Clyburn: Negotiators ‘Ought to Settle on What We Can Do in Both Chambers’ – Some Areas ‘May’ Need Barrier

On Monday’s broadcast of CNN’s “AC360,” House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) stated that Congressional negotiators should “settle on what we can do in both chambers.” He added that some areas of the border “may” need a barrier.

Clyburn said he thinks the odds of reaching an agreement are “much better” than the less than 50-50 odds the president gave.

Host Anderson Cooper asked, “What role would you see any new wall or fencing playing in a deal?”

Clyburn answered, “I think it all depends on how you define a wall. I have said that I’m all for a smart wall, a wall using technology, using drones and scanners and x-ray equipment that will make the wall too high to get over, too wide to get around, too deep to burrow under. That is a smart wall. I was glad to see the president, on Friday, use that term when he talked about a wall. So, it says to me that we can reach common ground.”

Cooper asked Clyburn, “Should negotiators focus on a deal with the — that the president will sign, rather than something that could simply pass both chambers?”

Clyburn said, “I think that we ought to settle on what we can do in both chambers.”

Cooper then asked, “Isn’t it possible that there are some areas that could use fencing or some kind of barrier?”

Clyburn responded, “Well that may be, and that’s why we want to consult with experts. I think that what the Democrats got turned off by is the president saying, we’re going to build a wall from sea to shining sea.”

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett