Rushmore State News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) appeared on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo to discuss recent legislative efforts and the administration’s policy agenda.

Thune highlighted the focus of current legislation, stating, “the goal behind all this was to make the lives of working Americans, middle income Americans, better, to strengthen their families, allow them to keep more of what they earn. And this part of the president’s agenda – and it’s a big part of the president’s agenda – was designed to impact those very Americans.”

He expressed optimism about the impact of these policies: “I think you’ll start to see the effects of that soon … There’s always more to do … but we’ve had an incredibly successful and productive six months. The president’s agenda is being accomplished piece by piece in a way that I think is going to benefit the American people by making our country safer and stronger and more prosperous.”

Thune also discussed efforts to make tax cuts permanent. He said, “One of the things that we really fought for … was to make those tax cuts permanent. And … a lot of the folks that you talk to out there, the one thing they want is economic certainty. And ensuring that people can make decisions now based on tax policy that’s going to be in effect … the bonus depreciation, deduction of interest, also R&D expensing, those types of things, permanent, … will increase incentives for capital investment in this country, which creates better-paying jobs, raises the standard of living for everyone, and in the long run, generates more government revenue.

“If you want to get the budget balanced in this country, we’ve got to restrain spending, which we are also working on, but you need pro-growth policies on taxes and regulations and energy that generate more economic growth, because growth also leads to more government revenue.

“And so it’s one way of the many ways that we need to look at to try and get our fiscal situation back into balance and to return some fiscal sanity to our country.”

Addressing partisan challenges in Congress, Thune commented on Democratic opposition: “I hope we will find that the Democrats want to work with us [on appropriations]. They haven’t demonstrated much of a willingness on anything so far. I mean, they are making it extremely difficult to get any of the president’s nominees through the process here.

“It’s obstruct, it’s delay, it’s block. That’s been the pattern, and it’s Trump Derangement Syndrome on full display here in the United States Senate. But in spite of that, we’ve gotten a lot done, and we’re going to get more done, but I hope at some point particularly when it comes to funding the government we can get some cooperation from Democrats.”

On permitting reform for energy projects—both conventional and renewable—Thune noted possible bipartisan interest: “I am hearing believe it or not some interest among Democrats in doing something on permitting reform. Because not only is it slowing down and grinding to a halt a lot of conventional energy projects but there are also renewable projects things that Democrats support … that we need to get sited,to get permitted…to deal with litigation reform that comes in wake of all this.

“There are a series of things that have to be done if we're going keep our country competitive and make sure that it doesn’t take 20 years get project ultimately up going.So I'm big fan permitting reform,and if can find some Democrats work with us,I think could be something could be real bipartisan win for country,because will keep our country competitive stronger.”

Regarding discussions about a potential government shutdown by Democratic leaders Thune said,“I think [Senator Schumer] probably thinks that [shutting down government is] beneficial their political base,the far left Democrat Party…This party struggling identity.This party that's completely out step mainstream this country…We're going waiting see anxiously what Chuck Schumer other leaders Democrat side decide do.

“Because ultimately keeping government funded good for country,and hopefully we'll have bipartisan cooperation do.But…if their recent track record any indication they're under tremendous amount pressure from far-left wing Democrat party shut government down.But I hope they think better it.”