When Sen. Cory Booker arrived in Washington a few years ago, he was a national figure with a huge Twitter following and a personal mission to reach across the aisle to get things done. You can say he still has national credibility. When there is a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy, his name comes up. When there is talk about Hillary Clinton's running mate, his name comes up.
"Those are flattering political moments in my life," he said during an exclusive breakfast for New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone members in Princeton on May 23. "My mom says, 'Behind every successful child is an astonished parent.'"
The junior senator let out a big laugh when a N.J. Chamber Cornerstone member asked whether he would consider an invitation to be Donald Trump's running mate. He suggested just the thought is surreal.
He swiftly turned senatorial. "I have the greatest job," he said. "I deal with broad state, national and international issues. Every day, I go to bat."
Working in a city with a reputation for partisan gridlock, Booker said he tries to never miss an opportunity to connect with fellow senators on the opposite side of the political spectrum, whether it's in the halls of Congress, at a prayer session in a Senator's office or in the Senate gym. "There are ways to get things done if we don't focus on our differences," he said.
The nation's transportation infrastructure is an area that needs immediate attention, Booker said. "We used to have the best infrastructure on planet Earth," he said. "Now we have fallen out of the Top 10. We have seen our country get surpassed by competitor nations in the speed of trains, the strength of ports and the reliability of roads."
The country's thicket of regulations can choke progress and innovation, he said. The red tape in America, he said, would have stopped the Wright Brothers from making their breakthroughs in aviation. "They would have had to go elsewhere," Booker said.
"We need to grow innovation, and grow jobs and grow the economy," Booker added. "When the economy grows, we all benefit."
Booker noted that when he last addressed the Chamber Cornerstone membership in July of 2014, he was focused on prioritizing the extension of R&D tax credits, changes to the medical device tax, pushing Congress to pass a long-term highway funding bill, and continuing Sen. Lautenberg's legacy of Toxic Substances Control Act reform. By working with his colleagues, Booker said he has been successful in moving all of these priorities forward.
Booker praised the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce for its work to stimulate the economy. "The Chamber is so important," Booker said. "When the Chamber weighs in on issues, folks listen. You have a profound voice. I value our relationship."
Special thank you to Wells Fargo for sponsoring.
For photos from the event, click on an image below:
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