Luján Statement on President Trump Address to a Joint Session of Congress

Press Release

Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM03) tonight issued the following statement following President Donald Trump's address tonight to a joint session of Congress:

"Tonight we saw President Trump in full pitchman mode as he tried to defend the turmoil and chaos that has plagued his administration over the past 40 days, and again attempted to sell the nation on his Trump-centric view of the path forward. I think we have all heard this type of fast and loose sales pitch before -- but it's what we have come to expect from snake oil salesmen, not the President of the United States!"

"When it comes to big issues like healthcare, I think the President needs to decide who is calling the shots in his party, because he can't continue selling Congress and the American people a bundle of vague promises that bear no resemblance to the heartless and short-sighted policy proposals Republicans in Congress are putting forward. If the President wants to back a tax increase that will hit more middle-class families and more small businesses than any previous tax in history, that concerns me; but let's have that debate. But don't come before Congress and say you are looking out for working families, while your Republican allies in the first few rows of the same chamber have proposed raising taxes on those same families."

"I remain troubled by this administration's approach to immigration. Bans, mass deportations and a border wall will not address our immigration challenges, but his policies targeting families and dreamers have caused fear and uncertainty. If the Trump administration wants to face reality and sit down to discuss a comprehensive and long term solution to our immigration problems, my colleagues and I will work with him. But if what he wants instead is a reality-TV solution, I think it's time to change the channel."

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