>> Bret: ALL RIGHT, MIKE.
THANK YOU.
>> VIRGINIA, NEW JERSEY, NEW
YORK, MINNEAPOLIS, SEATTLE,
TEXAS, TODAY IS A WAKE-UP CALL
FOR WASHINGTON DEMOCRATS.
>> THE SAME BIG GOVERNMENT
SOCIALISTS WHO WERE REJECTED IN
STATES LIKE VIRGINIA ARE
DOUBLING DOWN ON THEIR FAILED
POLICIES.
>> EVEN AFTER THEIR LOSSES,
NANCY PELOSI DOUBLED DOWN ON HER
AGENDA YET AGAIN THIS MORNING
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY SHE IS A
LAME DUCK SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
>> Bret: REPUBLICANS REACT.
LET’S TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS
WITH THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE TAX AND SPENDING DEBATE AND
ALL THE LEGS HERE DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR JOE MANCHIN.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, BUDDY.
>> Bret: HOW DID YOU SEE IT?
>> I SAW IT CONFIRMED WE HAVE A
DIVIDED COUNTRY.
WHEN YOU THINK OF TWO BLUE
STATES OR ONE STATE VIRGINIA HAS
BEEN LEANING BLUE AND THEN
FAIRLY BLUE FOR 10 YEARS,
GEORGIA HAS HISTORICALLY
HAPPENED HOW CLOSE AND HOW
DIVIDED CAN YOU IMAGINE
2.2 MILLION VOTES IN NEW JERSEY
AND 100 TO 200 VOTE SEPARATION
HOW CLOSE IT WAS IN VIRGINIA.
I HOPE IT’S A WAKE-UP CALL FOR
ALL OF US.
>> Bret: WHAT DO DEMOCRATS TAKE
FROM IT, DO YOU THINK?
WHAT SHOULD THEY TAKE FROM IT?
>> LET’S SAY ON LEGISLATION, WE
BORE TO START NEGOTIATING ON,
WHICH IS RECONCILIATION BILL,
THERE IS NO EXCUSE WHY THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HASN’T
PASSED LONG AGO.
TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS AGO.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT FOR OUR
COUNTRY.
IT’S STILL GREAT FOR OUR COUNTRY
AND I’M HOPING WE CAN GET
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
IT’S A BIPARTISAN BILL.
BUT THE RECONCILIATION BILL WHAT
IT SAYS KIND OF SLOW DOWN AND
TAKE A BREATH.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, TALKING
ABOUT MAJOR TAX OVERHAUL REFORM.
TALKING ABOUT MAJOR POLICY.
TALKING ABOUT WHOLE SOCIAL
REARRANGEMENT.
$29 TRILLION OF DEBT THAT WE
BETTER GET OUR HANDS AROUND IT
AND BE RESPONSIBLE.
AND I HAVE ALWAYS SAID IF YOU
CAN’T GET YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE
IN ORDER IT’S HARD TO DO
ANYTHING.
>> Bret: YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT
BIDEN WAS ASKED TODAY ABOUT WHAT
HE THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS IN
VIRGINIA.
TAKE A LISTENER TO THIS ANSWER.
>> DID YOU STATE THAT TERRY
McAULIFFE WOULD HAVE WON IF
YOUR AGENDA WOULD HAVE PASSED
BEFORE ELECTION DAY?
>> WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE
PASSED BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
BUT I’M NOT SURE THAT I WOULD BE
ABLE TO HAVE CHANGED THE NUMBER
OF VERY CONSERVATIVE FOLKS WHO
TURNED OUT IN THE RED DISTRICTS
WHO WERE TRUMP VOTERS.
BUT, MAYBE.
>> Bret: DO YOU THINK IF
INFRASTRUCTURE HAD PASSED BEFORE
ELECTION DAY.
>> IT SHOULD HAVE PASSED JUST ON
ITS OWN MERITS.
IT’S A PIECE OF BILL THAT WE
WORKED MONTHS AGO TOOK FIVE
MONTHS TO PUT TOGETHER.
THEY HAVE HAD IT IN THE HOUSE
TWO MONTHS.
WE HAVE BEEN BEGGING THEM.
THEY WANT TO LINK THEM.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS
LINKING TWO PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
HOLDING ONE HOSTAGE OVER THE
OTHER.
THEY SHOULD BE VOTED ON UP AND
DOWN ON OWN MERITS.
>> Bret: TO THAT POINT THE
ECONOMY IS A MAJOR TOP ISSUE IN
THIS ELECTION WILL.
OF THE PASSAGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE
AND RECONCILIATION, THOSE TWO
BILLS HELP OR HURT THAT MESSAGE?
>> WELL, IF YOU DON’T TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION WHAT PEOPLE ARE
GOING THROUGH AT THE GAS PUMPS
AND AT THE GROCERY STORES AND
INFLATION COMING.
AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS
TRANSITORY.
IF YOU RECALL, BRET, ABOUT A
MONTH OR MORE AGO I SAID LET’S
TAKE A STRATEGIC PAUSE.
LET’S SEE WHERE WE ARE.
DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE COVID.
INCIDENTS OF COVID KEPT GOING UP
AND DOWN.
WEREN’T SURE IF IT WOULD HAVE AN
EFFECT ON OUR ECONOMY.
THEY KEPT SAYING THIS
INFLATIONARY THING IS GOING TO
BE TRANSITORY.
AND WE ARE FINDING OUT IT’S NOT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A GEOPOLITICAL
FALLOUT FROM AFGHANISTAN THAT
WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH
SOONER OR LATER SOMEWHERE IN THE
WORLD.
I SAID THE NEED THAT WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW OF ALL THE
ASPIRATIONAL THINGS IN THE
RECONCILIATION BILL, MOST OF
THAT IS COVERED IN THE ARP BILL
WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
THAT WE VOTED IN JANUARY.
>> Bret: 1.9 TRILLION.
>> WE HAVE PEOPLE COVERED IN
2022 AND BEYOND.
IT WASN’T YOU ARE JEST.
I DON’T KNOW WHY WE ARE ACTING
IT’S SO URGENT.
>> Bret: DOES THIS RESULT LAST
NIGHT EMBOLDEN YOU TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE BUILD BACK BETTER OR
RECONCILIATION BILL DOES NO HARM
TO THE ECONOMY?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
OH, ABSOLUTELY.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OUR
DEBT.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
INFLATION.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE
FALLOUT WE MAY HAVE AND ALL OF
THESE THINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY THINK
LISTENED, MAYBE THEY HAVEN’T.
WE WILL SEE.
>> Bret: ON THESE GAS PRICES.
GAS PRICES AT THE PUMP.
WHO IS TO BLAME?
PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS OPEC IS TO
BLAME.
OTHERS SAY CLIMATE POEMS HAVE
CHANGED THE DYNAMIC.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
>> I SAY WE CAN DO MORE FOR
OURSELF.
WE HAVE BEEN ENERGY INDEPENDENT
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 67 YEARS.
WHY CAN’T WE DO MORE?
WHY CAN’T WE PRODUCE MORE?
WE HAVE PLENTY OF NATURAL GAS.
MY BEAUTIFUL STATE OF WEST
VIRGINIA HAS AN OCEAN OF NATURAL
GAS UNDER IT.
IF THEY WOULD LET US BUILD A
PIPELINE WE COULD GET THE
PRODUCT TO MARKET.
WHY DON’T WE MORE DRILLING AND
DO MORE BASICALLY PRODUCTION IN
THE UNITED STATES?
I’M NOT DEPENDING ON OPEC AND
DEPENDING ON OTHER COUNTRIES FOR
MY ENERGY ANYMORE.
WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.
WE SHOULD BE RELYING ON
OURSELVES.
>> Bret: WAS THE PRESIDENT WRONG
IN THAT.
>> I HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION SO YES.
>> Bret: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
PROCESS BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS
MOVING FORWARD WITH BOTH OF
THESE BILLS.
WE HAVE REPORTING FROM CHAD
PERGRAM A GROUP OF FIVE MODERATE
DEMOCRATS INSISTING THAT THE
BILL, THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL
GET A FULL CBO CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE SCORE BEFORE IT
GOES TO THE FLOOR POTENTIALLY AS
EARLY AS TOMORROW.
THEY ARE TRYING TO FORCE THE
ISSUE AND PRESSURE MODERATE
DEMOCRATS TO VOTE YES.
MODERATE DEMOCRATS ARE IRATE
THAT THEY ARE HAVING TO FILLET
235 PAGES ON THE FLY.
THIS IS ONLY STRENGTHENING OUR
RESOLVE.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE
MODERATES IN THE HOUSE.
>> I YOU WOULD SAY TO ALL OF MY
HOUSE FRIENDS ON THE DEMOCRAT
AND REPUBLICAN SIDE BUT SPEAKING
TO MY DEMOCRAT SIDE, THERE HAS
BUILD SOME GOODWILL.
LET THEM VOTE ON THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
TAKE THE TIME TO WORK THE
RECONCILIATION BILL THE WAY IT
NEEDS TO BE WORKED, THE CBO
SCORING.
TALKING MORE ABOUT THE EFFECTS
IT HAS ALL THROUGH OUR ECONOMY
AND ALL THROUGH PEOPLE’S LIVES.
THAT’S SOMETHING REASONABLE TO
ASK.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND I’M NOT GOING TO TELL ANYONE
HOW THEY SHOULD RUN THEIR END OF
THIS CONGRESS OF OURS.
AND NANCY PELOSI IS VERY
CAPABLE, I KNOW HER.
I GET ALONG FINE WITH HER.
WE JUST MAYBE COME FROM TWO
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
AND TWO DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHICAL
CALL BELIEFS.
>> Bret: IN THAT BILL THAT’S
GOING TO BE FILED EITHER TONIGHT
OR TOMORROW, THERE ARE TAXES,
THERE IS LANGUAGE TO RACE TAXES
ON INDIVIDUALS BELOW THE
$400,000 THRESHOLD.
AND ONE OF THEM IS ON NICOTINE.
HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR POSITION
OR ON REGRESSIVE TAXES OR
ANYTHING BELOW THAT 400,000?
>> I NEVER THOUGHT THE 400,000
BARRIER SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE
TO BEGIN.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO TAX
REFORM DO TAX REFORM.
THE LAST TIME WE HAD A BALANCED
BUDGET WITH SURPLUSES WAS WHEN
EVERYBODY PAID A LITTLE BIT OF
SOMETHING.
MAKING SURE THAT THE RICHEST OF
THE RICHEST AND ALL OF THOSE IN
BETWEEN.
BUT, WITH THAT WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW, A TAX ON NICOTINE?
THAT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE TO
ME WHATSOEVER.
>> Bret: IS THAT A NONSTARTER
FOR YOU?
>> WELL, THERE ARE SO MANY
THINGS IN THERE.
>> Bret: YOU HAVE A LOT OF
NONSTARTERS?
>> I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS
LET’S PUT IT THAT WAY.
THEY ARE WORKING OFF THE HOUSE
BILL.
THAT’S NOT GOING TO BE THE BILL
I WORK OFF OF.
>> Bret: SOMEBODY SITTING ON THE
COUCH.
WE EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED A WHITE
BOARD, THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF
HAPPENING OVER HERE.
WHEN WOULD THIS PROCESS MOVE
FORWARD IN YOUR MIND?
>> THIS PROCESS, IF THEY ARE
GOING TO VOTE ON IT TOMORROW,
THEN IT WILL GO THROUGH THE
SCRUB OF NEXT WEEK.
AND IT WILL BE A WEEK BEFORE IT
COMES TO US AS I UNDERSTAND.
SO IF THAT COMES OVER AND THEY
START WORKING OFF OF THAT, AND
THEN WE HAVE A RECONCILIATION
PROGRAM WITH A VOTE-O-RAMA THAT
BASICALLY HAS A -- THESE ARE ALL
PRETTY TECHNICAL THINGS,
BASICALLY SEES IF IT SPHITS OR
DOESN’T FIT.
ONCE WE GET A RULING FROM THE
PARLIAMENTARIAN, FORGET ABOUT
THIS.
PEOPLE MIGHT BE ALL EXCITED
ABOUT SOMETHING NOW OR SAY
THAT’S A NONSTARTER.
MIGHT NOT EVEN 50 IN THE BILL
BECAUSE ON OUR SIDE IT DOESN’T
FIT.
IT DOESN’T COME WITHIN THE RULES
OF RECONCILIATION.
SO, WAIT UNTIL THAT’S DONE.
SEE WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU,
AND THEN WE START.
>> Bret: FOREARM NANCY PELOSI
WANTS TO PUT ON SMALL
BUSINESSES.
>> I’M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
UNPAID LEE.
IF YOU PUT THAT PAID LEAVE IN
IT’S NOT PAID FOR.
I’M ALL FOR PAID LEAVE I BELIEVE
PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE.
>> Bret: YOU BELIEVE IT SHOULD
BE DONE SEPARATELY.
>> SEPARATELY.
WE CAN DO THIS IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY.
BRET, ANYTHING WE DO IN
BIPARTISAN WAY IS LASTING.
IT STAYS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE BOTH THE
EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES CAN
PARTICIPATE PEOPLE CAN BUILD UP
CREDITS AND USE AS THEY DESIRE.
>> Bret: WHAT ABOUT ANYTHING
THAT DEALS WITH IMMIGRATION.
LEGAL STATUS?
I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT THE PARLIAMENTARIAN
IS GOING TO RULE.
SENATOR MENENDEZ SAID LISTEN,
TAKE NO -- NO DOESN’T WORK FOR
US.
WE ARE GOING TO PLOW FORWARD ON
THIS THING.
>> I’M NOT GOING TO VOTE TO
OVERRULE THE PARLIAMENTARIAN.
THEY CALL IT THE BYRD RULE.
>> Bret: ROBERT BYRD FROM WEST
VIRGINIA.
>> THE SEAT I SET IN RIGHT NOW.
I’M NOT GOING TO DO IT.
THEY ALL KNOW THAT.
IF THE PARLIAMENTARIAN RULES ON
SOMETHING, IF THE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE BEEN HERE WORKING ARE
ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND
HELP OUR ECONOMY AND HELP THEIR
FAMILY, HELP ALL OF US, WE ALL
BENEFIT FROM IT.
I’M NOT FOR BASIC --
>> Bret: LET’S TAKE THE
PARLIAMENTARIAN OUT OF IT AND
SAY DO YOU SUPPORT SOME KIND OF
AMNESTY WITHOUT BORDER SECURITY.
>> NO.
>> Bret: IN THE RECONCILIATION.
>> FOR US TO TALK ABOUT AMNESTY
WITHOUT BORDER SECURITY IS
LUDICROUS.
PEOPLE TURN ON THE TV AND SEE
WHAT’S GOING ON ON THE BORDER
THAT SCARES THE BEJESUS OUT OF
PEOPLE.
IF THEY THINK AT THE THIS CAN
COME AND GET ALL THE BENEFITS
THAT PEOPLE CITIZENS OF AMERICA
GET ARE ENTITLED TO, THEY ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME.
SO, NO, I DON’T THINK SO.
BORDER SECURITY IN 2013 THE BILL
THAT WE DID, WE TRIED TO HAVE A
PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.
TAKE CARE OF OUR DREAMERS, WHICH
I HAVE A LOT OF COMPASSION FOR.
I WOULD LOVE TO DO SOMETHING FOR
PEOPLE THAT CAME EVEN IF THEY
CAME WRONG, PAY YOUR FINE, GET
IN LINE, 10 YEARS BACK YOU WON’T
BE JUMPING LINE BUT NOBODY
BECOMES A CITIZEN UNTIL THE
BORDER IS DECLARED SECURE.
>> Bret: THAT’S NOT HAPPENING IN
THIS BILL.
>> I KNOW IT’S NOT.
>> Bret: THAT’S WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING.
>> THAT WAS REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRAT.
AND DEMOCRATS IN 2013, BRET,
PASSED WHAT I THOUGHT THE BEST
PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND WE
COULDN’T GET A VOTE ON IT IN THE
HOUSE.
>> Bret: TWO MORE QUESTIONS, YOU
HAVE HAD PEOPLE OUT TO YOUR
HOUSE BOAT.
HAD PEOPLE FOLLOWING YOU AROUND.
HAD PROGRESSIVES PROTESTING YOU.
CORI BUSH SAYS JOE MANCHIN’S
OPPOSITION TO BUILD BACK BETTER
ACT IS ANTIBLACK, ANTI-CHILD,
ANTIWOMAN, ANTI-IMMIGRANT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT A BILL THAT WILL
BENEFIT BLACK, BROWN AND
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
YOUR RESPONSE TO COMING WOMAN
BUSH.
>> I WOULD SAY THE CONGRESSWOMAN
DOESN’T KNOW ME.
SHE DOESN’T KNOW ME.
AND I’M HAPPY TO TALK TO HER.
I THINK MAYBE SHE WILL HAVE A
DIFFERENT OPINION.
GO HOME TO WEST VIRGINIA AND ASK
PEOPLE, I THINK YOU WILL GET A
DIFFERENT OPINION.
THIS IS A SHAME WHEN WE START
THIS WAR OF WORDS.
I’M NOT GOING TO SPEAK ILL ABOUT
ANY OF MY CONGRESSIONAL FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES ON THE HOUSE SIDE
OR THE SENATE SIDE.
WE CAN HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION.
THE RHETORIC AROUND HERE HAS
GOTTEN SO HARSH AND SO TOXIC
THAT YOU CAN’T AGREE DISAGREE
ANYMORE.
YOU CAN’T SIT DOWN AND SAY OKAY,
I DISAGREE WITH YOU, BRET.
YOU ARE GOING TO SAY OKAY, JOE,
DO WE AGREE ON THE SAME PROBLEM?
I SAY YEAH, LET’S START WORKING.
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK YOU WOULD
FIX IT.
THAT’S NOT HAPPENING.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I DON’T
HEAR THAT SCARES THE BEJESUS OUT
OF ME.
I DON’T HEAR PEOPLE SAY THIS IS
GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY.
MORE OR LESS ON BOTH SIDES THIS
IS BETTER FOR THE PARTY.
THIS IS BETTER FOR THE 2022
ELECTION.
>> Bret: LET ME END WHERE I
STARTED LAST NIGHT’S ELECTIONS
THE CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE
CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE NOW STANDS
AT 95 MEMBERS.
LOOKING AT LAST NIGHT AND THE
RESULTS OF IT, WHAT’S THE OVER
UNDER FOR 2022 MORE OR FEWER.
>> THE PROGRESSIVES, I SPOKE TO
SOME OF THEM, THEY ARE NICE
PEOPLE.
GOOD PEOPLE.
THEY ARE ASPIRATIONAL, I DON’T
AGREE PHILOSOPHICAL.
THEY DON’T HAVE A CHANCE OF
GETTING DEFEATED WHERE THEY COME
FROM.
THE THING THEY ARE DOING IS
BASICALLY CHANGING THE DYNAMICS
OF THE MODERATES THAT IT TAKES
FOR THEM TO BE IN THE MAJORITY
TAKING IT DOWN WAY LOW.
>> Bret: I HAVE ASKED YOU THIS
SEVEN TIMES, HAS YOUR PARTY LEFT
YOU?
>> I’M A WEST VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT,
BRET.
I DON’T KNOW WHERE, MAYBE I LONG
AT TIMES.
BUT I BELIEVE I’M A FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE AND SOCIALLY
COMPASSIONATE AND DO YOU KNOW
WHAT?
I HAVE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO
FEEL THE SAME AS I DO.
I HAVE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO
FEEL THE SAME AS I DO.