Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) on Sunday called the desire for Democrats to fight against President Trump “not just good politics” but also “good policy.”
“I think wanting to see Democrats stand their ground when this administration’s doing dangerous things is common sense, and it’s not just good politics, it’s good policy for this country,” Deluzio told NewsNation’s Chris Stirewalt on “The Hill Sunday.”
“And again, I’m a guy who believes we’ll find common ground when we can, but you got to stand your ground when it’s time to fight for your people,” he added.
Deluzio’s comments follow an internal divide among Democrats over a funding bill that ten party members in the Senate voted to advance Friday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) was one of the members who voted to advance the bill, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, his fellow New York Democrat, on Thursday criticizing him after saying he would do so.
“There is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal,” Ocasio-Cortez previously told reporters. “And this is not just about progressive Democrats. This is across the board — the entire party.”
Deluzio also on Sunday called the funding bill “bad” and said it “hurt a lot of my community.”
“And I think Democrats in the Senate, when they’re not included in negotiations, when they’re iced out, when our people are going to be hurt, should stand their ground,” Deluzio said. “And I think that’s not just a Democratic Party issue, that is what our people expect of us,” he added.