Schumer: ‘This will be an accountability Congress’

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says Democrats in the new Congress will work to hold President-elect Donald Trump accountable “to the values that truly make America great.”

“This will be an accountability Congress,” he will say in his first speech as minority leader on Tuesday, according to excerpts obtained by Politico.

“And we will be a caucus that works to make sure the President-elect keeps his commitment to truly make America great, in its finest sense and tradition,” Schumer will add. “We will hold Trump accountable to the values that truly make America great.”

{mosads}“But we’ll fight him tooth and nail when he appeals to the baser instincts that diminish America and its greatness — instincts that too often have plagued this country and his campaign.”

Schumer is expected to say that Democrats will ally with Trump “in good faith” on common concerns, citing infrastructure, trade and carried interest as examples.

The New York Democrat will also challenge Trump to showcase more policy depth than the displays he often makes on Twitter.

“These issues are too important for mere words; our challenges are too entrenched for mere tweeting,” he will say. “‘Making America Great Again’ requires more than 140 characters per issue.”

“We have real challenges and we need to get real things done,” Schumer will add. “There’s nothing wrong with using Twitter to speak to the American people. It’s a good use of modern technology. But these issues are complex and demand both careful consideration and action. We cannot tweet them away.”