DROPPED BUT THEY STILL DON’T
PLAN TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.
MARTHA?
>> Martha: THANKS.
JOINING ME MITCH McCONNELL,
SENATE MINORITY LEADER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IN TERMS OF THIS BILL, YOU SAID
YOU WOULD FIGHT THIS IN EVERY
WAY POSSIBLE.
50/50 SPLIT.
SOME CONCESSIONS JUST MADE ON
SOME OF THE THRESHOLDS.
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN PEEL OFF
ANY DEMOCRAT SENATORS IN THIS
BILL?
>> WE DON’T KNOW YET.
IT’S WILDLY OUT OF PROPORTION AS
YOUR INTRODUCTION POINTED OUT.
WILDLY OUT OF PROPORTION WHERE
THE COUNTRY STANDS TODAY.
THIS $1.9 TRILLION BILL IS THE
SAME SIZE AS THE BILL WE PASSED
LAST APRIL RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE PANDEMIC.
THIS IS NOT THE SAME COUNTRY WE
HAD A YEAR AGO.
ONLY 9% OF THIS $1.9 TRILLION IS
RELATED TO HEALTHCARE AND LESS
THAN 1% OF THIS $1.9 TRILLION
BILL IS RELATED TO VACCINES.
IT’S A WILDLY OUT OF PROPORTION
RESPONSE TO WHERE THE COUNTRY IS
AT THE MOMENT.
THE VACCINES ARE GOING OUT, THE
ECONOMIES ARE OPENING UP.
AS YOU JUST POINTED OUT, A LOT
OF MONEY THAT WAS SITTING ON THE
SIDELINES FOR OBVIOUS REASONS IS
ABOUT TO BEGIN TO BE SPENT.
WE THINK HAVING A DEBT THE SIZE
OF OUR ECONOMY FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE WORLD WAR II ALREADY
DOESN’T ARGUE FOR ADDING $2
TRILLION MORE WHEN THE COUNTRY
IS CLEARLY ON THE WAY BACK.
>> Martha: IT’S A GREAT POINT.
I HEARD JIM BAKER TALKING ABOUT
IT THE OTHER NIGHT.
HE SPOKE WITH BRET AND HAVING
SAID WHAT YOU SAID.
HAVING A DEBT THE SIZE OF THE
ECONOMY, THINK ABOUT THAT
EVERYBODY AT HOME, IS A PRETTY
TREMENDOUS BURDEN TO BEAR.
THAT BEING SAID, THE PURE VOTE
POLITICS OF THIS, DO YOU BELIEVE
RIGHT NOW AS YOU SPEAK TODAY
THAT THERE’S ANY CHANCE THAT
PERHAPS JOE MANCHIN OR KRYSTEN
SINEMA, SENATORS FROM WEST
VIRGINIA AND ARIZONA MIGHT VOTE
NO ON THIS BILL?
>> I DOUBT IT IN THE END.
THERE’S A CHANCE, HOWEVER, THAT
THEY MAY JOIN US IN SLIMMING IT
DOWN SOME.
PROBABLY NOWHERE NEAR AS MUCH OF
A SLIM-DOWN AS THE SITUATION
ARGUES FOR.
ANY AMOUNT WE CAN REDUCE THE
SIZE OF THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR
THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THERE’S AT LEAST A
CHANCE THAT ONE OR TWO DEMOCRATS
COULD JOIN ALL OF US AND SPEND A
LITTLE BIT LESS.
>> Martha: HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH
THEM?
>> IT’S STILL GOING TO BE WILDLY
OUT OF PROPORTION TO WHAT THE
COUNTRY NEEDS RIGHT NOW.
>> Martha: HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH
EITHER OF THOSE SENATORS OR
ANYBODY THAT MIGHT BE ON THE
FENCE TODAY?
>> YEAH, THERE’S ALL KINDS OF
CONVERSATIONS GOING ON.
THE DEMOCRAT BILL KEEPS CHANGING
AND DROPPING THINGS THAT ARE
TOXIC.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS THERE’S
INTERNAL PRESSURE AMONG SENATE
DEMOCRATS TO MAKE IT A LITTLE
LESS BAD.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY
GUESS IS THEY’LL ALL FALL IN
LINE AND IT WILL PASS WITH EVERY
SINGLE DEMOCRAT FOR IT AND EVERY
REPUBLICAN AGAINST IT.
>> Martha: YOU THINK THE CHECKS
GOING OUT, THERE’S SOME
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT WOULD
RUN OUT IN MARCH.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THESE CHECKS
PREVENT SOME PEOPLE FROM WANTING
TO WORK?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
>> THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT
MAKING IT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO
STAY HOME RATHER THAN GOING BACK
TO WORK.
IF WE HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER
AGAIN AND REPUBLICANS WOULD
OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WE
THINK FITS THE SITUATION AND
CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN $1.9
TRILLION, $500 BILLION OR 600
BILLION, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY
BUT HIGHLY TARGETED AT THE
HEALTHCARE PORTION OF THE
PROBLEM, VACCINES, KIDS IN SCHOOL.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
ARE ENCOURAGED TO GO BACK TO
SCHOOL.
NOT STAY AT HOME.
THERE’S NO REASON FOR KIDS TO BE
STUCK AT HOME NOW.
AND I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION
OUGHT TO BE ADVOCATING EVEN
THOUGH THOSE ARE LOCAL
DECISIONS, OUGHT TO BE
ADVOCATING GETTING THE KIDS BACK
IN SCHOOL.
THE SCIENCE BACKS THAT UP.
>> Martha: YOU’VE KNOWN JOE
BIDEN A LONG TIME I.
WHY DO YOU THINK HE DOESN’T DO
THAT.
IF HE WERE TO SAY I WAS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THESE ARE STATE DECISIONS,
BUT I BELIEVE -- WHAT IF HE
PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE
TEACHER’S UNION POLITICALLY?
HOW BIG -- HOW MUCH OF A BURDEN
WOULD THAT BE ON HIM OR YOU
THINK HE MIGHT SCORE WELL WITH
IT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
>> WELL, THIS IS THE PARENTS
VERSUS THE TEACHER’S UNION.
I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION WILL
BE A LOT SMARTER RATHER THAN
TRYING TO SORT OF PAY BACK THEIR
TEACHER’S UNION ALLIES TO SIDE
WITH THE PARENTS OF AMERICA WHO
KNOW THEIR KIDS NEED TO BE BACK
IN SCHOOL, WE KNOW THAT THERE’S
BEEN A LOT OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE
KIDS OVER THE LAST YEAR BY BEING
STUCK AT HOME.
THEY NEED TO BE WITH OTHER
CHILDREN THEIR AGE.
THEY NEED TO BE LEARNING THE
SOCIAL SKILLS THAT COME ALONG
WITH BEING BACK IN SCHOOL.
THERE’S NO SCIENCE-BASED REASON
FOR KEEPING THESE KIDS LOCKED UP
AT HOME ANY LONGER.
I THINK THE SOONER THE
ADMINISTRATION FACES THAT,
STANDS UP TO THE TEACHER’S UNION
AND GETS THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL
THE MORE LIKELY SCHOOL BOARDS
ACROSS AMERICA WILL MAKE THAT
DECISION.
>> Martha: COULD BE A GREAT
POLITICAL MOMENT FOR HIM AS
WELL.
ON THE SAME LINE, ARE YOU
SURPRISED THAT PRESIDENT JOE
BIDEN IS ALLOWING WHAT IS HAPPEN
AT THE BORDER TO HAPPEN?
WE KNOW IN BROWNSVILLE TEXAS
THERE’S 105 MIGRANTS THAT CAME
THROUGH THAT WERE COVID
POSITIVE, SENT ON THEIR WAY ON
THE PROCESS.
THAT -- IF THAT HAPPENED HERE
WHERE I WORK, YOU’RE HOME FOR
TEN DAYS OR 14 DAYS OR WHATEVER.
WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT
POLICY FOR PEOPLE COMING ACROSS
THE BORDER?
>> BEATS ME.
SECRETARY MAYORKAS SAYS THERE’S
NO CRISIS AT THE BORDER.
THAT’S ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT.
THE CRISIS WAS CREATED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION SENDING A MESSAGE
TO DESPERATE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO
COME HERE THAT JUST HANG ON,
YOU’LL GET IN SOONER OR LATER. OF COURSE, THE MEXICAN
OF COURSE, THE MEXICAN
GOVERNMENT BECAME LESS CO-OP
COOPERATIVE
COOPERATIVE.
THE ONE THING THE LAST
ADMINISTRATION DID WAS BORDER
SECURITY.
ALL OF THAT IS BEING UNDONE VERY
QUICKLY IN THIS NEW
ADMINISTRATION.
THEY OWN THIS CRISIS AT THE
BORDER, THEY CREATED IT AND THEY
COULD STOP IT IF THEY CHOSE TO.
>> Martha: WITH REGARD TO THE
PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, YOU WERE
ON LAST FRIDAY TALKING TO BRET.
YOU SAID ABSOLUTELY THAT YOU
WOULD BACK PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE
FORMER PRESIDENT, IF HE WAS THE
NOMINEE OF YOUR PARTY.
EVERYONE REMEMBERED THE VERY
STRONG STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE
ON THE FLOOR WITH REGARD TO THE
JANUARY 6 RIOTS AT THE CAPITOL.
YOU WERE VERY STRONG IN YOUR
WORDS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.
AT THIS POINT DO YOU HAVE ANY
REGRETS ABOUT THE STATEMENT YOU
MADE ON THE FLOOR?
WOULD YOU TAKE BACK ANY OF THAT
TODAY?
>> WELL, LOOK, THE ACTIONS OF
THE NEW DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATION ARE UNIFYING THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
WE’VE HAD SOME INTERNAL BACK AND
FORTH THAT’S BEEN WIDELY
COVERED.
BUT NOTHING HAS UNIFIED THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE HOUSE
AND SENATE FASTER THAN REACTING
TO THIS NEW LEFT WING
ADMINISTRATION.
WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD.
WE’RE NOT LOOKING BACKWARD.
WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD DEALING
WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT AMERICA
HAD TODAY, NOT THE PROBLEMS OF
YESTERDAY.
AS I SAID, I HAVE SENSED IN OUR
CONFERENCE AND IN THE HOUSE
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE AS WELL A
NEW SENSE OF UNITY, PULLING
TOGETHER TO OPPOSE THIS
LEFT-WING ADMINISTRATION.
>> Martha: SHORTLY AFTER YOU
SAID THAT, THE PRESIDENT SPOKE
AT CPAC AND HE NAMED 17
INDIVIDUALS.
HE SPARED YOU IN THAT PART OF
IT.
HE MENTIONED YOU IN ANOTHER
PART.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT WHEN
YOU HEARD HIM NAMING ALL OF
THOSE THAT VOTED TO IMPEACH HIM
AND SAYING BASICALLY WE NEED TO
GET RID OF THESE REPUBLICANS?
>> WELL, I DIDN’T WATCH IT.
I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING NOW
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT FROM
US IS TO STAND UP TO THIS
LEFT-WING ADMINISTRATION THAT
HAS TAKEN THE COUNTRY IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION.
WE’RE DEALING WITH THE PRESENT
AND THE FUTURE, NOT LOOKING BACK
TO THE PAST.
>> Martha: SO YOU DON’T WANT TO
COMMENT ON THAT.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE SAYING,
YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.
HE ALSO WENT AFTER THE SUPREME
COURT.
THAT HAS BEEN A POINT THAT OF
GREAT PRIDE FOR YOU IN TERMS OF
ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH THE
JUSTICES.
HERE’S WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE
SUPREME COURT.
>> WE HAD ALMOST 26 GO INTO THE
SUPREME COURT SO THAT WE DIDN’T
HAVE A STANDING PROBLEM.
THEY REJECTED IT.
THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF
THEMSELVES FOR WHAT THEY HAVE
DONE TO OUR COUNTRY.
THEY DIDN’T HAVE THE GUTS OR THE
COURAGE TO MAKE THE RIGHT
DECISION.
>> Martha: SENATOR McCONNELL,
WHAT DO YOU MAKE ABOUT THAT
STATEMENT?
>> THE SUPREME COURT IS THE MOST
RESPECTED INSTITUTION IN THE
COUNTRY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
THE MILITARY.
WHEN THEY SPEAK, IT’S THE LAST
WORD.
IT’S BEEN MY PRACTICE OVER THE
YEARS NOT TO ATTACK THE SUPREME
COURT FOR DECISIONS I DON’T
LIKE.
>> Martha: SO YOU THINK THE
PRESIDENT WAS WRONG TO SAY THAT.
>> IT’S MY PRACTICE OVER THE
YEARS NOT TO ATTACK THE SUPREME
COURT WHEN THEY MAKE A DECISION
THAT I DON’T LIKE.
>> Martha: JUST ONE LAST
QUESTION.
SENATOR MURKOWSKI IS THE ONLY
ONE ON THAT LIST THAT IS UP FOR
RE-ELECTION IN HER NEXT SENATE
RACE.
YOU SAID THAT YOU’LL STAND BY
HER.
YOU THINK YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF
IN A POSITION WHERE YOU’RE
BACKING HER AND THE FORMER
PRESIDENT IS BACKING ANOTHER
CANDIDATE AGAINST HER AND WILL
YOU STAND BY HER IF THAT
HAPPENS?
>> ABSOLUTELY WE SUPPORT SENATOR
MURKOWSKI.
WE SUPERINTENDENT PART ALL OF
OUR REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS.
SHE’S IN STRONG SHAPE IN HER
HOME STATE OF ALASKA.
THERE’S NOBODY GOING TO COME
CLOSE TO BEATING LISA MURKOWSKI
WHEN SHE RUNS NEXT YEAR.