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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 18 deceMber 2017

Jones: Don’t expect him to always side with Senate Democrats

By HOPE YEN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dem-
ocrat Doug Jones, who
won election to the Sen-
ate from staunchly Repub-
lican Alabama, insisted to
both parties in politically
divided Washington Sun-
day that he’ll leave “all the
options on the table” when
it comes to his votes next
year on issues from immi-
gration to infrastructure.
“I’m going to consider
anything,” said Jones, ex-
plaining that he doesn’t
plan on labeling himself a
progressive or a conserva-
tive Democrat but a “Doug
Jones Democrat.”
In an early sign, Jones reiter-
ated that he would oppose
spending money to build
a wall on the U.S.-Mexico
border, as President Don-
ald Trump insists upon, and
expressed concern that a
sweeping GOP tax cut pro-
posal that was on track for
approval this week was be- In this photo taken Wednesday, Dec, 13, 2017, Democrat Doug Jones speaks during an interview with the Associated Press, in
Birmingham, Ala.
ing “plopped into a vote Associated Press
too quickly.” At the same
time, Jones said people liberal Democrats. Trump Alabama in the Senate in as some Democrats are would likely involve ques-
should not “expect me to has also urged Moore to a quarter-century. He was calling for. tions of a pathway to citi-
vote solidly for Republicans concede the race. lifted by African-American But siding with congres- zenship for immigrants liv-
or Democrats.” “We hope that frankly Doug voters, independents and sional Democrats, Jones ing here illegally, he said:
The 63-year-old former U.S. Jones will help us change moderate Republicans made clear he wants to “I think it’s going to be very
attorney made clear he’s the climate here in Wash- who turned out to reject help devise safeguards for complicated. ...I’m not as
ready to move forward ington,” Short said. Dur- Moore, who faced newly immigrants brought to the sure it’s as important as
even though his Republi- ing the campaign, Trump raised allegations of sexual country illegally as children, health care and some oth-
can opponent in last Tues- chastised Jones as a liberal misconduct involving teen- but without funding for a er things right now.”
day’s special election, Roy who would be “terrible” on age girls decades ago. border wall. The Obama He pointed to fixing roads
Moore, has yet to concede crime and border security, Making his first Sunday administration program and bridges, a priority of
the race. “Alabama has and a “puppet” for Senate talk show appearances which provided those pro- Trump’s, as a bipartisan is-
spoken,” Jones said. “I will congressional leaders. since his win, Jones said he tections, the Deferred Ac- sue that could benefit Ala-
be ready to go regardless But on Sunday, Jones looked forward to meeting tion on Childhood Arrivals bama. “Let’s get on with
of whether he concedes or downplayed Trump’s ear- with Trump and believed program is set to expire in the real issues that are fac-
not.” lier criticism as statements his own mandate was to March. ing people of this country
Jones’ election will cut the made “in the heat of a avoid rigid partisan posi- “I have said before that I right now,” Jones said.
Republicans’ Senate ma- campaign,” and described tions in favor of compro- opposed the building of Jones appeared on “Fox
jority to 51-49, when he the president’s congratula- mise and “getting things a wall. I think that’s an ex- News Sunday” and CNN’s
takes office in early Janu- tory call after the election done,” even if meant com- pense that the taxpayers “State of the Union.” Short
ary. as “very gracious.” ing across as “pure pie-in- just don’t have to incur was on NBC’s “Meet the
White House legislative di- “I’m going to be looking the-sky” and sometimes because I do think you Press.”q
rector Marc Short said the at issues on both sides,” he disappointing some of his can increase border secu-
administration was eager said. core constituents. rity without having to go to
to see whether Jones will Jones defeated Moore, by On the one hand, Jones the incredible expense of
“actually work to represent 20,000 votes, or 1.5 percent, said that he doesn’t think building that wall,” Jones
the people of Alabama” in to become the first Demo- Trump should resign over said. Referring to a broader
a bipartisan way or side with crat elected to represent sexual misconduct claims, immigration overhaul that /arubatoday/