a few of the ones adjustments that got here from the spending invoice that used to be handed previous this 12 months, that is going to impact Medicaid, that is going to impact medical health insurance, must Democrats dangle out for a shutdown?
KIM: Smartly, glance, you realize, we will see how the negotiations pass day after today in the case of what Trump is keen to transport on as a result of we all know that, you realize, Speaker Johnson and congressional Republicans, they are simply doing no matter Trump is pronouncing. So, you realize, pass in, be capable to communicate to Donald Trump and notice how a lot this drive is coming down on him. , he’s someone that has stated prior to now that if a shutdown occurs, that it is the president’s fault. So we will see how a ways he is keen to head. However what we wish to make sure that we are addressing listed here are the simply prime prices that individuals are dealing with. And simply what I listen from other people is simply – they only use the phrase chaos, they usually use the phrase exhausted. , they’re exhausted by way of Donald Trump, and they do not see this chaos as serving to them. In truth, it is making issues extra unpredictable of their lives.
RASCOE: But when there’s a shutdown, that will be chaotic, too, proper? The Trump management has threatened mass firings around the govt if there is a shutdown. What would you are saying to those that will blame Democrats for that?
KIM: Smartly, no, I do not believe they’ll blame Democrats as a result of, I imply, glance, even Donald Trump stated, you realize, it is the president’s task to drag other people in combination. , glance, they see it as him unwilling to control. Presently, we are seeing a state of affairs the place Donald Trump is actually looking to take down and dismantle the opposite two branches of presidency. , it does not need with the intention to do what we typically wish to do in the case of having the ability to negotiate. And the American individuals are seeing that. They are seeing that he’s the point of interest, the reason for this chaos of their lives.
RASCOE: Is there any plan for what would occur if the shutdown occurs and extra federal staff are let pass? Is there a message that Democrats have? Is there a plan, you realize, to check out to improve people who find themselves dropping their jobs?
KIM: Oh, completely. I imply, we have now been combating all alongside with the intention to improve federal staff. I was a federal civil servant beneath each Republicans and Democratic presidents. I served thru a couple of shutdowns. I did not get a paycheck, in spite of running. I understand how tough that is, and I do not need to see this. However what we additionally see is only a blatant lawlessness from Donald Trump presently. And when they are threatening to fireplace federal workers, it comes throughout as simply, like, you realize, directly up, you realize, mafia, directly up, similar to, you realize, we are going to do no matter we need to do. And other people are not looking for that. So, you realize, I believe it will backfire immensely on Donald Trump if he leads us down that trail.
RASCOE: Must American citizens be nervous about very important products and services like climate forecasting and federal emergency reaction if there is a shutdown?
KIM: , having been thru this a couple of occasions, you realize, we all know one of the most issues that we are going to have to fret about, and that’s the reason what we are looking to shut the space on. , we wish with the intention to ensure that, you realize, that is one thing that if a shutdown occurs, if Donald Trump reasons a shutdown, that we are going to check out to reduce the damages and the demanding situations dealing with the American other people. So, sure, that is a part of the negotiations. , we are going to check out to do our highest to reduce it if it will get to that. I am hoping we steer clear of it. , I am hoping Donald Trump comes to those negotiations, keen with the intention to cope with a few of these wishes that the American individuals are dealing with and display that, sure, you realize, we wish to make sure that we come in combination at the moment.
RASCOE: That is Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey. Thanks such a lot.
KIM: Thanks.
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