During CNN’s #PelosiTownHall, Leader Pelosi Promises ‘We're Never Going to Rest until We Get This Done’ on Gun Control Legislation
Leader Pelosi also discussed Republicans' billionaires-first budget plan which would pave the way for massive tax cuts for the wealthy few on the backs of working Americans, as well as Democrats' commitment to passing the DREAM Act now.
Memorable moments are below.
On Demanding Action on Commonsense Gun Control Legislation:
"We take an oath to protect and defend the American people and we're not doing that."
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"We're never going to rest. We've said this to the families over and over again, we're never going to rest until we get this done. But we have to shorten the distance between what is inevitable to us and inconceivable to others. We have to bring that closer together."
"All we want is a vote. I feel quite certain there would be bipartisan support to pass the background check bill. … We have a number of people who have said they would support the bill. Let me just say to Speaker Ryan, just give us a vote. The only reason you wouldn't give us a vote is if you think we would win, but that's a reason to give us a vote."
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"We just have to keep persisting because we have these moments of silence and certainly we want to be prayerful and respectful in a moment of silence but people are impatient of that. They want action and action is possible, we have the bill. It's bipartisan. Give us a vote."
On Republicans' Radical FY2018 Budget and the Ryan-McConnell Tax Plan:
"We'd love to come together to have tax reform, work together in a bipartisan way. Instead they did their tax cuts for the high end, sent it over, and said, ‘this is our first and last offer, take it or leave it.' That's not any way to have bipartisanship."
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"This is very important – the battle of the budget. The budget is the statement of our national values. Show me your budget, show me your values. What is important to us as a nation to invest in education of our children, in science, protecting the environment, building the infrastructure of America, instead of a budget that takes us well into trillions of dollars in debt to give a tax cut to the wealthy."
On the Need for an Outside, Independent Commission to Investigate Russia's Influence on our Election:
"There's no question the Russians exploited our electoral system. … We need an outside independent commission to do an investigation. Not so much about the past, but about the future and that our electoral system's integrity will not be in doubt."
On Democrats' Commitment to Passing the DREAM Act Now:
"Our DREAMers, they make America dream again. … A constant reinvigoration of America – that's what newcomers are."
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"The President should never have done what he did in terms of giving the six month this or that, revoking and giving six months for us to pass a bill. He should never have done that. It was an inhumane thing to do."
On the Desperate Need for Relief in Puerto Rico:
"We were not there soon enough. We have to be there in a fuller way."
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"This is a challenge to conscience of America. These are American citizens. They are just God's children – that would be reason enough. These are American citizens and when a national disaster falls upon any of us, it is the responsibility of the government to come to the aid of the people, to protect them. That is our primary responsibility really. Without that, what else matters?"
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"No matter what progress is made, there is still a long way to go in terms of meeting the needs of the people there."