Sen. Cruz: The Senate Must Pass Kate’s Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today appeared on Fox News’ ‘The Daily Briefing With Dana Perino,’ where he discussed the not-guilty verdict in the Kate Steinle murder trial, the Senate’s tax reform bill, and news of the day.

Sen. Cruz urged his colleagues in the Senate to pass Kate’s Law, which he reintroduced earlier this year.

“The verdict was frustrating and it makes you angry,” Sen. Cruz said. “What’s most frustrating is this crime never should have happened. The best response to this verdict last night is that the Senate should take up and pass Kate’s Law. Kate’s Law is legislation I’ve introduced in the Senate, and it says if an illegal immigrant illegally enters the country a second time with an aggravated felony – that immigrant will face a mandatory minimum prison sentence. The person who shot Kate Steinle had been deported five times. He was an illegal immigrant; he had been in and out of jail. If Kate’s Law had been on the books, the person who pulled the trigger would have been in federal prison cell, instead of out there on that pier that night and Kate Steinle would still be alive and with us today. The best thing Congress can do is pass Kate’s Law right now and prevent the next tragic murder like the one we saw in California.”

Sen. Cruz continued, warning against sanctuary cities.

“If Kate’s Law had been on the books, that defendant would’ve never been on the pier, never would’ve had that gun in the first place, because he would’ve been in jail, because he was deported five times. He was a repeat criminal and when you allow illegal immigrants who are repeat criminals to be released - to be protected by sanctuary cities like San Francisco, the result is, it’s more dangerous for all of us.”

When asked about the Senate’s tax reform bill, Sen. Cruz discussed his efforts to bring his colleagues together to deliver meaningful tax cuts to working men and women.

“I’m very encouraged,” Sen. Cruz said. “I’ve been working night and day this year to really bring Republicans together, to get to 50 [votes] and I think we’re on the verge of major, historic tax cuts. Lowering tax rates for small businesses, for farmers, for ranchers, for families, it’s a big deal, and I’m very encouraged with where we are right now.

Sen. Cruz continued, discussing the repeal of Obamacare’s individual mandate, which fines more than six million Americans every year. 

“One of the big deals in tax reform, is part of this is repealing the individual mandate from Obamacare. That’s something I argued for vociferously with a handful of other conservatives. We persuaded our colleagues and it’s in the bill. Six and a half million people every year, the IRS fines under Obamacare because they can’t afford health insurance. We’re giving tax relief to all those people and ending that very unfair part of Obamacare.”

Watch Sen. Cruz’s full interview here. 

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