TheChat: Eric Greitens takes to the streets

Good morning.

▪ “It starts by people going out on the streets, building relationships. In order to create peace in any neighborhood, we have to understand what’s going on.” — Missouri Gov.-elect Eric Greitens, a Republican, on what needs to happen to reduce violence.

As a governor from St. Louis, Greitens had made himself familiar with some of the issues plaguing big cities, as this report from Jason Rosenbaum reveals. Still, Greitens rejects some measures that big -city leaders favor, such as stricter gun control laws and Medicaid expansion under the ACA.

▪ “The lack of health insurance has been a significant cause of hunger in our country.” — the Rev. David Beckmann of Bread for the World on his forecast that hunger will rise dramatically if Congress kills the Affordable Care Act.

He said hunger and poverty have declined since the ACA went into effect.

▪ “Sometimes in partisan politics people say, 'You don't hold this position or that position or that position, you can't be in the club.' I don't think that's the right lesson to learn.” — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on the need to broaden the Democratic Party base in the wake of the November election.

Veering left would be a mistake, Nixon cautioned. The key is to connect with working people as well as those who hunt and fish. (link via johncombest.com).

▪ “I'm told he now just disclaims that. He now says it was cute, but he doesn't want to use it anymore.” — former House Speaker and Donald Trump adviser Newt Gingrich speaking of Trump’s campaign-trail call to “drain the swamp” of corruption.

The Trump camp is still relying heavily on GOP insiders to get the administration up and rolling.