Jim Clyburn on Working with Republicans and Congressional Power

Electing More Democrats

• 🎯 Clyburn emphasizes the need to elect more Democrats as a primary strategy.
• 💡 He believes this is necessary because too many Republican colleagues have ceded congressional power, particularly the "power of the purse," to the president.

Congressional Power and Presidential Authority

• 🏛️ The Constitution clearly grants the power of the purse to Congress, not the president.
• ⚠️ Clyburn criticizes the current president for using emergency authority to enact policies beyond constitutional limits, likening it to operating under martial law.
• ⚖️ He notes that Congress has not effectively pushed back against this overreach, citing a lack of sufficient votes (needing 218 but being five short).

Working with Republicans

• 🤝 Clyburn acknowledges that there are some Republicans who can be worked with.
• 📌 However, he stresses that any collaboration must be on a case-by-case basis.
• 🗣️ He mentions Congressman Bacon from Nebraska as an example of a Republican who has spoken out on current issues, specifically regarding the Department of Defense.