Sen. Thune chats with students about challenges of the job
Majority Whip Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., talks to College Republicans Feb. 21 in the Herold Crest Room.
February 21, 2019
While the U.S. Senate is on recess for the week, Majority Whip Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., stopped by campus on Feb. 21. for a casual conversation with the College Republicans.
Around 15 people came to hear Sen. Thune discuss his duties as majority whip and issues facing the current session. Right now, there are 53 Republicans in the Senate, but to get legislation to pass 60 votes are needed. Sen. Thune is tasked with rounding up those votes.
“Getting them to lean ‘yes’ on any given day is challenging,” he said. “It’s a game of trying to persuade, to convince them—it’s an imperfect science.”
Majority Whip Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., talks to College Republicans Feb. 21 in the Herold Crest Room.
Another “challenging” aspect of Sen. Thune’s job is not having a Republican majority in the U.S. House.
“Consequential things are passed in divided government,” he said. “Divided government, historically, can do great things. But I don’t think this government will.”
Sen. Thune felt Democrats, and Nancy Pelosi are too focused on “beating Trump” to make big moves happen.
“They really want to beat Trump, they are really passionate,” he said.
He said Republicans are realistic in terms of what they can get done and have set a “narrow range” of issues to tackle. Improving infrastructure, upholding data privacy and obtaining better drug pricing were a few issues Sen. Thune said he thinks both sides of the aisle could support.
Sen. Thune talked about the effects of social media, discussing how news moves fast, Sen. Thune said when going on live television he always has to be prepared for the topics to change. He said social media is good for preparedness.
On campus at @SDState. Ran into former interns, President Barry Dunn, and stopped by the State-a-Thon booth raising money for Children’s Miracle Network. pic.twitter.com/k6Kj3zwZc7
— Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) February 22, 2019
He also encouraged College Republicans to “be respectful” and “be firm in what you believe” without diminishing others. He advised students in the room to “keep moving forward” and take opportunities as they appear.
“Don’t be afraid to push open that door,” he said.
