In an appearance on CNN on Wednesday, Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) urged his fellow Democrat House colleagues to accept a deal that would give President Donald Trump $1.3 billion for a border wall.
Reed explained that $1.3 billion was a far cry from the original $25 billion requested by Trump administration for the wall.
“I don’t think anything was worth that shutdown because it should have been avoided,” Reed said. “As we were saying months ago, it should never have happened. However, the reality of the situation is, we have to deal with Congress. This is a congressional problem. We’ll see what we can get through Congress. And if it’s $1.3 billion, that’s what will go to the president’s desk, and I hope he will sign it and move on. But there’s other revenues and other money that could be deployed for further border security enhancement I see on the table.”
“I would gently remind many of my colleagues on our side of the aisle, not too long ago, about a year ago, we had $25 billion on the table in regards to a compromise position for border security,” he added. “And so what I would say is, don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. I encourage my colleagues to recognize when you can get 75 percent, 80 percent of the loaf, take it. Take yes for an answer. And now I encourage my Democratic colleagues, take yes for an answer, let’s move on, let’s keep building relationships so that we can solve problems for the people back home.”
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