“It’s not about putting ‘yeses’ on the board it’s about keeping ‘noes’ off the board and they have done that.”
Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined Fox News’s Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino on America’s Newsroom to discuss President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks, their paths to confirmation, and the role he and his Senate GOP colleagues play in the process. The senator unpacked his meeting with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., shared the nominees’ success in meeting with lawmakers, and stressed the importance of President-elect Trump having his cabinet ready to go on day one.
Sen. Mullin’s full interview can be found here.
On the role Sen. Mullin plays in the confirmation process:
“It’s my first time to go through this process, through the noms, and them actually coming in and meeting with me. I’ve enjoyed the process, but Article Two Section Two does give us the right to advice and consent, it’s impressive to see how many senators are taking this to heart, but at the same time we understand that President Trump has a cabinet that he’s wanting to get in place as soon as possible, and there hasn’t been a single ‘no’ on any of his noms saying they’re not gonna vote for them. I think they’re methodically going through the process, and let me tell you every one of these individuals that the president has nominated, they’re on Capitol Hill doing exactly what they’re supposed to do. It’s not about putting ‘yeses’ on the board it’s about keeping ‘noes’ off the board and they have done that.”
On the success President-elect Trump’s nominees are having:
“You’ve seen the way Pete [Hegseth] has handled this, you’ve seen the way Tulsi [Gabbard] has handled this, the way Kash [Patel] has handled this, Lori [Lori Chavez-DeReamer for the Department of Labor Secretary] will be, I think I’m her first stop today in my office. I’ve gotten to meet with the majority of them so far and I’ve enjoyed every one of the conversations and let me say, they don’t shy away from the from the tough questions, they’re prepared when they walk in the door and I think that’s why so many people who’ve actually met with them come out and say ‘yeah we look forward to confirming them.’”
On his meeting with the next HHS Secretary:
“I’ve had the privilege to get to know Bobby because we campaigned together, we were in the motorcade together, we’ve already had these tough conversations, but I met with Bobby either yesterday, or the day before, I’m not sure, I think it was yesterday, and we had a great conversation. When I asked him about it [abortion] I said ‘how are you gonna explain this because you’re gonna come in front of my committee and you’re gonna be asked this question,’ he said ‘first of all I think there’s too many abortions, period.’ Now I’m a father of six with three adopted and three biological. I like to say three that came natural and three we chose, and so I don’t think anyone should get an abortion. I think it gives parents like me the opportunity to be loved from children that their mothers were brave enough to actually give birth to them and allow us to bring them to our family. The way Bobby answered it to me though he says, ‘here’s where it comes down to one thing, I’m serving at the president’s will. I’m going to put his policies first and that’s exactly what I’ll do.’ I think we all know where President Trump is on this issue.”
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