Huffman, Schutt offer different reactions to Trump’s speech

January 30, 2018

John Schutt, chairman of the Humboldt County Republican Central Committee, and California 2nd District Rep. Jared Huffman both shared their thoughts with the Times-Standard Tuesday following President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address.

Schutt said he initially found it interesting that Trump’s State of the Union address “was the third longest in history” and he was pleased that the speech touched on issues of great importance to Californians.

Schutt said that he works with inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison and “was really impressed that [Trump] talked about how vital it is to provide support and training to people once they are released from custody.”

Huffman (D-San Rafael) said he raised an eyebrow when Trump’s talk turned to criminal justice reform.

“He’s done nothing to advance that reform,” Huffman said. “In fact his Attorney General has dragged us backwards on that issue. He spoke about second chances and then later in the speech he went into the lock them up stuff about drug dealers. There is a huge question of credibility.”

Huffman said he wanted more specifics from Trump.

“The paradox of such a long speech is that it was very light on substance,” Huffman said, adding, “never has so little been said over a such a long speech.”

Huffman pointed to Trump’s mention of infrastructure as an example.

“I would love to latch on to the issue of infrastructure, but he simply said any legislation is up to Congress and he provided no details on what he was aiming for.”

Huffman added, “I would love to see an interest in governance and stability from this president, and then we hear him vilify government employees without any specifics.”

Schutt said he wasn’t expecting a tour de force speech filled with bipartisan talking points, but he did say that Trump “made it tough to criticize this speech because the whole event was wrapped around people’s life stories.”

Schutt said he also thought that the tax bill that recently passed will help Californians as well.

“The tax bill is going to make a lasting difference here in the state,” he said. “You look at tax breaks for couples, that sort of thing will help a lot of people.”

Huffman said he liked Trump’s talk about paid family and medical leave but “the president again gave us no details on how that would be accomplished.”

Schutt wrapped up his reaction by stating, “I think he was trying to unite us around the stories of people and not in the way some people may have wanted, by focusing on legislation. I think he dealt with people as a whole in the speech.”

Huffman reached his own conclusions.

“I don’t think this president is interested in the hard work of creating policy and it was like the speech was spoken with a mouth full of feathers,” Huffman said. “He made vague references but gave no specific details.”


Source: by Dan Squier