February 4, 2024

Following Governor Mike Parson’s participation in Texas Governor Abbott’s press conference to brief the media on

his refusal to solve the crisis at the southern border for political gain, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director

Matthew Patterson issued the following statement:

“It is shameful but unsurprising that Governor Parson and other national leaders of the Republican Party have

chosen to call a press conference in Eagle Pass instead of calling on their colleagues in Congress to pass the

bipartisan border deal that would address this national security crisis. These power-hungry politicians have no

intention of working together to find solutions, only to perpetuate crises. Instead, they should call on the MAGA

extremists who are blocking a bipartisan bill to secure the border, and tell them to do their jobs,” Patterson said.

Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune added, “Missourians are tired of self-serving politicians who

would rather participate in a circus than do the hard work of governing. To these politicians, our pain is their

political strategy, and America will continue to feel the consequences of their dysfunction as long as it scores them

political points. Governor Parson should call on the Missouri Republican delegation in Congress to end the political

theater and pass this bipartisan border deal.”

Background:

Bipartisan negotiators in the US Senate, including Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Murphy

(D-Conn.), have been working for months to craft a comprehensive legislative package to address the immigration

crisis at the southern border that is nearly finalized. Former President Trump has recently bragged about his efforts

to kill the bipartisan deal by urging his supporters in Congress to reject the deal outright before the legislation has

been considered by the body.

Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune is the first Latina elected to serve in Missouri State House

leadership and is only one of two Latino state legislators currently serving in the Missouri State House, alongside

Representative Robert Sauls. Missouri’s Latino population continues to be among the fastest-growing populations

in the state. According to the US Census, the number of Missourians who identify as Hispanic increased by 42.6%

from 2010 to 2020.

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org