Thune: Democrats Must Come to their Senses, Stop Obstructing NDAA

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “It’s been a heavy week here in the United States Senate, with the tragic and unexpected passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. “Lindsey was a great American patriot. “He was a champion for the Republican Party. “And for many of us, he was a trusted and loyal friend and adviser. “And so, we mourn his loss, and we welcome his beloved sister Darline here to the United States Senate. “She will take up his duties and responsibilities as a senator for the state of South Carolina. “And I say all this in the context of, I wish we had Lindsey here, because right now we are dealing with an important national security matter, the National Defense Authorization Act, something that Congress has done every year now for the last 65 years. “And yesterday, we had what was simply a motion to proceed to get on the bill – actually, it was a cloture motion to proceed to get on the bill – and the Democrats blocked it, every single one. “And that, my friends, I believe is really unfortunate. “This is an issue that ought to be bipartisan. “It’s about the national security interest of this country, and the Democrats seem to be dug in and willing to play politics with America’s vital national security interests. “This is not about funding for Iran. “This is something we do on an annual basis, and we have for the last 65 years in a row. “So, I am hopeful that at some point the Democrats will come to their senses and realize that national security ought to be a priority for them. “It certainly is for us. “And we will give them more opportunities in which to change that vote, and to express their support for even moving forward and having the debate. “By the way, I would add that there were 38 Democrat amendments that were included in the National Defense Authorization Act that we tried to get up on the floor yesterday. “So, national security is important to this country. “Border security is important to this country. “The Democrats have a pattern, going back now over a year, of, you know, not wanting to pay air traffic controllers, not wanting to pay border security personnel, and in this particular case, holding hostage the pay increases for our men and women in uniform. “That is really unfortunate and unprecedented, and I certainly hope that soon they’ll come to their senses.”