U.S. Representative Banks Spends Day in DeKalb

Article by Andy Barrand | KPC News | July 6, 2021

AUBURN — Rep. Jim Banks, R-3rd, is making the most of his two-week break from Congress by meeting with constituents in his district.

Tuesday, Banks and his staff spent the day in DeKalb County talking with local governmental and economic leaders, before touring Nucor Steel and closing out the evening meeting with veterans at a local American Legion.

When Congress returns to session later this month, Banks said they only have a short time to come to a budget deal before the August recess.

He said the late budget recommendations from the White House and President Joe Biden have put the process behind schedule for the year. Work has just begun on the committee level in the House and Senate.

“Seems unlikely we will get anything passed,” Banks said, of the two-week session in July.

Currently there is one more session scheduled for September. If the budget isn’t approved then, the chances of a government shutdown are minimal because the Democrats control the White House, Senate and House. Consolidated spending bills can be used to keep the government running.

“The first six months, we have seen the federal government spend more money than any government has spent (in that time),” Banks said.

Talking about infrastructure, Banks believes a deal will get made at some point, but it might not be until after the 2022 midterm elections, when he is predicting a landslide in which the Republicans will take back the Senate and the House.

“Infrastructure at this point changes day to day. There is no consensus between the Republicans and Democrats and the Democrats and Democrats,” Banks said. “I believe there are compromises that can be made.”

Banks said he is for an infrastructure bill as long as it is a “sensible one” where investment is put toward roads, bridges, rail, ports and airports.

He said the current bill put forth by the Democrats reads more like the Green New Deal.

He believes you won’t see much accomplished by the House or Senate unless the Republicans win back the House or Senate. That will force President Biden and the Democrats to work with Republicans on a bipartisan agenda.

“Americans like a divided government,” he said. “Hopefully we will get back to that to get something done.”

The third-term congressman said he is honored to serve his district every day, although the challenging times lead to more challenging issues.

Banks said other major issues facing congress is the continued border crisis with illegals crossing the southern border along with inflation, crime and the continued threat from China.

Banks recently returned from a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, where he was joined by 23 other Republican lawmakers and stayed for an appearance by former President Donald Trump.

Banks, the chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, took part in a late-night tour of the southern border before spending time with Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott near an unfinished portion of the border wall.

He said border agents will tell you unanimously that the crisis is out of control. Materials to finish the border wall in several locations are just sitting there.

Banks said the crisis is not only the illegals coming across, it is the amount of illegal drugs that are making their way into the United States because border patrol agents don’t have time to focus on enforcement.

It is those drugs that could potentially make their way to northeast Indiana harming families and crippling communities.

He pointed to Trump policies, which he said were helping to curb the problem — but were rescinded by Biden — as the reason for the current crisis.

Article source: https://www.kpcnews.com/heraldrepublican/article_ac5f0e2a-13c4-5186-81d7-9b4abfde7bba.html