- Title: Congressional Republicans hold conference in Philadelphia
- Date: 25th January 2017
- Summary: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS AND SENATE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR JOHN THUNE APPROACHING PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR JOHN THUNE, SAYING: "I'm also excited to be able to welcome Prime Minister May, the first sitting head of state that will attend one of our retreats. Our allies have been marginalized over the last eight years and that's going to change and it starts with a visit from the leader of closest and strongest allies. We look forward to discussing with Prime Minister May how we can make our economic and military relationship even stronger." WIDE OF RODGERS AND THUNE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR JOHN THUNE, SAYING: "We intend, when we have a nominee, which we don't yet, but I expect that we will here, in the very near future to get that nominee confirmed at we're committed to that in the U.S. Senate. And we hope that our Democrats who are going to be available to work with us and work constructively, there's been some consultation already I think as most of you know, Senator McConnell, Senator Schumer, Grassley and Feinstein were down at the White House yesterday having a conversation with the president about this issue, we expect additional opportunities to consult on this and we expect to play our role to advise and consent, but we will fill that seat." RODGERS AND THUNE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR JOHN THUNE, SAYING: "With respect to torture, that's banned. The Army Field Manual, it makes that very clear and the law now is tied to the Army Field Manual and so we view that to be a matter of settled law. So, again, I'm not familiar with what's coming out today but with regard to how most members of Congress perceive or view that, we've spoken on that." RODGERS AND THUNE (SOUNDBITE) (English) HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS, SAYING: "My understanding is, what he is moving forward on has already been authorized in current law and he's made a commitment to ensuring we have a secure border on the southern border and he's taking steps to start that process." RODGERS AND THUNE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR JOHN THUNE, SAYING: "On the wall, I have supported the wall and it should be paid for, it's been authorized in the past and money would have to be appropriated for that." RODGERS AND THUNE WALKING OFF STAGE PAN OF STREET WHERE THE 2017 "CONGRESS OF TOMORROW" JOINT REPUBLICAN ISSUES CONFERENCE IS HELD CLOSE UP OF LOEWS SIGN VARIOUS OF POLICE VARIOUS OF POLICE SURROUNDING PROTESTER HOLDING TRUMP SIGN VARIOUS OF POLICE VARIOUS OF POLICE VEHICLE VARIOUS OF POLICE POLICE VEHICLE CLOSE UP OF SIGN ON CAR READING (English): "PHILADELPHIA POLICE" PAN OF STREET
- Embargoed: 8th February 2017 20:56
- Keywords: Congress Republican caucus retreat partisan party politics
- Location: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES
- City: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00160KZ5UT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune speak to the press on the opening day of a three-day retreat for Senate and House of Representatives Republicans in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Wednesday (January 25).
Thune welcomed British Prime Minister Theresa May to the retreat, who will meet with senior Republican leaders from Congress on Thursday.
"Our allies have been marginalized over the last eight years and that's going to change and it starts with a visit from the leader of closest and strongest allies," Thune said. "We look forward to discussing with Prime Minister May how we can make our economic and military relationship even stronger."
May will meet new U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday, seeking to reinvigorate what London views as the two countries' "special relationship."
May is the first foreign leader to meet with the 45th President of the United States, since his inauguration just a week ago.
The prime minister hopes to deepen trade ties between the two countries, which could strengthen her hand in divorce talks with the European Union.
She will be keen to press her Brexit message that she wants to build a "truly global Britain". But with the EU clear that Britain must not sign trade deals with other countries until it has left and British officials expressing concern over Trump's shift towards protectionism, May will probably be reluctant about making any binding commitments.
Trump said he will make his choice to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 2 as he seeks to restore the conservative majority on the high court, prompting Republicans in Congress to warn Democrats against blocking the nominee. Three U.S. appeals court judges are among those under close consideration by Trump to fill the vacancy left by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia nearly a year ago. Appointment as a Supreme Court justice requires Senate confirmation for the lifetime post. Trump's fellow Republicans control the Senate with a 52-48 majority, but Democrats could try to block the nomination using procedural hurdles.
Thune, the third-ranking Senate Republican, warned that his party would not allow Trump's nominee to languish.
"We will fill that seat," the South Dakota senator said in response to a reporter's question on whether Republicans might scrap the procedural hurdle known as the "filibuster" if Democrats use it to block the nomination.
Thune said that Republicans will have opportunities to consult with Democrats. He did not say how long that consultation process would be allowed to go on before potentially taking steps to end a standoff if Democrats erect barriers to the nomination. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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