Rep. Jim McGovern joined WGBH News to discuss the temporary government funding bill that must be passed by a Friday at midnight. McGovern says unless the bill includes immigration protections for DACA, or so-called Dreamers, he won't support it. Below is a loosely transcribed version of the interview. Click the audio player above to listen to the interview.
Marilyn Schairer: Joining me now is Congressman Jim McGovern to talk about a possible government shutdown. Thank you for joining us, Congressman.
Jim McGovern: Happy to be with you.
MS: So, the federal government apparently will shut down Friday at midnight if Congress doesn't act. Many Democrats say they won't vote for a bill to fund the federal government without a deal on a number of issues including DACA, opioid funding, children’s health insurance, and disaster aid to Puerto Rico. What's the most important issue to you here, Congressman?
JM: Well there are a number of important issues. I mean, children's health, funding for community health centers, funding to deal with the opioid crisis, raising the cap so that we're actually investing in domestic spending, everything from transportation to helping our veterans, and obviously, getting a deal on the Dreamers. There [is] a whole bunch of stuff, but basically, what we're being presented is a bill that the Republicans negotiated with themselves with no Democratic input. It is inadequate. It is not good for our country. It is disrespectful to Dreamers and not good for my constituents. And so, you know, they're in charge of the House. They’re in charge of the Senate. They're in charge of the White House. I mean, if they want to ram something through, they can do it on their own. But I'm not going to support a bill that's inadequate and that reflects a lousy process.
MS: So are you saying that you're willing to shut down the government over the issue of DACA, or children's health?
JM: What I'm saying is that I'm not voting for a bill that's a lousy bill, period. And that includes a bill that doesn't address the issue of DACA. I mean, 800,000 wonderful people in this country — some of them ... are working as first responders, saving lives. These are people who ... are working at fortune 500 companies, people who just have been model citizens, by every definition. By the way, these are people who have to obey the law, that's part of the rules ... of getting this benefit. To treat them so shabbily goes against the very traditions of this country, quite frankly. I think this is unconscionable. But it's that, it is the lack of funding for community health centers. It is, you know, the fact that we're providing inadequate appropriations for transportation and for our veterans. I mean, a whole range of things. So, you know, don't ask us to support terrible bills. I mean ... the people in charge of this House and of the Senate, are in charge of keeping the government open, that's their job. If they want to work with us in a bipartisan way, we can find a compromise. But that's not what they're doing here ... If this is the way they want to go, they could do it on their own, and I could get my help.
MS: Now there are some Republicans that are asserting that the Democrats are holding the government funding hostage over these issues. How do you respond to that?
JM: I mean, I wish we had that power that they claim we have. I mean, I’m sitting here in the House of Representatives in the minority. I mean, Democrats weren't even invited to the table to have any input on this. The same in the Senate. I wish Hillary Clinton were president and not Donald Trump, but that's not the case. So, I mean, I don't know what they expect us to do. I mean, we're not going to just cave on our principles, we're not going turn our backs on our constituents. I mean, they're in charge. They have a responsibility to run the government. If they want our support, then they need to have our input.
MS: So where do you see this going? What's going to happen come this Friday at midnight?
JM: Well, I mean, I think you're going to have a terrible bill be rammed through the House. My hope is that there will be more, you know, rationality over in the Senate, and they'll send us something back that we all can support. But what's coming out of the House today is really unacceptable and it's an insult to the American people. I mean, look, Congress is supposed to be a deliberative body. I mean, we're not deliberating anymore. There's no negotiation, there's no talk and the Republicans negotiate with themselves. It's this 'my way or the highway' approach. And look, I have some real needs in my my district. My community health centers need funding. This bill doesn't deal with it. And by the way, this is the fourth continuing resolution. If Congress were doing its job, we would have funded the government for the entire year. So, these people are incompetent. If they could be sued for political malpractice, they'd be sued. So, this has stop, and if they want our support, then they can't trample over all of our values.
MS: All right, any concern at all about backlash from the American people, or do you feel like you're doing the right thing?
JM: I think the American people — there'd be a backlash against us if we would have voted for bills that inadequately fund our veterans’ programs, our transportation programs, our medical research programs that don't fund community health centers and that turn a cold shoulder to 800,000 Dreamers in this country. I mean, we have to stand for something. And again, the way Congress is supposed to work is this supposed to be a give and take. You know we're being handed a bill that we were even invited to the table to help negotiate and we're told take it or leave it, my way or the highway. This is a bad bill, and if the Republicans want to, you know, advance their legislation, they can do it on their own. They control the House, they control the Senate, and they control the White House.
MS: All right, thank you, Congressman Jim McGovern, appreciate you taking the time to speak with us.
JM: All the best.
