SOTU Crib Sheet 4/7

ON STATE OF THE UNION

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy spoke about the sweeping gun legislation his state passed a few days ago, in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook. He responded to NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre's criticism of Connecticut's gun legislation:
"Wayne reminds me of the clowns at the circus. They get the most attention, and that's what he's paid to do. ... "Why should you be able to buy a gun or buy, you know, armor-piercing munitions? It doesn't make any sense. He doesn't make any sense, thus, my reference to the circus."

Former U.S. ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, spoke about the North Korea crisis and China's role in trying to calm the situation.
"This is a huge opening, believe me, with China, because our interests for the first time in a long while are aligned. We both want to get something done and bring the level of tension down on the Korean Peninsula."

And on relations between North Korea and China Huntsman said: "It's probably safe to say that Dennis Rodman... has probably had more face time with Kim Jong Un than the president of China."

Republican congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Democratic congressman Luis Gutierrez spoke about the immigration reform bill their bipartisan group in the House is working on:
Rep. Luis Gutierrez: "I am very, very optimistic that the House of Representatives is going to have a plan that is going to be able to go to a conference with the Senate in which we're going to be able to resolve differences… I expect very, very soon for that proposal to come forward."

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart: "For this to happen, it has to be a bipartisan effort. And that's why we have spent so much time, we've done it quietly, we've done it, frankly, I mean quietly. Really. Working, working, working to see if we can come up with a bipartisan effort. It will not happen, Candy, if it's not truly bipartisan."

GETTING TO KNOW

Watch our online exclusive segment "Getting to Know" Jon Huntsman

STATE OF THE UNION HIGHLIGHTS
(For more videos check out our website)

Malloy: NRA exec. reminds me of "clowns":

Gov. Huntsman: China's boiling point near

U.S. House closer to immigration bill

Panel: Hillary is the inevitable nominee

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (D) on Wayne LaPierre's criticism of Connecticut's gun legislation:
"Wayne reminds me of the clowns at the circus. They get the most attention, and that's what he's paid to do. … I mean, this guy is so out of whack. It's unbelievable.”

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (D) on the NRA opposition to the Connecticut law:
“What this is about is the ability of the gun industry to sell as many guns to as many people as possible even if they're deranged, even if they're mentally ill, even if they have a criminal background, they don't care. They want to sell guns.”

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (D) on gun manufacturers in Connecticut
“People are welcome to stay in our state as long as they're producing a product that can be sold in the United States legally. … But you know what, we've decided that the public's safety, that school children safety, that schoolteacher safety trumps all of that. I hope they stay and manufacture products that can legally be sold, but if they leave, you know, that will be a decision they make. We're not making them leave.”

Jon Huntsman, former Ambassador to China, on North Korea’s hot rhetoric:
“It's important for the president to look at how you harvest the opportunities coming out of this. What are we doing to review and shore up our bilateral alliance with Japan? What are we doing in the trilateral relationship with South Korea, Japan and the United States? And this is a huge opening, believe me, with China, because our interests for the first time in a long while are aligned. We both want to get something done and bring the level of tension down on the Korean Peninsula.”

Jon Huntsman, former Ambassador to China, on relations between North Korea and China
“I don't think that Kim Jong-Un, the 29-year-old who's now in power, has spent any time with these leaders at all. In fact, it's probably safe to say that Dennis Rodman, the American basketball player, has probably had more face time with Kim Jong-Un than the president of China.”

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) on immigration reform legislation:
“I am very, very optimistic that the House of Representatives is going to have a plan that is going to be able to go to a conference with the Senate in which we're going to be able to resolve differences… I expect very, very soon for that proposal to come forward.”

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) on immigration reform legislation:
“It's an issue of will. Luckily I think now there's bipartisan will to get it done.”