'You All Are In Control': Governor JB Pritzker Issues Direct Plea To GOP To Pass Immigration Reform

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During a House Oversight Committee hearing on Thursday, Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) called on Republicans to use their majority to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Transcript

00:00Mr. Litch. Thank you. I just want to update the gentleman on the most recent polls.

00:05You're right, the president did have favorable marks on his immigration policy early on,

00:12but since these snatch and grabs have started, he's underwater.

00:1654% of the American people oppose him, his current policy, this active policy he's got going on right now.

00:23With that, I know, Governor Prisker, you had a desire to fire back at some of the allegations to you.

00:32You have that opportunity now. I yield you as much time as you need,

00:36although if you have any left over, you can give it to your colleagues.

00:39Appreciate it, and I am a sharer.

00:42I will thank you very much, Congressman, and let me just say that I'm so proud of my state

00:50and the way that we have operated, particularly in the last six and a half years,

00:54to protect people, public safety, so important in our state.

00:58I've increased the number of state police in Illinois,

01:01actually to highs that didn't exist even before my predecessor, the Republican governor.

01:08We also have done a lot to invest in violence prevention,

01:12and you've seen the result of that and the fact that we have banned assault weapons,

01:17that we have banned ghost guns.

01:20I would ask the members of Congress and the members of this committee

01:24to work to ban assault weapons across the United States.

01:27It worked back in the 1990s.

01:29It would work again if you pass it to lower the crime rate, lower the homicide rate.

01:35We have so much work to do as a country on immigration reform,

01:40and I don't understand why at about 50-50, this Congress is about 50-50 between the two parties.

01:47Isn't it about time that you got together and got comprehensive immigration reform done?

01:53We've seen it over the last 40 years, attempts along the way.

01:56It always fails.

01:57Every time it's because of Republican members walking away from the table.

02:02You all are in control of the Congress and the presidency.

02:06You can get together with Democrats and get something put together that will secure our border

02:12and have a big door that allows people to come who are working hard,

02:17who will raise families in the United States and help our economy.

02:22Governor Walz, I know you took some incoming today.

02:24You got any closing remarks?

02:26That's part of it.

02:26I would just say, Chairman Comer, Acting Ranking Member, thank you to you,

02:31and I would like those folks sitting behind you and along the wall,

02:33thank you to all of you for accommodating this.

02:34Chairman, thank you specifically for accommodating our state schedule on budget.

02:38I'm grateful.

02:39Governor Hochul?

02:42No, thank you for the opportunity again, Chairman Comer, Ranking Member Lynch.

02:47Not sure what to say after today's experience, almost eight hours of sitting here

02:51and not doing the work of the people of the state of New York, but here's what I want to say.

02:55My number one priority has always been and always will be keeping New Yorkers safe.

02:59I believe our policies and our laws as implemented do.

03:01Second point I want to make, I want to express my absolute outrage on what we've seen happen.

03:07To a U.S. Senator in the United States of America, regardless of what anyone does,

03:13to have someone like that treated like a common criminal, as if he was a threat,

03:17and throw him down and have to handcuff him with three people shocks the conscience.

03:21And as a former member of this body, I hope we'll all stand up and condemn this and say,

03:25we can do better, this is a great country, let's make sure we ensure that it stays great.

03:31And Ms. Skye-Perryman, I just want to say thank you to you for your help here today.

03:38Thank you, the Ranking Member, and I'm going to assume you all haven't seen the entire tape at the beginning.

03:45I'm sure you'll miss him.

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