Sen. John Thune said Wednesday he believes Republicans to be in good shape in this year's midterms, as most voters think about the economy and their wallets when casting ballots.
"I think what people are focused on when they start thinking about elections, which is early, it's a way off, they think with the economy and their pocketbooks and whether their lives are better nor or two or four years ago," the South Dakota Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom."
"If you look at every indication, unemployment's at a 17-year low last month in February, more people entered the workforce than have in 40 years. Over 800,000 people and that will affect the way people vote."
All of those things have been done in spite of Democrats' efforts, Thune added, while agreeing with President Donald Trump's observation that members of the opposing party have been obstructionists.
"The things have gotten done has been in spite of Democrats," said Thune. "The president has been instrumental in making sure he's getting nominees up here we can process. What we have seen from the Democrats is historic levels of obstruction particularly on the president's nominees.
"If you go back to the previous four administrations in the first year of those four administrations combined, there were 32 nominees filibustered by the opposing party. This president has had 78 already."
Meanwhile, another spending bill deadline is approaching this Friday, but Thune said he believes the government will remain open.
"It's always challenging and you're dealing with Democrats who use these opportunities as leverage to get more spending," said Thune. "This is how they grow government. They use every opportunity to fund the military and things we think are important, fund the border, they use it to increase their social services."
He also blamed the tendency for budget talks to go on until the last minute on Democrats blocking appropriations bills.
"We end up with a pile-up at the end of the year," said Thune. "It has to change. I'm a big advocate of budget reform. I think we have to transform the way we budget. It would change the way Washington works more than anything else we can do."
Thune also spoke out against Trump calling Russian President Vladimir to congratulate him on his election win.
"I'm not sure why the president felt he needed to call and congratulate Vladimir Putin on what was a fake election," said Thune.
"I think most of us don't see that as necessary.Obviously it's a decision the president ultimately makes. I think his advisers were advising him against it but in this circumstance, I'd listen to advisers."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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