1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio news. 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 2: All right, let's head now over to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 2: where Bloomberg's Balance of Power co host Joe Matthew has 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 2: an exclusive interview with the House Minority Leader, Hakim Jeffries, 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: and they'll be talking about healthcare. 6 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: Indeed, thanks for joining us live from Capitol Hill on 7 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: Bloomberg TV and Radio. On Joe Matthew with an exclusive 8 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: conversation with the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, 9 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: Hakim Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, thanks for being 10 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: back with us on Bloomberg. 11 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 3: It's good to see you. 12 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: One thing, Joe, good, pretty important ruling in the Supreme 13 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: Court when it comes to redistricting in the state of 14 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: Texas that I'd like to start with here. Its open 15 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: season apparently on redistricting. Does that mean every Democratic led 16 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: state in the country needs to redraw their maps? 17 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, it's unfortunate that Supreme Court has 18 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 3: rubber stamp a racially jerry mandered extreme map that Donald 19 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 3: Trump ordered Texas republickeends to engineer as part of his 20 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 3: effort to try to rig the midterm elections in twenty 21 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 3: twenty six, but notwithstanding this adverse ruling, we're going to 22 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 3: continue to move forward and ensure that there is a 23 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 3: fair map across the country. California voters enacted Prop fifty, 24 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 3: and as a result, we'll have a fair map in 25 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 3: California with some additional opportunities to be competitive, and I 26 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 3: expect that you'll see other states across the country continue 27 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 3: to respond. 28 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: Will yours be one of them? Are you on the 29 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: phone with Governor Hokel today saying it's time to redraw 30 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 1: the New York map? 31 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 3: Well, the New York map has some particularities relative to 32 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 3: the Constitution that won't necessarily allow it to be revisited 33 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 3: in this particular cycle. But some voters have filed a 34 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 3: lawsuit in New York and we're monitoring that litigation closely 35 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 3: to see what the outcome may be. 36 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: Okay, there's a question about whether you really need it, 37 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: Leader Jeffries. After the special election in Tennessee on Tuesday, 38 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: we saw a plus twenty two Trump districts go down 39 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: to a plus nine Trump district And you've got a 40 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 1: lot of armchair mathematicians out there suggesting that could meet 41 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: as many as thirty or thirty five seats for Democrats 42 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: in the midterms. 43 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 3: How do you see it, Well, Republicans know that if 44 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 3: the elections were held today, they would lose. That's the 45 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 3: reason why Donald Trump has decided to engage in this 46 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 3: extreme effort to jerrymander congressional maps all across the country, 47 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 3: and it's very unfortunate. Our view is that we're not 48 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 3: going to unilaterally disarm, and we have to ensure that 49 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 3: there's a fair map nationally across the board, so that 50 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 3: it's the voters who get to decide who is in 51 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 3: the majority after the November twenty, twenty sixth election. Part 52 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 3: of the challenge with Republicans is that they've broken all 53 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 3: of their promises. They indicated that they were going to 54 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 3: lower cost in fact lower costs on day one, costs 55 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 3: having gone down in America, costs have gone up housing 56 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 3: costs or through the roof, grocery prices through the roof, 57 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,119 Speaker 3: electricity bills through the roof. And now, because my Republican 58 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 3: colleagues refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, 59 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 3: we know tens of millions of people are about to 60 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 3: experience dramatically increase health care costs. Democrats are actually the 61 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 3: party focused on driving down the high cost of living. 62 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: So let's talk about a couple of those points of 63 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: leverage that you just pointed out, affordability and healthcare. Many 64 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: would argue that it's kind of the same story here. 65 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: President Trump has been saying that affordability is a Democrat hoax, 66 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 1: a Democrat con job. Does that mean you do not 67 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: have Republicans on board with you in reforming healthcare or 68 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: extending Obamacare subsidies? 69 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 3: It appears that way. It's unfortunate that the President's position, 70 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 3: which is the Republican parties position, is that the affordability 71 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 3: crisis in the United States of America is a con 72 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 3: job and it's a hoax. No, what was a con 73 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 3: job and hoax was the fact that Republicans spent all 74 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 3: of last year claiming that they were going to lower 75 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 3: the high cost of living in the United States of America, 76 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 3: that they were a party committed to addressing the inflationary 77 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 3: pressure that the American people were under. That's all they 78 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 3: talked tobut out last year. But they lied to the voters. 79 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 3: That's the con job. They're lied. They absolutely lied to 80 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 3: the voters. Because there's no evidence throughout this year that 81 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 3: they've had any intention to actually address the affordability crisis 82 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 3: that exists. In fact, they now say it's all a hoax. 83 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 3: But everyday Americans when they go to the grocery store, 84 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 3: the supermarket, when they see their healthcare premiums dramatically increasing, 85 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: when they see the electricity bills that they have, which 86 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 3: are through the roof, in part because Republicans in their 87 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 3: one big Ugly Bill attacked the clean energy economy At 88 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 3: a time in America where we have growing power needs. 89 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 3: In terms of what we see with the expansion of 90 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 3: artificial intelligence, it's all extraordinary. So Republican leadership has made 91 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 3: it clear they have no intention to extend the Affordable 92 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,799 Speaker 3: Care AC tax credits, and that's very unfortunate. 93 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: You know, if the White House would say hold on, 94 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: leader Jeffries. This president's been working over time to cut 95 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: deals to lower the cost of prescription drugs, deserve credit 96 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: for that effort. 97 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 3: We haven't seen any evidence that prescription drug prices have 98 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 3: gone down in any meaningful way. What we have seen 99 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 3: that the Trump terrorist are out of control. They've increased 100 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 3: costs by thousands of dollars per year on everyday Americans, 101 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 3: and they've created an uncertain environment for businesses and corporations 102 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 3: throughout the country. And we know that uncertainty is one 103 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 3: of the biggest problems that American corporations and companies may face. 104 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 3: It's difficult to actually make investments when you have this 105 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 3: chaotic environment that has been visited upon the economy. 106 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: So let's talk about what you can get done before 107 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,239 Speaker 1: the expiration of these subsidies at the end of the month. 108 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 1: A bill was introduced yesterday, a framework that was bipartisan. 109 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: A Democrat and a Republican Gotttheimer and Kiggins. It would 110 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: extend these subsidies for a year and put new callers 111 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: on eligibility. Is this a path to renewal in your eyes? 112 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 3: Well, we'll have to take a look at the particulars 113 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 3: in the four corners of that bill. Two hundred and 114 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 3: fourteen Democrats have signed the discharged position that will extend 115 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 3: the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years and 116 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 3: give the American people the certainty that they need in 117 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 3: order to move forward during these otherwise uncertain times. All 118 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,559 Speaker 3: we need are four Republicans. They're two hundred and nineteen 119 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 3: of them. All we need are four House Republicans to 120 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 3: join us and we can extend the Affordable Care Act 121 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 3: tax credits. We also want to take a look at 122 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 3: what happens in the Senate. I'm thankful for lead to 123 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 3: Schumer and Senate Democrats who will put a bill forward 124 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 3: next week and force an up and down vote on 125 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 3: an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. We're 126 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 3: in this fight until we win this fight on behalf 127 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 3: of the American people, because in the wealthiest country in 128 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 3: the history of the world, it cannot be the case 129 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 3: that working class Americans and middle class Americans are unable 130 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: to afford to go see a doctor when they need one. 131 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 1: Are you in touch with the Speaker of the House 132 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: on This is Mike Johnson talking to you about a 133 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: potential vote after john fun promised a vote on healthcare 134 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 1: in the Senate for next Thursday. 135 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 3: You know, the big challenge with House Republicans has been 136 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 3: that they've adopted a my way of the highway approach. 137 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 3: They have zero interests in actually sitting down and finding 138 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 3: a bipartisan path forward. We've said from the very beginning 139 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 3: of this year and throughout the Trump Republicans shutdown, that 140 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 3: we will sit down with anyone, anytime, any place, here 141 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 3: in the Capitol, or go back to the White House 142 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 3: sit with the President to try to figure out how 143 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 3: we can fix our broken healthcare system and address the 144 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 3: Republican created healthcare crisis that's devastating people all across America. 145 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: They've refused repeatedly to sit down and even try to 146 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 3: find common ground, apparently because they really are uninterested in 147 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 3: dealing with an extension Intoffordable Care Act tax credits. Joe. 148 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 3: As you know, this is the same group of people 149 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,119 Speaker 3: who have actually tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act 150 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 3: more than seventy times over the last fifteen years. 151 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: So could we be in a world in which there's 152 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: a healthcare bill that passes the Senate and dies in 153 00:07:58,400 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: the House. 154 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 3: Well, if there's a bill that as the Senate, there 155 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 3: will be tremendous pressure on Mike Johnson, Stieve Scalice and 156 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 3: House Republicans to bring that bill to the floor for 157 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 3: an up and down vote, and the votes will exist 158 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 3: in the House of Representatives. I call upon some of 159 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 3: my Republican colleagues, more traditional conservative colleagues, or the so 160 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 3: called swing seat Republicans, to actually press their leadership to 161 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 3: give the people of this country an up or down 162 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 3: vote on something meaningful that will extend the Affordable Care 163 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 3: Act tax credits. 164 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: Just lastly, President Trump today will be receiving we understand 165 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. Does Donald Trump deserve credit, 166 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: as he says, for ending eight wars? 167 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's unclear what eight wars he's talking about. What 168 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 3: the American people clearly want to see from this president 169 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 3: is action related to the challenges that we face in 170 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 3: this country. Lowering the high cost of living, fixing our 171 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 3: broken healthcare system, making life better for everyday Americans. That's 172 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 3: the democratic commitment that we actually should deliver on the 173 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 3: promises that Republicans made to lower the high cost to 174 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 3: live in but refuse to address in a country that's 175 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 3: the wealthiest in the history of the world, but there 176 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 3: are far too many people who are struggling to live 177 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 3: paycheck to paycheck, can't thrive, can barely survive, and that 178 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 3: should not be the case in this great country. We 179 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 3: should allow for a situation where every single person who 180 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 3: works hard and plays by the rules can afford to 181 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 3: live a comfortable life, live the good life, good paying job, 182 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 3: good house and good health care, good education for your children, 183 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 3: and ultimately, at the end of the day, a good retirement. 184 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 3: That's the American dream. We need to bring it to 185 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 3: life for every single. 186 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: American Democratic leader in the House. Hockeim Jeffrey's leader. Thank 187 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: you for being with us today. Once again on Bloomberg. 188 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 3: Thank you.