happened on January 16 and the
potential impact on future
elections.
From KPRC. 2. This is Houston
KPRC. 2. This is Houston
newsmakers with khambrel
Marshall.
Good morning. Welcome to this
special edition of Houston
newsmakers with my guest for
the entire show. Is senator
John Cornyn. Good morning, senator Cornyn, good to see
senator Cornyn, good to see
you. And great for you. Been
able to set aside
some time with me this in town
this week for some very special
causes that are dear to you.
The deal with. I’m Bob putting
deal with. I’m Bob putting
teeth and the bills are laws
that deal with domestic
violence talk about the
reauthorization of the Justice
for all act and how that’s going to be able help law
going to be able help law
enforcement.
>> Well, that this, you
domestic violence and sexual
assault are are are are a
huge epidemic and a lot of it and here. The children’s
and here. The children’s
assessment center which is
really the
gold standard for
multidisciplinary teams to investigate a
investigate a
sexual assault domestic
violence and really my the
timeliness of this really arise
Larry nassar, the
Olympic team for a period of
years. Sexually abused Olympic female athletes and the FBI,
female athletes and the FBI,
frankly just dropped the ball
so badly that the the FBI and
didn’t happen on his watch. Came in and issued a very
Came in and issued a very
heartfelt apology. But when he
more than apologies, we need a
new way for the FBI and law
enforcement investigate these kinds of crimes try to bring
kinds of crimes try to bring
justice to the victims.
>> Well, I know that the
genesis before the Judiciary
Committee. You heard the
stories. I’m very in terms of what they had to say and the
what they had to say and the
challenges that they faced.
What specifically can you do
to in terms of the fbi’s
handling to juice up to make it
more responsive because he’s young lady said they just
young lady said they just
clearly did not respond the way
they should have.
>> correct. I think part of the problem was the FBI is such a
problem was the FBI is such a
big organization has about 53
per 35,000. Agents and officers
and they’re set up to deal with all manner of crime and counter
all manner of crime and counter
intelligence matters. But when
it comes to things like sexual
they are in the dark ages and they need to get their up their
they need to get their up their
game and part of what this does
is it mandates the use of these
multi-disciplinary teams, not
just one agent going out and
interviewing the victim.
But these multi-disciplinary teams like they’re used your
teams like they’re used your
the children’s assessment
center. That is really
represents that the gold
standard when it comes to
investigating these crimes.
You’ve been an advocate of the victims of crimes as well.
victims of crimes as well.
Talk about that a little bit in
terms of what that does
and how.
>> Victims of crimes can be can
receive some sort of help and support as a result of this
support as a result of this
legislation.
>> Years ago when I was
attorney general in Part of my
job was to administer the crime victims compensation fund.
victims compensation fund.
This is a fund that was not tax
dollars. That was the fines and
penalties that were assessed
against people who were
convicted of crimes. We created a similar
of crimes. We created a similar
fund a few years ago and at the
federal level. But
unfortunately the demand
exceeded the sun, the supply in
terms of the funds available.
So what we’ve done is broaden the range of offense is for
the range of offense is for
which these penalties can be
and fines can be collected and
used to do things as simple as provide housing, believe it
as provide housing, believe it
or not, that’s one of the most
urgent needs of victims of
human trafficking is simply a
safe place to live while they
are trying to you sounds to me
that that’s one area where you can
certainly find.
>> True bipartisan support.
For that issue. That’s one of
those few areas. It looks like
as it doesn’t seem like there’s
a
whole lot by part bipartisan
support for a lot else is going on this talk about an era where
on this talk about an era where
everyone agrees that something
should be done
in progress. Just don’t seem to
be happening very quickly.
That’s on the infrastructure
bill infrastructure of any
We’ve been talking about that about the roads,
about that about the roads,
about that they’re urging
repaired that’s due on those
things for years and yet I know
17 Republican senators joined
Democrats to vote for the bill that could bring could bring
that could bring could bring
more than 30 billion dollars
to Texas. You and senator Cruz
were no votes on that. Why? >> Well, you’re right about
>> Well, you’re right about
infrastructure into structures
of bipartisan a need and
certainly in Texas. So we’re
fast growing state, all of
come to visit or live in the Houston area certainly
Houston area certainly
understand the need to improve
our roads
and bridges. The problem was
up my mind. I believe we needed to responsibly pay for this
to responsibly pay for this
bill. An unfortunate fell about
200 billion
dollar store. I’m hoping if the
House takes up this bill that did pop passed with bipartisan
did pop passed with bipartisan
margins in the Senate. We can
correct some
of that and be more responsible
with spent a lot of money during COVID-19. It was a
during COVID-19. It was a
bipartisan effort because we
knew we need to deal with the
public health and economic
emergency associated with the
pandemic. But now when it comes
to non or emergency matters like infrastructure. It’s time
like infrastructure. It’s time
for Congress to be more
responsible in pony. Up and
provide pay force for the
spending. You think it will
happen is just a matter
crossing the T’s and dotting the i’s and what needs to get
the i’s and what needs to get
done.
>> Apparently what happened is there was some deal made
there was some deal made
speaker Pelosi and the White
House that they would not take
up and pass the bipartisan
infrastructure bill until they
were able to pass this 3 and a
half trillion dollars spending
and
tax bill and by coupling those
together. I think they made it
much more difficult and there’s
a lot of infighting even within Democrats between the
Democrats between the
progressives in the so-called
moderates and are right now it
looks like the president and
speaker Pelosi or are cheering
for the progressives who want
to spend more money, raise
more taxes and they’re
demanding that as leverage to pass the the infrastructure,
pass the the infrastructure,
the bipartisan infrastructure
I’m just going to say I think
in you know, it’s kind of a
difficult time. But part of the part of the problem here, too.
part of the problem here, too.
loves the it’s the fact that
when either political party try
to
act alone and do things their 100% and they’re going to have
100% and they’re going to have
to produce the votes to get
it done. And given the thin
margins you see in the House and this evenly split Senate.
and this evenly split Senate.
You would think that would
counsel for more consensus
building and does produce more
bipartisanship or not seeing a
lot of that. Yeah, it’s the
history is that.
is that.
>> Other than emergency
legislation. Big, big you got
down by one party or the other.
The tax becomes a mine is one
thing is it’s where I want to
talk more about other important
legislation that’s on
the table. How you voted so
far where there may be a place
for compromise will also talk
about the Republican Party and the Trump
Republican Party and the Trump influences change it for