Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, said goals like reaching compromises on issues like an infrastructure bill, maintaining cross border trade or health care seem a little more elusive after President Donald Trump’s first state of the union address.
“I was a little skeptical that we would get the speech about unity that he promised,” Peters said. “He certainly started out that way, but then he proceeded to deliver a speech to his base, his political base. Which was very divisive. He did Trump.”
Peters was one of 24 congressmen, mostly Democrats, who invited someone who faces deportation if Congress doesn’t act on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Karen Bahena has roughly 240 days before her work permit expires.
“I thought it was important to highlight that these people are us,” Peters said. “They’re our neighbors our friends and they’re students. And the woman I took, Karen, was a remarkable lady. She was No. 2 in her high school class. She wants to become a doctor and serve under-served populations.”
Peters doesn’t support a major expansion of the border wall. Democrats have proposed a compromise on the table that can allow the so called dreamers to remain, in exchange for enhanced border security, he said.
