Patty Murray: “To the majority leader, thank you for asking that question because I think it is really clear what has happened here. As…”

“To the majority leader, thank you for asking that question because I think it is really clear what has happened here. As the Senator knows, during the negotiations over the Christmas break, when everybody else was out doing what they do, we did negotiate the Senate DHS bill with our House counterparts, repeatedly asked for some things and were rebuffed every single time, overridden by the White House. So I am here today to remind everybody that you, Mr. Leader, that the leader spoke to all of us when we came to a disagreement on DHS and ICE funding; that the leader himself said that this negotiation was between the Democratic leaders--that would be Senator Schumer and Representative Jeffries--and the White House. So I appreciate talking to my colleagues. I have talked to a number of them about what they might or might not be willing to do. But having my experience here--and, I would guess, the experience of a number of my colleagues--until we know that the White House is actually really and not just, you know, a representative, but is really at the table, which is what I believe the majority leader asked for, those are not real negotiations. I am willing to talk to people, but I am not willing to sit in a room, have coffee, give away a few things, and have Stephen Miller override whatever we all agree to in a room until I have that commitment. I am certain that I speak for our majority leader as well and for Leader Jeffries, that we need to know the White House is serious.”