STAY TUNED FOR THAT MOMENTS
AWAY.
>> SENATE REPUBLICANS MOUNTED A
PARTISAN FILIBUSTER AGAINST A
VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE EQUAL
PAY TO WOMEN.
IT IS SHOCKING MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES BELIEVE THE SENATE
HAS NO ROLE TO PLAY IN
DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN.
>> THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER LAID
OUT A PARTISAN AGENDA HE SEEMS
TO HOPE WILL ILLUSTRATE THAT
THE SENATE IS SOMEHOW BROKEN.
UNSURPRISINGLY THAT GAMUT NOT
ONLY FAILED TO PASS, IT FAILED
TO EVEN UNITE A MAJORITY OF THE
SENATE.
WHEN YOUR AGENDA IS DESIGNED TO
FAIL, REGULAR ORDER IS JUST A
WASTE OF TIME APPARENTLY.
>> Dana: A WAR OF WORDS ON THE
SENATE FLOOR YESTERDAY.
MITCH MCCONNELL SLAMMING
MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER’S
RADICAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
CLAIMING IT WAS DESIGNED TO
FAIL IN ORDER TO CONVINCE OTHER
DEMOCRATS IT’S TIME TO END THE
FILIBUSTER.
KENTUCKY SENATOR MITCH
MCCONNELL JOINS US NOW.
IT SEEMS LIKE SCHUMER IS MAD AT
YOU FOR THE AGENDA STALLING OUT.
>> TO START WITH LAST YEAR’S
ELECTION, DANA, IT’S A 50/50
SENATE AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A
HANDFUL OF SEATS AS A MAJORITY
IN THE HOUSE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DIDN’T VOTE
FOR THIS RADICAL LEFT WING
AGENDA.
SO WHY WOULD WE DECIDE TO PASS
THAT IN A 50/50 SENATE?
WE’VE DONE SIX MAJOR BILLS SO
FAR THIS YEAR ON A BIPARTISAN
BASIS WORKING TOGETHER IN
COMMITTEES AND NOW THE MAJORITY
LEADER HAS SHIFTED TO CHECK THE
BOX MONTH BY ROLLING OUT ALL OF
THESE RADICAL LEFT WING
PROPOSALS THAT HAVE NO SUPPORT
ON MY SIDE.
SO OBVIOUSLY THEY AREN’T GOING
TO PASS.
>> Bill: AOC IS UPSET WITH YOU
ALSO APPARENTLY.
A FEW TWEETS.
ONE OF THEM ABOUT PATTY CAKE.
PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SENATE DEMS
SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND
ASKS THEMSELVES THEY’RE PLAYING
PAT’ CAKE WITH GOP SENATORS IS
REALLY WORTH DISMANTLING THE
PEOPLE’S VOTING RIGHTS, SETTING
THE PLANET ON FIRE.
ALLOWING MASSIVE CORPORATIONS
AND THE WEALTHY TO NOT PAY
THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES, ETC.
I’M SURE YOU HEARD ABOUT IT.
YOUR REACTION.
>> WELL, TO SATISFY THAT
PARTICULAR MEMBER OF CONGRESS,
I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WOULD
HAVE TO HAVE 60 VOTES IN THE
SENATE AND ALL OF THEM WOULD
HAVE TO BE AS FAR LEFT AS SHE
IS.
I THINK HER BIG COMPLAINT IS
WITH HER OWN PARTY.
>> Bill: HERE IS MORE.
DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A
60 DEM MAJORITY.
DEMS ARE BURNING PRECIOUS TIMES
NEGOTIATING WITH GOP WHO WON’T
EVEN VOTE FOR A JANUARY 6
COMMISSION, MCCONNELL’S PLAN IS
TO RUN OUT THE CLOCK.
IT’S A HUSTLE.
WE NEED TO MOVE NOW.
BASED ON THAT DO YOU BELIEVE
THIS ARGUMENT OVER THE
FILIBUSTER IS DEAD AND THAT IT
WILL SURVIVE?
>> WELL, I THINK SIGNIFICANT
NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS HAVE
INDICATED WE AREN’T GOING TO
CHANGE THE RULES OF THE SENATE
IN ORDER TO ADVANCE A RADICAL
LEFT WING AGENDA THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE DIDN’T VOTE FOR.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE A 50/50
SENATE, I THINK YOU NEED TO
LOOK FOR THINGS YOU CAN AGREE
ON AND AS I INDICATED EARLIER,
WE HAD SIX MAJOR BILLS SO FAR
THIS YEAR PASSED ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS WHERE WE
WORKED TOGETHER AND WE MET IN
THE MIDDLE.
THE AGENDA OF THE PARTICULAR
MEMBER OF CONGRESS YOU ARE
REFERRING TO IS NOT IN THE
MIDDLE.
I DON’T THINK SHE COULD SELL
HER AGENDA TO THEIR OWN PARTY,
MUCH LESS FIND IT ANY KIND OF
APPEAL FOR THAT ON MY SIDE.
>> Dana: IT WOULD SURE BE
DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE IF THERE
WAS NOT A 50/50 SENATE.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE MAD AT ONE OF
THEIR OWN, SENATOR JOE MANCHIN
FROM WEST VIRGINIA SAYING HE IS
NOT GOING TO VOTE TO KILL THE
FILIBUSTER.
HE WON’T SUPPORT THEIR VOTING
BILL.
THEY ARE FURIOUS WITH HIM.
I’M CURIOUS IF YOU WOULD
WELCOME HIM INTO THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY AND HAVE YOU EXTENDED AN
INVITATION FOR HIM TO CONSIDER
SWITCHING PARTIES.
>> SENATOR MANCHIN POINTED OUT
OVER AND OVER AGAIN HE HAS BEEN
A DEMOCRAT ALL HIS LIFE.
CERTAINLY NOT ANTICIPATING HE
IS GOING TO CROSS THE AISLE.
BUT I DO ADMIRE HIS WILLINGNESS
TO PROTECT THE SENATE AS AN
INSTITUTION.
IS FILIBUSTER IS NOT SO MUCH
ABOUT A PARTICULAR ISSUE AS IT
IS ABOUT THE SENATE AS AN
INSTITUTION.
IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE
BEGINNING OF THE COUNTRY TO
SLOW THINGS DOWN.
TO MAKE SURE THE RIGHT THING
WAS DONE FOR THE COUNTRY AND OF
COURSE IT TAKES 60 VOTES, NOT
JUST 51, TO ADVANCE AN AGENDA
IN THE SENATE.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS YOU HAVE
TO HAVE BROAD BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT IN ORDER TO GET OVER
THE 60-VOTE THRESHOLD.
THAT’S THE ESSENCE OF THE
SENATE.
SO I ADMIRE THE DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS WHO BELIEVE THE
INSTITUTION OF THE SENATE IS
IMPORTANT AND THEY ARE WILLING
TO PROTECT IT.
>> Bill: SENATOR, I KEEP COMING
BACK TO A COMMENT THAT THE
FORMER SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER
MADE TO US ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.
HE SAYS THE BEST CHANCE THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE OF PASSING
ANYTHING IS TO GET REPUBLICAN
SUPPORT.
I DON’T KNOW IF THAT WILL
HAPPEN OR NOT.
WHAT DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE
THAT THIS CURRENT MAKEUP IN
CONGRESS CAN PASS OVER THE NEXT
16 MONTHS?
>> AT THE RISK OF CONTINUING TO
REPEAT MYSELF WE’VE PASSED SIX
IMAGINE OR BILLS ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS SO FAR IN THE
FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
IN THE SENATE WORKING TOGETHER.
WE’RE TRYING TO GET AN OUTCOME
ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
SOMETHING THAT IS POPULAR ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
ALL WE’RE INSISTING ON IS THAT
THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL BE
ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOT A
LOT OF OTHER THINGS AND IT WILL
CREDIBLY PAID FOR.
WE’RE CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION.
MEMBERS OF MINE AND WITH EACH
OTHER ACROSS THE AISLE AND WITH
THE ADMINISTRATION AND WE
HAVEN’T GIVEN UP HOPE THAT
WE’LL BE ABLE TO REACH A DEAL
ON SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR THE COUNTRY THAT WE REALLY
NEED TO ACCOMPLISH AND THAT IS
A MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
IT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS.
THIS PARTICULAR MEMBER OF
CONGRESS YOU’RE REFERRING TO
WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE SORT OF
A GREEN NEW DEAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PACKAGE.
I DON’T THINK THAT WILL FLY IN
THE SENATE.
>> Bill: COMING FROM
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, YOU KNOW
ABOUT ODDS AT CHURCHILL DOWNS
RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS IT GETS DONE?
YOU MIGHT BE OPTIMISTIC FOR IT
BUT IS IT POSSIBLE?
>> YEAH, I THINK IT’S CLEARLY
POSSIBLE.
WE HAVEN’T GIVEN UP ON REACHING
AN AGREEMENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE IS A CORE GROUP IN THE
SENATE CONSISTING OF BOTH
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO
CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND WE HAVEN’T GIVEN UP.
I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT
THING FOR THE COUNTRY BUT IT
NEEDS TO BE CRAFTED IN SUCH A
WAY IT’S ACTUALLY ABOUT
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE AREN’T WILLING TO GO BACK
AND REOPEN THE 2017 TAX BILL
WHICH PRODUCED REMARKABLE
PROSPERITY UP UNTIL FEBRUARY OF
2020 RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
HIT.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO
CREDIBLY PAY FOR A MAJOR
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND I THINK
THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE WE CAN
GET THERE.
>> Dana: FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.
NATIONAL JOURNAL COLUMNIST
WRITING ABOUT THE ELECTION TO
COME IN 2022 WHERE YOU HAVE
SENATORS UP FOR GRABS AND SOME
OF THESE STATES WILL BE VERY
TOUGH.
HIS TITLE OF HIS ARTICLE IS
TRUMP IS SABOTAGING THE GOP
SENATE PROSPECT.
THE FORMER PRESIDENT’S GROWING
INVOLVEMENT IF PRIMARIES IS
JEOPARDIZING REPUBLICAN CHANCES
OF WINNING BACK THE MAJORITY.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE
DURING THE OBAMA YEARS WITH
PARTY INFIGHTING CAUSED A
PROBLEM IN DELAWARE OR NEVADA.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO DEAL WITH
THAT THIS TIME AROUND?
>> IT WAS A PROBLEM IN 2010 AND
2012.
NO INDICATION IT WILL BE A
PROBLEM IN 2022.
I DO THINK THE BIG ISSUE IN 22
WILL NOT BE ABOUT THE PAST, IT
WILL BE ABOUT THE FUTURE.
THE FUTURE IS THIS
ADMINISTRATION IN OFFICE NOW
LOOK WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THE
ECONOMY.
INFLATION HIT 5% IN TODAY’S
REPORT.
THAT’S THE HIGHEST SINCE THE
FINANCIAL DISTRESS BACK IN 2009.
SO THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF
DAMAGE TO THE ECONOMY.
I THINK WHAT’S GOING ON NOW AND
WHAT THEY HAVE PRESCRIBED FOR
THE FUTURE IS WHAT WILL BE ON
THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2022.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF
FIRST YEAR, FIRST MID-TERM
ELECTIONS AFTER A NEW
ADMINISTRATION, THE PICTURE
LOOKS PRETTY GOOD FOR SENATE
AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS.
>> Dana: WHAT
>> Dana: -- WILL YOU END UP
WITH THE CANDIDATES YOU WANT?
>> I BELIEVE SO, YES.
>> Bill: WILL YOU WELCOME TO
FORMER PRESIDENT’S INVOLVEMENT
IN THE MID-TERMS.
>> HE HAS HIS OWN AGENDA.
MY VIEW IS WE ARE GOING TO
FOCUS ON THIS ADMINISTRATION
AND THE FUTURE.
WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO TO
THE COUNTRY AND MAKE IT A
REFERENDUM IN THE FALL OF 22 ON
HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THIS NEW
GOVERNMENT THEY NARROWLY
ELECTED WHILE THEY CONTINUE THE
50/50 SENATE AND A CLOSE SCORE
OVER IN THE HOUSE.
>> Dana: WE SHOULD LET YOU GET
BACK TO FIGHTING ON THE SENATE
FLOOR.