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>> Bret: AMERICANS HAVE FACED
MANY DIFFICULT HEADLINES IN
RECENT WEEKS.
A MASS SHOOTING AT AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, THE ARREST OF A MAN, AS
WE MENTIONED, THREATENING TO
KILL A MEMBER OF THE
SUPREME COURT, AND PRIME TIME
HEARINGS REVISITING THE DARK DAY
OF JANUARY 6TH, 2021, ON
CAPITOL HILL.
IT IS THAT KIND OF MOMENT THAT
PUTS POLITICAL LEADERSHIP TO THE
TEST.
UP JOINING US NOW FROM ARKANSAS,
CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS
ASSOCIATION ASA HUTCHINSON.
GOVERNOR, WELCOME BACK TO
"FOX NEWS SUNDAY."
>> Governor Hutchinson: ALWAYS
GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, BRET.
>> Bret: JANUARY 6TH COMMITTEE
THIS WEEK REVEALED SOME OF THEIR
FINDINGS AND THAT PRIME TIME
HEARING.
THEY PLAYED NEW CLIPS FROM
DEPOSITIONS OF SOME OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S INNER CIRCLE.
>> I MADE IT CLEAR I DID NOT
AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF SEEING
THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND
PUTTING OUT THIS STUFF, WHICH I
TOLD THE PRESIDENT WAS [BLEEP].
>> IT AFFECTED MY PERSPECTIVE.
MY RESPECT TO
ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR.
SO I ACCEPTED WHAT HE WAS
SAYING.
>> Bret: THEY SUGGEST THAT THE
FORMER PRESIDENT KNEW HE HAD
LOST THE 2020 ELECTION BUT WAS
STILL TRYING TO HOLD ONTO POWER.
WHAT’S YOUR REACTION TO THE
HEARING EMAC
>> Governor Hutchinson: MY
REACTION TO THE HEARING IS THAT
IT’S AN IMPORTANT REVIEW AS TO
WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH.
I’VE ALWAYS SAID WE NEED TO DO
THIS.
THIS IS NOT THE MOST BIPARTISAN
EFFORT IN ITS, BUT IT IS A
REVIEW THAT IS IMPORTANT.
OBVIOUSLY AS THEY PRESENT THE
CASE, AMERICANS SEE THIS, AND
THEY WANT TO HOLD THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JANUARY
JANUARY 6TH ATTACK ACCOUNTABLE.
THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THE HEARING
IS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE, AND
THAT’S THE CASE THAT THEY’RE
TRYING TO MAKE.
AS BILL BARR HAS SAID, I THINK
THAT IS A HEAVY LIFT.
I DON’T SEE THE FACTUAL BASIS
FOR THAT.
IF YOU CAN MAKE THE CASE, AND I
WOULD AGREE, THAT HE IS
POLITICALLY, MORALLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR MUCH OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED,
BUT IN TERMS OF CRIMINAL
LIABILITY, I THINK THE COMMITTEE
HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE THEY
CAN ESTABLISH THAT.
I THINK THE KEY THING
POLITICALLY IS THAT THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC DOES NOT WANT US TO FOCUS
ON THE PAST.
IT’S AN IMPORTANT REVIEW, BUT I
THINK THE DEMOCRATS MAKE A
MISTAKE IF THEY SIMPLY WANT TO
RELITIGATE WHAT THEY DID IN THE
IMPEACHMENT.
IT’S ABOUT THE FUTURE ALWAYS AND
SOLVING PROBLEMS.
WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS TO
ADDRESS AND THAT’S WHAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO FOCUS
ON TO A GREATER EXTENT.
>> Bret: YOU’VE SAID THIS,
SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BEFORE IN
WHICH YOU SAID IT’S IMPORTANT,
REPUBLICANS HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE CLEAR THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
DID HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THAT.
CONGRESSWOMAN LIZ CHENEY WAS A
LITTLE BIT MORE POINTED ON
THURSDAY NIGHT ABOUT REPUBLICANS
AND THEIR ROLE.
TAKE A LISTEN.
>> I SAY THIS TO MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE DEFENDING THE
INDEFENSIBLE.
THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN
DONALD TRUMP IS GONE.
BUT YOUR DISHONOR WILL REMAIN.
>> Bret:
"THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" PUT IT
THIS WAY.
MR. TRUMP BETRAYED HIS
SUPPORTERS BY CONNING THEM ON
JANUARY 6TH, AND HE IS STILL
DOING IT.
"THE WALL STREET JOURNAL"
EDITORIAL BOARD.
SO MY QUESTION, SENATOR --
GOVERNOR, IS WHAT IS THE FUTURE
OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON THIS?
AND ON REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP?
>> Governor Hutchinson: WELL,
I HOPE THAT THE FUTURE OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS DIFFERENT
THAN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP
LEADERSHIP.
I HOPE WE MOVE IN A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION.
I BELIEVE THAT WHAT HAPPENED ON
JANUARY 6TH IS A LOT AT HIS
FEET.
IT WAS WRONG FOR OUR COUNTRY AND
FOR HIM TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT
THEORY I AGREE IS THE WRONG
DIRECTION FOR THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.
I THINK AS MANY REPUBLICANS THAT
ARE LOOKING FOR AN OFF-RAMP, NEW
OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND LEADERSHIP
IN THE FUTURE.
OBVIOUSLY WHAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP -- THERE’S A LOT
OF THINGS THAT HE DID THAT WERE
VERY GOOD, THAT THE BASE AND I
AGREE WITH, BUT HE GOT OFF TRACK
IN JANUARY 6TH AND THAT WAS A
COSTLY ERROR FOR OUR DEMOCRACY
AND I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE
COMMENTS.
HE IS -- HAS A RESPONSIBILITY
THERE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT’S
CLEAR.
I THINK REPUBLICANS NEED TO DO A
LOT OF SOUL-SEARCHING AS TO WHAT
IS THE RIGHT THING HERE, WHAT IS
THE RIGHT THING TO SAY FOR OUR
PARTY AND OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR
FUTURE AND NOT SIMPLY APPEAL TO
THE BASEST INSTINCTS OF SOME OF
OUR BASE.
>> Bret: LET’S TALK POLICY.
UP ON CAPITOL HILL, SENATE
NEGOTIATORS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
TRYING TO FIND SOME COMPROMISE
ON FINALIZING BIPARTISAN
AGREEMENT ON A NARROW SET OF
GOALS FOR GUN CONTROL PROPOSALS.
HERE’S WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING AT.
WE ARE TOLD.
ENHANCED SCHOOL SAFETY, FEDERAL
SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS, STATE INCENTIVE
RED FLAG LAWS, EXTENSIVE BACK
RENT CHECKS AND RAISING THE
MINIMUM PURCHASE AGE FOR AN
AR-15 OR THE LIKE TO 21.
ARKANSAS’ MINIMUM AGE TO
PURCHASE IS CURRENTLY AT 18.
THERE ARE NO RED FLAG LAWS.
WHAT ABOUT THIS EFFORT ON
CAPITOL HILL, GOVERNOR ?
>> Governor Hutchinson: WELL,
I APPLAUD THE SENATORS FOR
TRYING TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A
BIPARTISAN WAY AND FIND OUT IS
THERE A NARROW PATH THAT WE CAN
BETTER PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
IT’S A DISCUSSION THAT WE
ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HAVE AND I
APPLAUD THEM FOR DOING IT.
AS YOU KNOW, I JOINED A LETTER
FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS
ASSOCIATION TO CREATE A
BIPARTISAN REVIEW BY GOVERNORS
AND PART OF IT IS TO EVALUATE
WHAT’S GOING TO BE COMING OUT OF
THE SENATE, MAKING COMMENTS
BECAUSE THE GOVERNORS ARE GOING
TO BE THE ONE TO IMPLEMENT
MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND
STRENGTHENING THAT, IT’S GOING
TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SCHOOL
SAFETY, SO I HOPE THAT THERE IS
SOME THINGS THAT CAN COME OUT OF
THIS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AGE OF 21
OR 18, THERE’S CONSTITUTIONAL
ISSUES THERE, BUT THAT HAS TO BE
PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, BUT
IT’S DIFFICULT, BUT IT’S GOING
TO BE A NARROW PATH BUT IT’S A
CONVERSATION THAT IS IMPORTANT
AND GOVERNORS ARE WILLING TO
ENGAGE IN THAT AND PARTICULARLY
LOOK AT WHAT COMES OUT OF THE
SENATE SIDE.
IF
>> Bret: GOVERNOR, WE’VE SEEN
FLORIDA AND WASHINGTON, VERMONT,
CALIFORNIA, AND HAWAII ALL RAISE
THE AGE TO PURCHASE A LONG GONE
FROM 18 TO 21.
IF THERE’S NO DEAL ON
CAPITOL HILL UTTERLY, WOULD YOU
CONSIDER DOING THAT IN THE SHAPE
OF ARKANSAS?
>> Governor Hutchinson: NO I
WOULD NOT.
BECAUSE YOU CALLED IT A LONG
GONE AND I BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY
WHO’S 18 18 OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO
OUT THERE AND SHOOT DUCKS WITHIN
LONG GUN AND TO BE ABLE TO
PURCHASE THAT.
>> Bret: YOU WANT ME TO
CLARIFY MORE, AN AR-15 OR...
>> Governor Hutchinson: YEAH,
AR-15 STYLE IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD BE PART OF THE
CONVERSATION VERSUS SIMPLY A
LONG GUN.
AND THAT’S THE CHALLENGE THAT WE
FACE.
FIRST, CALIFORNIA FEDERAL JUDGE
STRUCK THAT LIMITATION DOWN AS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THEN
SECONDLY, THE DEFINITIONS, AND
THAT’S WHAT YOU’VE GOT TO REALLY
LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND COME
DOWN -- BUT THE AR-15 STYLE
MILITARY WEAPONS OUGHT TO BE A
PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
>> Bret: TO MY POINT, IF THEY
DON’T TEAR HERE ON CAPITOL HILL,
YOU WOULD CONSIDER THE RAYS OF
THE AGE FROM 18 TO 21 ON AN
AR-15 IN ARKANSAS?
>> Governor Hutchinson: I
HAVEN’T SEEN A DEFINITION THAT
WORKS AT BUT WE WILL LOOK AT
THAT.
I HAVE A FEELING WHAT YOU’RE
GOING TO SEE COMING OUT OF THE
SENATE IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
RESPOND TO US GOVERNORS AND I
THINK THAT’S HOW WE WOULD
APPROACH IT.
>> Bret: MOVING TO THE ECONOMY
QUICKLY, INFLATION HIT ANOTHER
4-DECADE HIGH LAST MONTH.
GAS PRICES AS YOU KNOW CONTINUE
TO STORE.
TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT THE
PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY ABOUT ALL
THAT THIS WEEK.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN: TODAY’S
INFLATION REPORT CONFIRM WHAT
AMERICA’S ALREADY KNOW.
PUTIN PRICE HIKE IS HITTING
AMERICA HARD.
GAS PRICES AT THE PUMP, ENERGY
AND FOOD PRICES ACCOUNT FOR HALF
OF THE MONTHLY PRICE INCREASES
SINCE MAY.
>> Bret: WHAT YOU MAKE OF THE
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGING AND
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE?
>> Governor Hutchinson: I
LISTENED TO HIS REMARKS AT THE
PORT OF LOS ANGELES AND THEY
WERE IN FACT DISAPPOINTING.
HE WAS ENGAGING IN BLAMING
EVERYONE FROM SENATOR SCOTT TO
PUTIN.
HE WAS BLAMING CORPORATE
AMERICA, AND REALLY DID NOT
PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP THAT IS
NEEDED DURING THIS TIME.
AMERICANS WANT A LEADER THAT
WILL LAY OUT CHALLENGE THAT WE
FACE, WHAT IS THE SOLUTIONS IN
THE DIRECTIONS WE NEED TO GO.
AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
LOOKING AT IN OCTOBER AND
NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
AND SO I THOUGHT THE BLAME GAME
IS NOT PRESIDENTIAL.
I DON’T THINK IT’S WHAT WE
NEEDED.
ARKANSANS RIGHT NOW ARE PAYING
$500 OR PER MONTH THAN THEY DID
IN JANUARY OF 2021 SIMPLY
BECAUSE OF INFLATION.
THIS HURTS THE POCKETBOOK OF
HARDWORKING AMERICANS AND WHAT
WE’VE HEARD SO FAR IS -- ENERGY
IS A BIG DRIVER IN THIS.
GAS PRICES.
AND THAT IMPACTS OUR
AGRICULTURE, THAT IMPACTS OUR
PRODUCTION IN EVERY COMMODITY,
REALLY, AND THAT’S WHERE THIS
PRESIDENT HAS FAILED US IN
EFFECTIVE ENERGY POLICY THAT
AMERICA PRODUCES AND IS
INDEPENDENT.