Sen. Pat Toomey on Another Looming Government Shutdown

AMANPOUR: So, we were talking admits to sort of a bad drop of yet another looming showdown, another potential shutdown. But I wanted to ask you to sort of delve in a little bit as to why you were gaining a reputation to sort of differ a little bit with the president and come out publicly against some specific issues, whether it’s Syria, trade, tariffs?

TOOMEY: Well, you know, I think it’s really quite simple, I’m elected separately from the president and the people of Pennsylvania expect me to do what I think is right. When I agree with the president, as I often do, on tax reform, on regulatory relief, on judicial nominees, we work together and I’m very happy to work with the president. But when I think when I think he’s mistaken or when I think he’s advocating policy that’s not good for Pennsylvania and for America, then it’s my job to stand up and do what I think is right.

AMANPOUR: Do you think there are more of you willing to do that? Because the Congress, the Senate, particularly now, that is in Republican control seem to be, you know, reluctant, even on issues such as the ones you’re talking about, do you think it’s right to actually push back on things that effect the economy, effect the American people, whether it’s trade, tariffs and all the rest of it? Do you think there are more and more people willing to do that?

TOOMEY: Well, I think the Senate has done that. You saw the recent vote, Senator McConnell himself introduced an amendment that really is critical of the administration’s proposal on Syria, there’s been a lot of pushback from Republicans in the Senate about certain aspects of the president’s trade policy. But if you look in the first two years, the president’s remarkable successes generally were consistent with Republican orthodoxy and so, Republicans were naturally, you know, quite happy to cooperate.

AMANPOUR: OK. Now, that that’s interesting, consistent with Republican orthodoxy. So, let’s now talk about what’s happening right now. It looks like then maybe hopes that a government funding bill could be reached, a deal could be reached but apparently, over the weekend, you know, things just went a little south. What do you think we’re going to see? Are we going to see a deal or another shutdown by the end of this week?

TOOMEY: Well, I certainly hope we see a deal and we’ll get a briefing later today from our colleagues who are members of this conference committee and learn the status of that. But to me, first of all, I think the president made a very reasonable request for the border security measures that the Border Patrol has asked for. I understand that some of our Democratic colleagues have newly decided that wall funding is somehow unacceptable. Well, I think the obvious solution is a compromise, that we settle somewhere in between. I’m pretty sure the president is willing to compromise and I hope the Democratic Party leadership is willing to also.