Tuesday, October 3, 2017

OnPolitics Today: Trump offers no solution for mass shootings

What will the government do post-Las Vegas shooting and Trump's visit to Puerto Rico
 
usatoday.com
with Jessica Estepa
OnPolitics Today: Breathe, just breathe
A memorial at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Sahara

It's Tuesday, OP friends. And honestly? We're still processing. And we're devastated. And we're just trying to breathe.

So let's unwind what's happening in this edition of OnPolitics Today. (Subscribe here.)

If not now, when?

What can we expect in terms of government action in the face of the tragedy in Las Vegas?

Eh.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told everyone not to politicize the massacre that killed at least 59 people and injured around 527 more, saying it was "premature to be discussing legislative solutions if there are any."

And while House Speaker Paul Ryan said he believed mental health was a critical piece of whatever comes next, he also seemed to imply we'd be waiting until after "we see dust settle and we see what was behind some of these tragedies."

And as for President Trump? He called the shooter a "sick" and "demented" man - but he was in no mood to talk policy today.

You can expect Democrats to introduce legislation on expanded background checks for those purchasing guns, but the introduction of something is far from passing it and signing it into law (see: every other recent mass shooting).

Don't forget about Puerto Rico

President Trump visited Puerto Rico on Tuesday and it went...well. Maybe we'll just post his comments and you can decide for yourself how it went.

On the number of people who died in Puerto Rico: "Sixteen people certified - 16 people versus in the thousands."

On Puerto Rico's money problems: "Now I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you've thrown our budget a little out of whack, but you're throwing our budget a little out of whack because we've spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico. And that's fine; we saved a lot of lives."

On Puerto Rican truck drivers: "But now the roads are cleared, communications is starting to come back. We need their truck drivers to start driving trucks." (Please note: Reports that truck drivers were striking in Puerto Rico are false, according to the association that represents them.)

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