U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) appeared on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” to discuss Republican legislative priorities and recent U.S. actions in Iran.
Thune emphasized the significance of a bill currently before Congress, stating its passage is necessary to avoid a tax increase for families in South Dakota and across the country. He explained that without the bill, an average family in his state would face a $2,500 tax hike at year’s end.
“[T]he goals in this bill are a safer America, a stronger America, and a more prosperous America … An average family in South Dakota, if we don’t pass this bill, will face a $2,500 tax increase at the end of this year. That is the real-world impact of this on people.
“Plus, you get the energy, the regulatory, the tax policy working in a way that creates economic growth, that creates better-paying jobs, people’s incomes go up, that enables them to do more for them and their families. So that’s what this is about. It’s about a growing, dynamic, expanding economy that makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous for the long run.”
Thune described the legislation as essential for advancing President Trump’s agenda on issues such as border security and military modernization.
“Failure here is not an option. And this is the fulfillment and implementation, this bill, of the president’s agenda. It’s securing the border. It’s modernizing our military. It’s making America energy dominant. It’s tax relief for working families. It’s reducing the size and scale and cost of government by getting rid of waste, fraud, and abuse.
“This is what the American people voted for, and that’s what we intend to deliver. So failure is not an option. There’s a lot … of swirl at this point in the legislative process. And so we’re hearing people out, working, responding to their feedback and taking their input, trying to incorporate things into the bill that make it stronger and better.
“But we have to get this done, and I’m hopeful that we will succeed by the end of the week here in the Senate. Then we’ll see what the House can do and if we can get it on the president’s desk soon.”
On foreign policy matters related to Iran following recent events there over a weekend period—referencing his own experience during 1979—Iranian revolution—Thune contrasted current administration action with past approaches:
“I was a senior in high school in 1979 when the shah was overthrown in Iran, and the botched Carter administration’s response to that was one of the reasons I voted for Ronald Reagan, my first presidential vote,in 1980.And I think that what happened overthe weekend was oneof thereasons,the AmericanpeoplevotedforPresidentTrump.Itispeacethroughstrength.Whathedidwashistoric.Itshouldbeviewedthroughthatlens.AndtheDemocratsaregoingtocomplainloudly,buttheyarejustflatonthewrongsideofhistoryonthisissue.”
He also addressed questions regarding presidential authority concerning these actions:
“[President Trump is] perfectly within his authority,Dana;there'snoquestionaboutthat.AndtheDemocratargumentstothecontrary,Imean,
whatyouheardjustthere,
thatisTrumpDerangementSyndromeonfulldisplay.Pureandsimple,nothingmore,nothingless,nothingelse.That’sthey’regoingtodo.They’regoingtoscream.
“Butthefactthematteris,
legally,
constitutionally,andobviouslyfromahistoricandmoralsideofthisargument,thepresidentwasonsolidground–andtheAmericanpeopleknowthat,
whichiswhyIbelieveamajorityofAmericans,
includingalotofDemocrats,supportwhatthepresidentdid.”
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