February 28, 2017

New Democrat Coalition Leadership Urges President Trump to Do His Job so Lawmakers Can Do Theirs

Today the New Democrat Coalition Leadership team sent a letter to President Trump urging him to do his job so Congressional lawmakers can start doing theirs. The Coalition calls for Trump to stop the inflammatory rhetoric coming from the White House and instead focus on policies that will grow the economy, create more opportunity for all, and make government work better.

“Upon your inauguration, despite being in opposition, we were hopeful that you would govern like the "dealmaker" you so adamantly claimed to be, seeking areas of consensus and compromise,” said New Democrat Coalition Leadership Members. “Regrettably, since your inauguration, we have heard no specific proposals from you on improving our infrastructure, reforming our tax code, or bettering the Affordable Care Act, all things that you promised before and after the election.”

President Trump’s acrimonious approach to date is decreasing the opportunity for progress on these issues. The Coalition is willing to consider working across the aisle on policy, but the President’s lack of a more focused and conciliatory approach to policymaking is too great a barrier.  Should he focus on the right priorities, Members of Congress in both parties can get to work on the job the American people sent them to Washington to do.

The New Democrat Coalition Leadership is comprised of the following Members:

  • Chair: Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04)
  • Vice-Chair for Communications: Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01)
  • Vice-Chair for Policy Coordination: Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06)
  • Vice-Chair for Member Services: Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02)
  • Vice-Chair for Outreach: Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07)
  • Whip: Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11)
  • Leadership Member: Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY-04)
  • Leadership Member: Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52)
  • Chair Emeritus: Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03)

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear President Trump:

As you prepare for your address to the Joint Session of Congress, we strongly urge you to stop advancing divisive policies and inflammatory rhetoric and instead focus on policies that will grow the economy, create more opportunity for all, and make government work better.

Last November, Americans across the political spectrum elected leaders to work together to strengthen our economy and increase opportunity for all. Upon your inauguration, despite being in opposition, we were hopeful that you would govern like the "dealmaker" you so adamantly claimed to be, seeking areas of consensus and compromise. Regrettably, since your inauguration, we have heard no specific proposals from you on improving our infrastructure, reforming our tax code, or bettering the Affordable Care Act, all things that you promised before and after the election.

As leaders of the 54 member New Democrat Coalition, a group with a track record of seeking bipartisan cooperation, we implore you to begin focusing on these issues. New Democrats want to work on a bipartisan proposal that would significantly increase investment in and modernize our infrastructure system. We also stand ready to work together to modernize our tax code, improve the Affordable Care Act, and pass comprehensive immigration reform. Unfortunately, the acrimonious approach you have taken to date is decreasing the opportunity for progress on these issues. If you adopt a more focused and conciliatory approach to policymaking, we all can get to work on the job the American people sent us to Washington to do.

Sincerely,

The New Democrat Coalition Leadership Team

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