House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn on Wednesday indicated Democrats could be open to new border wall, or at least some kind of border “barrier,” if experts agree that this step is needed to boost border security.
“If the experts say that under the circumstances that this particular port of entry, this needs to be reinforced with certain barriers, then I don’t see us turning our backs on that,” Clyburn, D-S.C., told CNN Wednesday morning after President Trump’s State of the Union address.
Clyburn says that he is not against a border wall, but believes it’s important to listen to the experts and heed their recommendations.
Dem. Majority @WhipClyburn is not against a wall, but defers to experts: “If the experts say that under the circumstances that this particular port of entry, this needs to be reinforced with certain barriers, I don’t see us turning our backs on that.” https://t.co/WWd0XF7qfV pic.twitter.com/abMNBbVj8Z
— New Day (@NewDay) February 6, 2019
Trump signed a continuing resolution at the end of January that agreed to fund the government for three weeks, until Feb. 15, while funding negotiations continue.
Trump is demanding a bill that includes the $5.7 billion for a physical barrier, and the administration says Democrats agreed to negotiate on that in exchange for Trump’s signature to reopen the government and pay hundreds of thousands of federal workers who suffered paycheck losses during the shutdown.
With the deadline looming next week that could lead to another shutdown or an emergency declaration, Trump emphasized during his address the humanitarian crisis happening at the southern border.
Clyburn more than most Democrats has been open to talking about a border wall, but most have dismissed Trump’s demand. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said she won’t agree to allocate any money for the wall, but Clyburn says members on both sides of the aisle are pleased so far with the continued negotiations.
[Related: Trump vows victory on southern border wall: ‘I will get it built’]
On Tuesday night before Trump delivered his annual address, Clyburn admitted that funding is needed to repair sections of the border fence that are already in place.
“I’m sure that we will work with the president on funding the repair work that needs to be done on those fences that are there, and secure the border,” Clyburn told CNN. “We don’t have a problem with that. We have a problem with a big 30-foot concrete wall, which would do nothing but be a monument to somebody’s ego.”
.@WhipClyburn said there is fencing in TX that “needs to be repaired.” He also said Dems will work with @realDonaldTrump on “funding the repair work.” He and Dems only have problem with a “30 foot concrete wall” that serves his ego. pic.twitter.com/6fxSOxSOQE
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 5, 2019
