THE 2ND DISTRICT.
GOOD MORNING.
I’M ADAM SEXTON.
THE SENATE IS HAMMERING OUT ROUND 2 OF FEDERAL HELP FOR THE PANDEMIC-STRICKEN STATES AND CITIZENS.
LINKING UP WITH US THIS MORNING TO DISCUSS THAT AND MORE IS SENATOR MAGGIE HASSAN.
THANKS FOR JOINING US, SENATOR.
SEN. HASSAN: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
ADAM: SO WHAT, IN YOUR ESTIMATION, HAS TO BE IN THIS BILL?
WILL THE STATE GET BUDGET RELIEF?
SEN. HASSAN: THIS IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WE HAVE HAD AN 100 YEARS AND THE GREATEST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
IT IS ESSENTIAL WE GET ANOTHER RELIEF PACKAGE DONE THAT PROVIDES CRITICAL AID TO INDIVIDUALS, TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FUNDING AND AN ADEQUATE LEVEL, TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING SO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE MEETS THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS CRISIS.
THAT IS ALSO REALLY CRITICAL FOR ECONOMIC COVER -- RECOVERY TOO.
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES.
WE HAVE TO HAVE MONEY AND GUIDANCE FOR OUR SCHOOLS.
EVERYBODY WANTS OUR KIDS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, BUT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT SAFELY AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE RESOURCES ARE THERE FOR THEM TO DO THAT.
FINALLY, YOU NEED STATE AND LOCAL AID IN THIS PACKAGE.
EVERY ECONOMIST WHO HAS BRIEFED US SAYS THIS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS HOLDING UP A PACKAGE.
THE THING THAT IS REALLY CONCERNING TO ME IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING MITCH MCCONNELL SINCE MID-MAY TO COME TO THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATE ABOUT THESE ISSUES SO WE CAN GET THIS
PACKAGE DONE AND CONTINUE HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES STABILIZE THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING WE DON’T HAVE A DEAL DONE YET.
ADAM: YOU HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR ALMOST HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE TO HELP SCHOOLS FROM PRE-K DAYCARE THROUGH COLLEGE.
HOW QUICKLY COULD THIS MONEY GET OUT THE DOOR?
SEN. HASSAN: WE NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING MONEY TO OUR STATES AND LOCALITIES, BUT IN PARTICULAR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
I RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH EDUCATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS FROM AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GRAPPLING WITH AS THEY CONSIDER REOPENING.
AND WHETHER YOUR LOCAL DATA TELLS YOU IT IS SAFE TO OPEN IN PERSON OR REMOTELY OR A HYBRID APPROACH, SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO DO EVERYTHING FROM BUY SANITATION
SUPPLIES.
BY THE WAY, IT IS HARD FOR THEM TO FIND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, JUST ANOTHER ISSUE WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
THEY ALSO DO THINGS LIKE EXPLORED BROADBAND ACCESS, NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS LEARNING FROM HOME, BUT EVEN STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING, SINCE THEY WANT TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF
PHYSICAL TRANSITIONS KIDS MAKE FROM CLASSROOM TO CLASSROOM.
THESE ARE THE TYPES OF RESOURCES THAT OUR SCHOOLS NEED AND THEY ALSO NEED GUIDANCE ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS LIK IF A STUDENT OR TEACHER TESTS POSITIVE.
I WILL KEEP PUSHING FOR THOSE RESOURCES.
WE NEED TO EXPEDITE GETTING THE DOLLARS TO THE FRONT LINES AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.
RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON GETTING THE REPUBLICANS TO AGREE AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT WHERE THEY THINK WE SHOULD BE AND NEGOTIATING GOOD FAITH.
ADAM I DON’T THINK ANYONE DISPUTES THERE IS A NEED OUT THERE, BUT WHERE’S ALL THIS MONEY GOING TO COME FROM?
ARE WE BORROWING THIS FROM CHINA?
IS MONEY BEING PRINTED?
HOW ARE YOU PICKING UP THE TAB?
SEN. HASSAN: T CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE AS WELL AS OTHER ECONOMISTS HAVE MADE CLEAR, WE NEED TO INVEST IN INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE AND
SUPPORTING OUR EDUCATORS, CHILDCARE CENTERS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT.
IF WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS WITH SOME LEVEL OF PHYSICAL SUIT -- PHYSICAL STABILITY, WE KNOW THAT AFTER WE GET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO REBUILD AND
GROW OUR ECONOMY.
AND THEN A GROWING ECONOMY WILL ALLOW US TO DEAL WITH OUR DEBT AND DEFICIT.
WHAT ECONOMISTS ARE CLEAR ABOUT IS THAT A FAILURE BETWEEN TEST IN ADDITIONAL RELIEF RIGHT NOW WILL MAKE MATTERS WORSE AND GIVE US A WEAKER HOLE THAT IS EVEN HARDER -- BIGGER HOLE THAT IS
EVEN HARDER TO CLIMB OUT OF.
ADAM: THE ACTING SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPEARED BEFORE THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE, ON WHICH YOU SERVE, TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THIS LAST WEEK.
A LOT OF THE FOCUS WAS ON THE RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN PORTLAND, OREGON.
FIRST, DO YOU THINK THE DHS RESPONSE WAS APPROPRIATE SEN. HASSAN: SO, IT WAS GOOD WE HAD ACTING SECRETARY CHAD WOLF BEFORE US AT OUR HEARING.
I WISH WE HAD ALSO HAD STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE, BECAUSE SOME OF WHAT THE ACTING SECRETARY FOCUSED ON WAS WHAT HE CONSIDERED A LACK OF
COMMUNICATION.
I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF THINGS.
WHAT IS VERY CLEAR IS THAT FEDERAL A -- FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FELT THAT THEY WERE FACED WITH SIGNIFICANT ESCALATION IN PROTESTS, ESPECIALLY LATE AT NIGHT.
BUT IT IS UNCLEAR TO ME HOW WELL THEY FOCUSED ON DE-ESCALATIN WE REALLY NEED MORE INFORMATION FROM MR. WOLF AND DHS.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO HEAR FROM LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THE LACK OF COORDINATION THAT THEY REPORTED.
ADAM: CERTAINLY PART OF THE CONFUSION WAS THE PROTEST DYNAMIC DURING THE DAY, AND AT NIGHT IT WAS DIFFERENT.
ACTING SECRETARY WOLF TOLD YOU , WHEN YOU FINALLY GOT TO ASK QUESTIONS, HE SAID THEY WERE TRAINED IN DE-ESCALATION AND THAT’S WHAT THEY WERE DOING THERE.
DO YOU BELIEVE HIM?
SEN. HASSAN: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEOS WE HAVE ALL SEEN, IT DOESN’T APPEAR THAT WAY.
THAT IS WHY IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE HEARING.
I HAVE ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE US WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DE-ESCALATION TRAINING THEY HAD.
CERTAINLY SOME OF THE TACTICS WE SAW ON VIDEOTAPE CONCERNING AND THAT IS WHY THINK WE NEED TO EXPAND THIS INQUIRY.
I DO WANT TO SAY ONE THING.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DID WAS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE LOST AN OFFICER DURING SOME PROTESTS.
OFFICER UNDERWOOD.
OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY.
ADAM: SPEAKIN OF REFORM, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT POLICE SHOULD RETAIN THEIR QUALIFIED IMMUNITY FROM LAWSUITS?
SEN. HASSAN: NEED TO HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WRONGDOING.
IT IS REALLY CRITICAL, AFTER THE HORRIBLE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS LONG-OVERDUE CONVERSATION ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM THROUGH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND
SOCIETY GENERALLY.
WE NEED TO MAKE REFORMS, INCLUDING BANNING THINGS LIKE CHOKEHOLD, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TRANSPARENT AND DISCLOSE INCIDENTS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT.
WE NEED TO NARROW THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH MILITARY EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED BY LOCAL AND STATE POLICE.
WE NEED TO INCREASE TRAINING AND WE CERTAINLY NEED TO GIVE POLICE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS SO THAT THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS THAT ARE NOT
NECESSARILY CRIMINAL JUSTICE INCIDENTS.
ON THE ISSUE OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.
THE WAY QUALIFIED IMMUNITY HAS DEVELOPED IN THE COURTS RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
I’VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AS WELL AS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT I DON’T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THROUGH THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.
I THINK THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.
IT IS ALSO GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSE HERE IN THE SENATE THAT GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
ADAM: YOU MENTIONED SYSTEMIC RACISM.
DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS SYSTEMIC RACISM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THAT AFFECTS LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE?
SEN. HASSAN: CERTAINLY WHEN YOU TALK WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY RELATE INCIDENTS THAT REFLECT THAT WE HAVE ISSUES OF SYSTEMIC RACISM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE ALL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND FOCUS ON AND HAVE THE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS AND HAVE THE KIND OF CHANGE THAT WILL ENABLE US TO HAVE A MORE JUST SYSTEM.
ADAM: LET’S CIRCLE BACK TO THE PANDEMIC.
YOU HAVE A SEVERELY IMMUNE COMPROMISED SON WHO HAS ALREADY BATTLED RESPIRATORY ILLNESS.
THE DANGER POSED TO HIM BY COVID-19 IS VERY REAL.
DO YOU BELIEVE THE STATE IS PUTTING HIM AT GREATER RISK BY NOT MANDATING MASK WEARING?
SEN. HASSAN: I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE BEST PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE THAT THERE IS.
ABOUT HOW TO COMBAT COVID-19.
I’M GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT.
I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HAVE A STATEWIDE MASS QUARTER , BECAUSE WE SIMPLY KNOW THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS MORE PEOPLE WEAR MASKS.
I THINK IT IS STILL NOT CLEAR TO SOME PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WHEN WE ASK PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS, IT IS NOT ABOUT PROTECTING YOU WHEN YOU WEAR A MASK, IT IS ABOUT
PROTECTING OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU GET PROTECTED ANOTHER PEOPLE WEAR MASKS.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LOWER THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS, WHICH, AS YOU POINT OUT, CAN BE LETHAL.
EVEN WHEN PEOPLE SURVIVE IT CAN CREATE GREAT DISABILITY.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO INCREASE MASK WEARING AND I THINK WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS NOT FAIR TO BE ASKING STORE CLERKS TO ENFORCE MASK WEARING RULES,
RIGHT?
WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO IT TOGETHER.
ADAM: YOU GOVERNED THE STATE.
DO YOU BELIEVE GOVERNOR SUNUNU MADE THE RIGHT CALL AND ALLOWING DISTRICTS TO MAKE THEIR OWN PLANS?
SEN. HASSAN: WE ALL WANT OUR KIDS TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THEY DO IT SAFELY.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON GETTING RESOURCES TO OU SCHOOLS.
IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT IS PART OF THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL THAT SENTIMENT -- SENATOR MCCONNELL DID FINALLY MAKE RECENTLY, SCHOOL EIGHT WAS CONDITIONED ON SCHOOLS REOPENING
IN PERSON REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR LOCAL DATA TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
ALSO NEED, WHEN I’VE BEEN TALKING TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, CLEAR GUIDANCE FROM FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IN SPECIFIC INSTANCES,
SUCH AS WHEN A STUDENT TESTS POSITIVE OR A TEACHER TESTS POSITIVE.
I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO OWN THAT GUIDANCE AND ADVICE.
BECAUSE UNTIL WE DO THERE IS JUST GOING TO BE A LOT OF INDECISION ON THE GROUND.
THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO REOPEN IN A SAFE WAY.
ADAM: AS WE WRAP UP, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT AN ISSUE -- YOU DIDN’T TAKE A POSITION ON IT AND 2018.
IF BILL GARDNER SEEKS ANOTHER TERM AS SECRETARY OF STATE WHEN THE LEGISLATURE RECONVENES, WILL YOU SUPPORT HIM?
SEN. HASSAN: WHAT I’M FOCUSED ON RIGHT NOW IS WORKING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY GRANITE STATEER CAN SAFELY CAST THEIR VOTE.
THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
THAT REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE MORE SUPPORT FROM THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE AND WE GET THE POSTAL SERVICES RECENT APPOINTEE -- PRESIDENT TRUMP RECENTLY MADE A POLITICAL APPOINTMENT.
YOU NEED HIM TO CHANGE SOME OF THE THINGS HE HAS DONE WHICH HAVE BEEN SLOWING DOWN MAIL.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERY GRANITE STATER THAT WANTS TO CAST AN APPS -- AN ABSENTEE BALLOT CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IT IS GOING TO GET TO ELECTION OFFICIALS IN
TIME TO BE COUNTED.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WHEN OUR POLLING PLACES DO OPEN FOR VOTING, BOTH THE WORKERS AND VOTERS FEEL SAFE.
RIGHT NOW THAT IS WHERE THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE.
I THINK GRANITE STATER’S NEED TO LOOK FOR LEADERS WHO WILL CONSISTENTLY SUPPORT SAFE AND EASY ACCESS TO VOTING.
ADAM: SENATOR HASSAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS SUNDAY MORNING.
SEN. HAS