Is This the New Center of American Politics?
Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, (I-CT), and former Gov. Jon Huntsman, (R-UTAH), who are the Co-Chairs of the No Labels movement, weigh in the group’s latest efforts to achieve more bipartisan compromise in Washington, D.C.
“It’s the new center of American politics. It’s a place where Democrats, Republicans, Independents could come together to try to get something done in our government and we think the time is right after this election, particularly to work with the President-elect,” Lieberman told the FOX Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo about the organization.
Along with the creation of the Problem Solvers Caucus, according to Lieberman the organization is also creating a Super PAC, “With a goal of raising $50 million to support candidates for Congress who, when it comes to the big votes, say no to the parties’ leadership, say no to the interest groups, I’m going to do what I think is right and negotiate a compromise with the other party to get something done for our country.”
Huntsman said he expects the incoming Trump administration to get right to business.
“This is the first time in eight years that we’ve really had environment for deal making and problem solving. So we see the next 100 days, six months, the first year of a President Trump Administration as being absolutely critical in getting the big things done,” he said.
He said he expects big changes ahead.
“Whether it’s health-care reform, whether it’s tax reform, infrastructure, this is the kind of team you’re going to need to get it done. Otherwise we’re going to have a replay of what we saw eight-years ago, health-care reform, Obamacare, slammed down people’s throats, a straight-line party vote and now people are looking to completely redo it, it’s been a waste of time and we don’t want to repeat that history,” he said.
Huntsman then responded to speculation his name is on the short list for the Secretary of State post in Trump’s cabinet.
“You know, I’m greatly honored that my name is even in a mix, an expanded, large group of people. I have not had the meeting, but I think it’s really important and it says something about the President-elect that he’s taking this job very seriously, he’s reviewing the candidates, he’s looking at the issues, he’s bringing in different voices who maybe look, see differently America’s role in the world and that’s a good thing,” he said.
When asked if he was expecting to have a phone call or meeting with Trump about the position, Huntsman said, “Like a lot of other people when these things happen, your name is floated and there might be a follow up call, there might not be, we’ll have to wait and see.”