April 23, 2019 Congressional Luncheon coverage SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Rep. Duncan Hunter responded to the Mueller report Tuesday at a Congressional Luncheon. When asked about the report, Hunter responded, saying he’s glad it’s over. “It’s over. Let it die. I know the media hates it to be over, but it’s over. Sorry media.” Hunter also said he isn’t concerned about some of the things the report claims President Trump tried to do. “It’s over, it’s time to move on,” Hunter said once again. The comments came at a Congressional Luncheon where lawmakers were set to discuss federal issues such as immigration, the 2020 election and the Mueller report. The event was put on by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and brought all five of the region’s Congressional members together for a panel discussion. The Mueller report was released last week after years of investigation. The report concluded that members of the Trump campaign knew they would benefit from Russia's illegal actions to influence the election, but didn't take criminal steps to help. The report also details cases in which Trump reportedly asked aides to take actions to influence the investigation, but that they were unsuccessful because the aides refused orders. SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – All five members of Congress representing the San Diego region attended the Chamber’s Annual Congressional Luncheon at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel. These sessions provide an opportunity for San Diegans to connect with what’s going on in Washington D.C.. It’s a discussion highlighting the usual topics, the military, immigration, the business economy, the next election, and some new topics such as the Green New Deal, the Mueller report, and impeachment. Congressmen Scott Peters said it’s inevitable we talk about this because the Mueller report lists 10 instances uncovering what looks like obstruction of justice by the President. Juan Vargas is not pushing for impeachment but will vote for it if it comes up. Susan Davis says the Mueller report is a road map for impeachment. Impeachment will not happen for two reasons. One, the Democrat leadership says we can’t go there, and two if the House were to prove articles of impeachment, the Senate would not. April 23, 2019 Congressional Luncheon Rep. Duncan Hunter charged Tuesday that Central American migrants are overwhelming the border and heading for “drug cartel homes” when they get in. “There is a national emergency on the border,” said Hunter, who alleged the immigrants now seeking asylum are “family units that are being released to go to their drug cartel homes.” Hunter, a Republican who is under indictment over alleged campaign financing fraud, said San Diego has largely avoided the crisis because of the existing border fence. “San Diego has escaped what a lot of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas are facing right now,” said Hunter. His comments, which came during the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce‘s annual congressional luncheon, were in sharp contrast to the views of his Democratic colleagues. “We certainly do not have a crisis of people coming across the border. In fact, the numbers are way down,” said Juan Vargas, who represents the 51st District that stretches along the border from San Diego to the Arizona state line. All five members of the San Diego delegation — Hunter and Democrats Vargas, Susan Davis, Mike Levin and Scott Peters — were in attendance, with more than 400 community, business and political leaders in the audience at Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The discussion grew heated at times over the border, the environment and America’s role in the world, with Hunter’s views frequently at odds with his Democrat colleagues. “There’s four of you, just one of me,” said Hunter at one point. He missed last year’s event, but at earlier chamber luncheons his positions were often shared by former Rep. Darrell Issa, a fellow Republican who was succeeded by Levin in the 2018 election. Climate change and the proposed Green New Deal was a major topic of discussion. The audience was asked to answer by texting whether they supported the idea, and nearly 60 percent did. “Fake news is saying things exist in the Green New Deal that don’t,” said Levin, who argued that fighting climate change would spur development of new technology that “will be the greatest wealth creation opportunity in this generation.” But Hunter countered that “the Green New Deal is a mandate on you.” He said government should stand back and let individuals and companies do what they want. Frustration with President Trump came through repeatedly. “We have a president who has not lived up to what I believe the President of the United States and the leader of the free world should be doing,” said Davis. Peters said there has been a “withdrawal of American leadership” on the environment, trade and international security. “You see America not playing the role in the world that we should be playing,” he explained. But Hunter said America’s allies haven’t been doing their part. “We’re taking them to dinner over and over again and they’re not paying,” he said. Despite the partisanship in Washington, the five said they do work together on issues important to San Diego. “We’re not talking about the crazy partisan stuff all the time,” said Levin. Duncan Hunter is San Diego’s Republican voice in Congress. As such, his presence Tuesday at a panel discussion with his Democratic colleagues in the San Diego delegation was not only unmistakable but shaped the dynamic of the event. Had he not been there, the annual San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Congressional Luncheon would have featured a lot of agreement with some polite, nuanced differences among the other members: Susan Davis, Scott Peters and Juan Vargas of San Diego and Mike Levin of San Juan Capistrano. Instead, Hunter and the four were animated and at times contentious as they disagreed on a number of issues, including immigration, environmental protection, President Donald Trump, the Mueller report and impeachment. What didn’t come up were Hunter’s legal and political problems. Hunter is awaiting trial in September on federal charges that he and his wife, Margaret, allegedly stole $250,000 in campaign funds. They have pleaded not guilty. He’s also facing a rematch next year against Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, who came close to upsetting Hunter last year and so far is leading the incumbent in fundraising. Hunter didn’t make the luncheon last year, and the difference in tone was palpable. That gathering, which included then-Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, focused more on how the delegation worked together on regional concerns, such as funding improvements in efficiency and security at the U.S. ports of entry along the border with Mexico. Issa, who decided not to run for re-election, was forthright but diplomatic on the thornier national issues, including Trump’s policies. Hunter was his typical blunt self during Tuesday’s discussion at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel. He believes in Trump and the proposed extended border wall, and he doesn’t pussyfoot around about it. “The economy is rocking and rolling right now,” he said, explaining why he supports Trump for re-election, as he did his election in 2016. ". I don’t necessarily care how somebody articulates something, just that they simply get it done.” Levin, who replaced Issa, said he hadn’t decided which Democratic presidential candidate to back, but said he would support one who can bring “honesty and integrity back to the Oval Office.” He added that he looked forward to the day when he could watch the president of the United States on television with his two children and “turn up the TV, not hit the mute button.” Amy Brown, the chamber’s lobbyist in Sacramento who moderated the panel discussion, asked whether there was a crisis at the border. “We certainly don’t have a crisis when it comes to people coming across the border,” said Vargas, whose district runs along the border. He noted that illegal crossings are lower than they were many years ago. He added that “we do have a crisis of sewage,” a reference to the regular wastewater spills from Tijuana that pollute the border areas and the ocean off Imperial Beach. “There is a national security crisis on the border,” countered Hunter. He noted that crossings are spiking and that border enforcement agencies are overwhelmed. He said detained immigrants are being released, particularly in other regions, because facilities are full. ". The reason we don’t have that in San Diego is because we have a fence.” None of the members was optimistic that comprehensive immigration reform could be achieved this year. “This is the toughest issue for bipartisanship right now,” Peters said, blaming in part Trump’s immigration policies. Said Hunter: “We’re all pro-immigration. The issue is illegal immigration.” He added that without agreement on illegal immigration, border security (meaning: the wall) and visa reforms, no broad deal could be reached with Republicans. Davis said she actually agreed with a “tiny piece” of what Hunter said, though didn’t specify what that was. But she said there was a larger concern blocking progress. When you scapegoat immigrants and you set up this polarizing situation that people can’t distinguish between illegal and legal immigration. the scapegoating takes over the reality,” she said. Turning to the environment, Hunter was critical of the Green New Deal, a wide-ranging resolution pushed by some Democrats that calls for a stimulus program to wipe out greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and create jobs to help do it.