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Thune on NBC’s Meet the Press: Harry Reid Senate a Factory for Show Votes

“More interested in winning votes for Democrats in November elections than they are for winning jobs for the American people”

August 3, 2014

Washington, D.C. — 

This morning, U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, joined NBC’s “Meet the Press” to discuss the dysfunction Majority Leader Reid has created in the U.S. Senate, the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, and the importance of acting now on the southern border.

Excerpts of Thune’s interview are available below and video of Thune’s interview is available here.

On the House passing a border fix:

“The House did pass a border security bill before they went out. The Senate has not.”

On the dysfunction Majority Leader Reid has created in the U.S. Senate:

“You mentioned earlier people’s frustration. I can understand that. Wages are flat, unemployment is high. Everything from gas to food to health care costs more for the American people. You can’t address that situation if you don’t vote. In the United States Senate, we went for an entire year where we passed less than one vote on a Republican amendment per month. In the Harry Reid Senate, that’s become the norm – it’s become a factory for show votes where votes are made that are more interested in winning votes for Democrats in November elections than they are for winning jobs for the American people. That’s got to change. The Senate has got to function again. It is dysfunctional and that’s what’s frustrating to the American people.”

On the importance of supporting Israel:

“Well, that’s one of the things, David, as Bob mentioned that there is bipartisan support for in Congress. We were able to get the House and the Senate moved legislation to provide funding for Iron Dome. I think everybody realizes Israel has got to be able to protect its citizens. I think this operation hopefully it will conclude quickly once they destroy the tunnels and the rocket launchers that are coming into Israeli communities, this thing will get, I think, over with. Hopefully we can get to a place where we’re actually discussing a solution, a long-term solution to the situation there in that region of the world. We’ve got to defend and support Israel’s right to defend its own citizens from this constant hammering of rocket attacks, and these tunnels that are being bored into their country. No country is going to be able to sustain that. We’ve got to support Israel until they get this job done.”