1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio News. 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 2: Joining me now live from Capitol Hill is Democratic Senator 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 2: Gary Peters of Michigan. He's the ranking member of the 4 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 2: Senate Homeland Security Committee, also member both the Senate Appropriations 5 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: Committee and the Commerce Committee. Senator, thank you very much 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 2: for the time, and let's start with what we heard 7 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 2: there from the House Speaker about Democrats and Republicans needing 8 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 2: to come together. I note that Lisa Murkowski, the Democratic 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 2: senator where the Republican Democrats had a center from Alaska 10 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: speaking on the floor calling upon colleagues to forego their paycheck. 11 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 2: She said she'd be willing to do that, indicating that 12 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 2: the Congress should not go out of session until all 13 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 2: of this is handled. How likely is that. What's the 14 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 2: quality of conversations that you're having among Democrats and Republicans 15 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 2: on Capitol Hill. 16 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: Well, there's no question we have to come together. We 17 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: got to have a substantive of conversations. I find it's 18 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: interesting you have the speaker saying we have to come together, 19 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: and yet none of his members are here in Washington. 20 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: They're basically all back home on vacation. Very difficult to 21 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: have conversations when none of the House members are here 22 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 1: working I can say in the Senate. You know, I've 23 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: been actively engaged in conversations with many of my Republican 24 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: colleagues along with Democratic colleagues. So we're going to continue 25 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: to have those conversations. But quite frankly, we need to 26 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: have leadership involved, and quite frankly, you're going to need 27 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: Donald Trump. He's going to have to get engaged. You know, 28 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: I've worked with Republicans in the prior administration and currently, 29 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: and even if you're negotiating with Republicans, unless Donald Trump 30 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: signs off on it, they're not going to support things 31 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: even if they agree to it with us. I saw 32 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: that in the last Trump administration, we had an agreement 33 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: on border security legislation. Republicans said they agreed, and literally 34 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: an hour before the vote came up on the Senate floor, 35 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: Donald Trump said he wasn't for it, and all of 36 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: the folks who shook my hand and said they were 37 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: for it were no longer for it. So we've got 38 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: to make sure that we can negotiate in a way 39 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: with someone who can actually deliver when we come together 40 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: to make sure that Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare. 41 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: You've been back in Michigan, you're now returned to Washington, 42 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 2: d C. Carrying with you. I imagine comments and worries 43 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 2: from your constituents about this shutdown. What are your constituents 44 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: say to you about how it's affecting them in the 45 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 2: prospects for them if this continues. 46 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: Well, certainly people no one likes a shutdown. I don't 47 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: like a shutdown. I think we should never have a shutdown. 48 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: We should come together. And certainly, if you're the majority party, 49 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: if you have the presidency, you have the Senate, and 50 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: you have the House, you should do everything you can 51 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: to bring people together to make sure that we can 52 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: keep the government open. But I think folks also are 53 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: very concerned about increases in healthcare cost. It is becoming 54 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: increasingly unaffordable for more and more Americans. And we know 55 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: the Affordable Care Act, with these tax credits, which have 56 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 1: already expired, impact people. They're going to see it starting 57 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: November first, when they get their bills. Some people are 58 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: going to see a doubling, a tripling of their cost 59 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: that's simply unafford We know that people are now going 60 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: to have to go without insurance. And we also know, 61 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: when people lose their insurance and they don't get on 62 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: a plan, that ends up actually costing everybody because then 63 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: the cost of insurance goes up for folks. And we 64 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 1: look at the people who are likely to lose insurance 65 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: because of this large increase that we could avoid, which 66 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: is what we want to do as Democrats. Avoid these 67 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: large increases in premiums. They tend to impact younger folks, 68 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: and you've got to have younger folks in the insurance 69 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: pool to keep the insurance affordable for everybody. So this 70 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: is a critical situation. Health insurance is something that I 71 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: believe has to be affordable. It should be a right 72 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: for Americans to be able to have the peace of 73 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: mind to know that they have that kind of coverage. 74 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: And all we're asking the Republicans has come for let's 75 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: talk this through. In fact, it's curious that if you 76 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: look at the areas that are actually most impacted, the 77 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: people who are going to see the largest increases in 78 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: these healthcare costs tend to be Republican congressional districts and 79 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: republic in states. So if they don't want to stand 80 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: up for their own people, I know it's difficult to 81 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: get them to stand up for others, but they're not 82 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: even standing up for their own folks in their own 83 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: districts in states. 84 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: Sata, let me ask you to change the subject here 85 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,039 Speaker 2: about what we've seen off the coast of South America. 86 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 2: You were in the Navy and you've watched as the 87 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: gerald Ford has been dispatched down there, is making its 88 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 2: way to to South America. As I said, you said 89 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 2: in the Armed Services can be how do you process 90 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 2: what's happening with this military movement, this military maneuvering. What 91 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 2: is it signal to you? And what questions do you 92 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 2: have about the administration's objectives here? 93 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: Well, we have all sorts of questions. So, as you mentioned, 94 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: I serve in the Navy. I also serve on the 95 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: Armed Services Committee. We have been asking for our briefing 96 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: as to what is going on down there. We know 97 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: that they have ensroying boats, what is engaged? Who is 98 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: being engaged? How do you know who is on those boats? 99 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: How do you know where they're going? You know, I'm 100 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: the ranking member on Homeland Security. I want to stand 101 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: firm to make sure that we don't allow illegal drugs 102 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: into our our country. That stuff is poisoned we have 103 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: to do everything we can to keep it out of 104 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: our country, but we have ways to do that. I 105 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,799 Speaker 1: work closely with the US Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, 106 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: but we always get information about those operations and what 107 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: we need to do in order to keep our country safe. 108 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: Right now, the administration has been radio silent. We don't 109 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: know what is happening here. It's hard to comment. And 110 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: when you go in and destroy a bote and kill 111 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: folks and we don't know who those people are or 112 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: how they were identified, it raises a lot of serious questions. 113 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: The part of the moral authority we have as the 114 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: United States is that we believe in the rule of law. 115 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: We are a country of laws, and I believe that 116 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: we have to continue to be a country based on 117 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: the rule of law. And part of that is having 118 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: the information to understand exactly what that military force is 119 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: being used for. Congress has to be engaged in that. 120 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: We know that Congress has the power under the United 121 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: States Constitution to declare war, but in order to declare war, 122 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 1: we have to understand exactly what that war is going 123 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: to involve, what the purposes are, and how it's being 124 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: carried out and We're completely unable to do that right 125 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 1: now because we have not received the information that quite frankly, 126 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: the Constitution demands of the executive to provide to the 127 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: Congress and. 128 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 2: Very quickly here ten seconds or so. Have you gotten 129 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 2: a response to requests for briefing from the administration. 130 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 1: Not yet. We've asked repeatedly and still have no response. 131 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 2: Gary Peters, the Democratic Senator from Michigan, thank you very 132 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 2: much for the time on this Monday afternoon. I really 133 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 2: appreciate it.