WASHINGTON (WCMH) — It was a hectic week in Washington last week, from the passing of former first lady Barbara Bush and secret meetings with Kim Jong Un to secret advice to the President from Sean Hannity and new concerns about what Chinese sanctions will cost Ohio farmers.
NBC4 spoke with Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman to get some perspective about this week’s events from both sides of the aisle.
Sen. Portman worked in the White House under former President George H.W. Bush as a policy advisor and remembers Barbara Bush fondly.
“What a wonderful lady and what a remarkable legacy she leaves,” Portman said. “She was dignified and had this ability to speak her mind in a way that was very frank. But most of the time, most people were nodding in agreement.”
Portman also spoke about the stunning news that President Donald J. Trump speaks almost daily with FOX News host Sean Hannity.
“You know, I think all presidents have had relationships with media personalities,” Portman said. “It does not surprise me that they talk a lot.”
Portman did weigh in on the White House contradicting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley after she announced new sanctions were coming against Russia.
“I think she is representing us effectively,” Portman said. “She is aggressive, and I think in the current environment we find ourselves in with regard to Russia, yes we would like to be better allies with countries that have nuclear arsenals like they do and have so much influence as they do, but to have a better relationship, their behavior has to change.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown weighed in about the continuing rumors that Trump is considering firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
“What I want the president to do is lay all his cards on the table, tell the Congress, tell the American people what in fact happened with Russia, what his relationship with Putin really is,” Brown said. I just want the president to tell everything he knows about this and let’s get this investigation done with so we can work on infrastructure, we can work on job growth, health care — all the tings Congress should be doing.”
As for revalations that the president’s nominee to be the next Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, had a secret meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Brown is happy to see progress but would pick a different starting point.
“I’m glad the White House wants to figure out North Korea, but I think you start with the sanctions,” Brown said. “I want the White House to be more focused on putting those sanctions in place. If done right, I think that brings North Korea to the table with the deal that we can really make the world safer.”
Brown also met with White House physician Ronnie Jackson, who is Trump’s choice to be the new head of Veterans Affairs.
“The most important question I think he needs to answer is will he fight efforts to privatize the Veterans Administration,” Brown said. “The last VA secretary was fired because he opposed the administration’s efforts to privatize.”
Brown is worried that privatization would jeopardize the care veterans receive.
“I want to make sure the secretary is on the side of veterans on this issue,” he said.
Brown also spoke about the sanctions the U.S. is implementing against China, which Brown supported. The sanctions have resulted in China attaching new tariffs to American farm goods. It’s a scare for Ohio farmers, especially soybean producers.
“We know that China has cheated, they subsidize energy and water and capital and land, and they break international trade law,” Brown said. “They are threatening to do the same kind of violation of international trade law with agriculture.”