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Jeffries brushed off the prospect of an awful partisan fight over impeachment, saying there’s certainly no easily use in speculating about the future while special counsel Robert Mueller continues his investigation into Russian interference inside 2016 campaign and potential obstruction of justice because of the president.

“Impeachment just isn’t an element that is surface of mind, certainly for House Judiciary Committee Democrats as well as for a wearisome amount of your home Democratic Caucus,” Jeffries said. “Let Mueller be Mueller and do his job.”

And Collins said he was confident their relationship could withstand an impeachment-fueled storm. “Our friendship will be based upon a respect which is deeper than legislation,” he said. “I think that’s some of the issues that actually can get us through the times.”

At first glance the 2 main men would not have much in accordance, apart from both coming over to Congress in 2013 after stints within their respective states’ legislatures.

The conservative Collins is actually a “country Baptist preacher,” as Jeffries fondly describes him, and also a fast-talking Georgian who owned a scrapbooking company, practiced law and deployed to Iraq as the military chaplain using the Air Force Reserve before traveling to Congress.

Jeffries can be a liberal Brooklynite who had high-powered gigs as the corporate attorney, including for Viacom and CBS, prior to being elected to the New York Assembly and Congress.

Now, the 2 lawmakers seem on the steps for success for plum leadership positions. Collins currently is vice chair of the property GOP Conference and could be Judiciary chairman if Republicans hang on to the home.

Jeffries is co-chairman of House Democrats’ messaging arm and it’s frequently mentioned by his colleagues as someone to merely see move up the ranks as soon as the caucus’ current longtime leaders progress.

But Jeffries says it had become their shared faith background – Collins still is a chaplain while in the reserves and Jeffries is actually a lifelong member of his local Baptist church – that brought each together.

“He’s obviously got a head for the procedure including a heart for those and contains drawn from his experiences both being a lawyer as a pastor,” Jeffries said. “I reckon that combination really made it clear he’d certainly be a great partner entitled to apply for a few things done within Congress.”

While faith sometimes have helped plant the seeds of their friendship, their bond really cemented with a shared passion for music. Jeffries prides himself on as a hip-hop aficionado, noting Brooklyn is when most of the genre’s greatest artists cut their teeth.

Collins says she has more eclectic taste than people might assume considering he comes from the single most conservative districts in the country. “I go from rap to country to Ne-Yo,” he stated. “I listen to anything from AC/DC to Weezy.”

Soon they found themselves participating over the Music Modernization Act – an invoice that updates laws governing copyright and royalties for songwriters – which passed the place in April as well as being looking forward to action in the Senate.

Their partnership also led to enactment of another measure clarifying how police officers can gain access to data held by U.S. companies overseas, that’s contained in the omnibus spending package a few months ago.

After passage of the White House-backed prison reform bill, the duo becomes noticed by leadership on both sides in the aisle.

“Together they had been relentless for getting this important reform in the grass,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said inside a statement.

Added House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley of brand new York: “I think Hakeem Jeffries’ star shot pretty high up this week.”

Crowley said he was “impressed” with Collins likewise. “Doug did a pretty good effort of contacting folks on our side with the aisle and coming over and engaging us,” he stated.

The prison reform bill still faces an uncertain future. Despite strong backing from Trump with the exceptional son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, the proposal has some powerful opponents inside Senate.

The Collins-Jeffries legislation aims to scale back recidivism rates by rehabilitating prisoners through training and vocational programs. Although the plan doesn’t include sentencing reforms that Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and leading civil rights groups say has to be incorporated into any overhaul within the criminal justice system.

Collins and Jeffries support sentencing changes but left those more controversial provisions right out of the bill as a result of strong opposition from Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has signaled he’s unlikely to give the prison bill up to get a vote until Republicans will work out their internal differences.

“We kind of knew this was where i thought this was gonna come. So our company is building this in for many months to mention once you get it, how’s it going likely to tackle it?” Collins said. Both men said they hope Trump’s bully pulpit will push the Senate some thing.

The bipartisan duo has the benefit of another, less serious, item on their summer to-do list: The lawmakers are mulling releasing a joint playlist.

For Jeffries, his top pick could well be “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. Collins said he’d you should definitely include “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding.

“Sometimes you rest on the dock in the bay and you also watch the modern world roll possibly at one time there is a moment to reflect,” Collins said. “And this is the moment to mirror on some terrific points that are actually done.”

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