‘Her day one was 3.5 years ago‘: GOP Rep. Stauber on VP Harris at Democratic convention

After the close of the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, who represents Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, is eager to hear about policy on the campaign trail.

“We have to tell the American people and show the American people the difference in the policies. And it’s a stark difference in the policies,” Stauber told Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer Friday.

While accepting her Democratic presidential nomination in a 37-minute speech Thursday, Harris broadly outlined policy priorities such as a commitment to an “opportunity economy,” middle-class tax cuts, standing up to Russia and North Korea and supporting Palestinians’ right to self-determination while defending ally Israel’s right to self-defense. But she gave few details.

Harris also pledged to revive a bipartisan border security bill that Former President Donald Trump had implored Republican lawmakers to block.

When Wurzer asked Stauber if he had supported the bipartisan border bill, he pointed to a separate bill that passed the House with only Republican votes.

“It’s been sitting on Chuck Schumer’s desk for over a year now,” he said. “That was the strongest border security package in the history of this country. It would have made our streets and our community safe. It would have stopped illegal immigration, and it would have helped our border patrol and helped our southern states and their communities.”

Stauber voiced that illegal immigration and drug trafficking of fentanyl leading to overdoses and deaths are a top issue for him this election year.

“We have to secure our southern border, and Kamala Harris has been a disaster,” Stauber said.

“As a former police officer in Duluth, the worst calls I had were to give unsuspecting parents the news that their loved one had died because of a drug overdose,” he added. “That is happening every single day, and it doesn't have to be that way. The policies need to change.”

The bipartisan border bill did include provisions to combat drug trafficking, like installing fentanyl-detecting inspection machines and the ability for the president to impose sanctions on non-citizens involved in trafficking. Despite Republican claims, the majority of fentanyl is brought into the U.S. by citizens, not illegal immigrants, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

Regarding Harris’ economic promises to boost middle-class families, Stauber pointed back to the Biden Administration’s economic policies over the last term, recent inflation and the high cost of living.

“If you can compare the monies in people’s pockets and middle-class pockets between the Harris-Biden and President Trump administrations, it’s night and day,” Stauber said. “I think that what she talked about is things that she should have or could have done the last three and a half years. Her day one was three and a half years ago.”

Inflation surged as the nation was coming out of the pandemic, driven by supply chain disruptions and changing consumer demands. And while consumers are still dealing with higher prices, inflation fell to its lowest level in more than three years last month. The Federal Reserve says it could begin dropping interest rates as a result.

So far on the campaign trail, the parties have focused mostly on painting the race as one of good versus evil. We’ll see in the coming weeks whether it shifts to one of good policy versus bad. Harris and Trump will debate on ABC Sept. 10.

“We’re all Americans, right? We have to understand that, and we have to respect diverse opinions, but it's okay to talk about what you believe in,” Stauber said.

Stauber, himself, is also on the ballot in November. He faces a challenge from Former DFL state Rep. Jen Schultz.

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