1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: Now from our nation's capital. This is Bloomberg Sound on 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: or crimes have taken place in Ukraine and those who 3 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: are responsible should be exposed. We're going to see quite 4 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: a few Trump back candidates you go up against incumbent 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: Democrat Bloomberg Sound on Politics, Policy and Perspective from DC's 6 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: top name of GOP primariats are on immigration. It is 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: one of the key midterm issues. President's budget. It's not 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: something that anybody expects to be passed. It's really a 9 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: messaging document that lays out the president's priorities. Bloomberg Sound 10 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. Congress is struggling 11 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: to secure ten billion dollars of funding that the White 12 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 1: House says is needed to battle the next stage of 13 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 1: the COVID pandemic. Lawmakers are now saying that the bill 14 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: is going nowhere after Republicans demanded a vote on an 15 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: immigration provision. We're going to chat about this more with 16 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: healthcare policy analyst Chris Meekins, who's going to get into 17 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: what it means if no more COVID funding is coming. 18 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: And we're gonna be speaking with Congressman Derek Khmer a 19 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: Washington Democrat who chairs a group of lawmakers trying to 20 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: fix Congress. That's an easy job, right there. I'm Emily 21 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: Wilkins here with my Bloomberg Government co host Jack Fitzpatrick. 22 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: Well Jack. At the start of the week, there is 23 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: so much confidence that lawmakers were going to get this 24 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: COVID funding, build on this ten billion dollar bipartisan package, 25 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: and then Republicans decided that they were going to throw 26 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: immigration into the mix. Yeah, we had a deal. We 27 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: had a bipartisan deal. It's not even entirely Republicans. It 28 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 1: is Republicans and potentially a few Democrats who are saying 29 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: this nominally immigration issue. They call it Title forty two, 30 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: is the policy that the CDC actually said it was 31 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: a pandemic guideline that allows them to much more quickly 32 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: send people back if they come at the border, migrants, 33 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: asylum seekers for pandemic purposes. Uh. There was a pushback 34 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: to President Biden's decision to end that policy. It is 35 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: led by Republicans, There may be some senators. There certainly 36 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: was some pushback from Mark Kelly of Arizona. John Tester 37 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: of Montana put out a statement saying he's very concerned 38 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 1: about the lack of a plan there. But Republicans now 39 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: are saying, we want an amendment on this COVID funding 40 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: bill to basically to block or somehow address uh, this 41 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: Biden decision to end that policy. Uh. And they can't 42 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: figure it out. There's no agreement on whether there will 43 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: be an amendment. Uh. And the latest you know, our 44 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: colleague Zact Cohen just caught up a little bit ago 45 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: with John Thune, who is the Republican whip in the Senate, 46 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: who said it doesn't look like they can get a 47 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: deal this week. They're going on a two week recess, 48 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: of course, so it's it's going to be a matter 49 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: of weeks before they can actually strike a deal on 50 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: this ten billion dollars they need for therapeutics and other 51 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: measures on COVID. And let's be clear, this is a 52 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: lot of election politics going on right here. Republicans know 53 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: that immigration is an issue that motivates their base. They 54 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: are ready to use that issue in the upcoming mid terms. 55 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: And as you pointed out, Jack, I mean, this is 56 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: something if you look at the list of Democrats who 57 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: have come out with concerns about removing this band that 58 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: has a limited migrants crossing the southern border. It's a 59 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: lot of lawmakers who are facing really tough elections this November. 60 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: I also want to just kind of get into a 61 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: little bit more about why this funding is so necessary 62 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: For that. We're gonna go to a sound that we 63 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: have from earlier today when Dr Anthony Fauci talked to 64 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: our own David Weston on Bloomberg's Balance of Power about 65 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: exactly what this ten billion dollars in funding would do. Well, David, 66 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: that's absolutely critical that we get that money um for 67 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: a number of reasons, so you could work from the 68 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: bottom up. You know, the five billion dollars was taken 69 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: out of the fifteen and that five billion was for 70 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: International COVID to get vaccines two people in the developed 71 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: world and to be able to get those vaccine into 72 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: vaccinations into people's arms. That is important because if we 73 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: don't do that and you have a lot of viral 74 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: dynamics in other parts of the world, that leads to 75 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: the likelihood that you're going to see another variant. That's 76 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 1: the first thing. The second thing, we in the next 77 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: few months will run out of tests, run out of 78 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: monoclonal anybody, run out of any viral drugs, as well 79 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: as the important work that needs to be done to 80 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: do studies to determine what the best booster should be, 81 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: as I mentioned a moment ago. Should it be a 82 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 1: combination of a hybrid of different boosts. Should it be 83 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: an omicron boost, Should it be a boost of another 84 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: variant like beta. We don't know that, and we can't 85 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 1: do those studies, David, unless we get the money, because 86 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: we in fact will run out in a very reasonably 87 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: short period of time. None of that sounds particularly good, 88 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: But to break it down a little bit more. Joining 89 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: us now is Chris Meegins. He's the health care policy 90 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: analyst and managing director at Raymond James. Chris, thank you 91 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: so much for joining us. We obviously just heard from 92 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: Dr Anthony Vauci, but I wanted to see if you 93 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: could take it back for a minute. This next variant 94 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: that we're facing, the O macron B A two, it's 95 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: more contagious than be a one. What does that actually 96 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 1: mean for what the next few months are going to 97 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: look like in the US. Yeah, the reality is we're seeing, 98 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: you know, numbers largely speaking, at about a little under 99 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: thirty thousand cases a day of what's officially reported, but 100 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: with so many at home tests that exist, what we 101 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: know is there's a decent number of folks that are 102 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: being infected to never make their way into the numbers. 103 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: So we're going to see an up picking cases, some 104 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: of which will be reported, good number of which probably 105 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: will not be reported in the official numbers. And so 106 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: that's and it's going to con tinue to run its 107 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: course till we get to the summer, and we're going 108 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: to have these continued new variants go on. It's important 109 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: to continue to vaccinate the world as new variants can 110 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: come in those other places, as Dr Fauci said, But 111 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: it's also important to acknowledge that the American public, largely speaking, 112 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: for better or worse, is over COVID at this point, 113 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: which is why members of Congress don't feel the pressure 114 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 1: to allocate ten billion when they were more than happy 115 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: to allocate the trillions of dollars to help fight this 116 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: in respond to it throughout this pandemic. Well yeah, Chris, 117 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: it is surprising to see them struggle so much on 118 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 1: a ten billion dollar bill that's offset in cost now 119 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 1: after such an aggressive fiscal response, But clearly there there, 120 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: it looks like they're gonna have to wait a few 121 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: more weeks. This is falling apart this week. There's no deal. 122 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: They're going to go on a two week recess after this. 123 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 1: What is this significance it Can they afford to wait 124 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: another few weeks when it comes to the therapeutic supply 125 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,679 Speaker 1: and everything else they want to accomplish in this bill. Yeah, 126 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: So officially the administration will say no, they can't. The 127 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 1: reality is they've got billions of dollars that can make 128 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: available if they really wanted to move in some money 129 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: around and with additional existing flexibilities they have, but they've 130 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: staked this position claiming they have no money, and so 131 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: they're going to have to continue to act as though 132 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: they have no money going forward. The reality is we're 133 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: not going to continue in the world at which forever 134 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: the government is buying all of the vaccine and paying 135 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: for administration of vaccine and paying for treatments. That's not 136 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: what happens for any other drug in the United States 137 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: at this point. So at some point we're going to transition. 138 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,559 Speaker 1: I believe it's the second half of this year, after 139 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: they get you know, some transition money in this ten 140 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: billion being a part of that where it's going to 141 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: go through the normal insurer process, Right, just like insurers, 142 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: you know, do the vaccines for kids to cover those, 143 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: and just like insurers cover UH the annual seasonal influenza vaccine, 144 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: and Medicare and Medicaid does and try care and v A. 145 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: You know, this is going to get to a normal 146 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: drug process later in the year. So I think the 147 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: administration UH needs this money and wants this money to 148 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: kind of bridge that gap. But the reality is we 149 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: have to accept that that's where we're having. So Chris, 150 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: I'm I'm interested in the point you just made on 151 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: the normal insurer process, because there was the program that 152 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: they just had to stop in which the government pays 153 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: back the healthcare provider for vaccines for people who don't 154 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: have insurance. Do you see this as sort of step 155 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: one of just getting rid of that program? Where do 156 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: you think the future is there? Well, the reality is 157 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: if you're uninsured in the United States, you have to 158 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: pay for your care, and there are a lot of 159 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: programs that exist to help limit the number of uninsured 160 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: in the United States. We've seen and your congressional reporters 161 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: that you know this, we're continuing to have a fight 162 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: over whether they're gonna extend the Expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies, 163 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: which have resulted in a few million people getting coverage 164 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: didn't have it before. You still have depending on when 165 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: the Public Health Emergency ends Medicaid redeterminations where you have 166 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: fifteen million additional low income Americans were able to get 167 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: coverage elsewhere. So the traditional processes, if you're on insured 168 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: in the United States, you have to pay out of 169 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 1: pocket UM or hospitals have to eat that is part 170 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: of bad debt, and then there's a bad debt payment 171 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 1: for Medicare. So there's a normal process that exists for 172 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: care for individuals uninsured and insured. And COVID has been 173 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 1: this special situation for the last two years, trusifiably so 174 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: um because it is a pandemic. But we're going to 175 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: transition away from that, and I think we're slowly starting 176 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: to see the administration do that, and Congress is pushing 177 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: to move maybe a little more quickly. No, Chris, there's 178 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: nothing that Congress loves more than a good, solid deadline 179 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: to actually get their work done by I'm wondering as 180 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: for this bill, for this funding, is it going to 181 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: get to a point where you think where all these 182 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: lawmakers are going to realize what the real world impacts 183 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: of not having this money is and it's going to 184 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: get past or is there a chance that that we're 185 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 1: not going to see any more COVID funding coming from 186 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 1: Congress because of delays like this one? Yeah? I think 187 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,559 Speaker 1: you know Congress missed its opportunity when you saw House 188 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: Democrats balk it only having to offset part of this 189 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:08,719 Speaker 1: as part of the omnibus spending bill when it was 190 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 1: fifteen billion dollars um balk at that and it gets 191 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: yanked out of the omnibus your point of must pass bills. 192 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: Great opportunities. They really gave more leverage to Republicans, and 193 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: now Republicans that fine will agree to ton instead of 194 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 1: fifteen you have to fully offset it. And now the administration, 195 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 1: with in what I can only call a bone headed 196 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: staff move, decided to make the title forty two change 197 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: before they had to COVID money. If they had just 198 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: waited two weeks, we would have it passed by Easter 199 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: and this would not have been an issue. But you know, 200 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: self inflicted mistakes are now making this more complicated than 201 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 1: it needs to be. I think we see this get 202 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 1: done by Memorial Day. But the longer this gets delayed 203 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,839 Speaker 1: than delays reconciliation and a wide range of other priorities 204 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: Democrats and Congress staff. Chris, I did want to ask 205 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: you very quickly. We've only got a couple of set 206 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: it's left, But what about this international aid? How important 207 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: is the Congress past that it got cut from the 208 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: ten billion dollar bill, but it was there initially. Yeah, 209 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: I think they needed I think you know, the original 210 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: bill of five billion is probably appropriate to try to 211 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: get vaccines to more low income countries right now. Um, 212 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: and they should do that. You just have to find 213 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: a wait offset it. And there's plenty of um spent 214 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: money out there. Both sides decided they're willing to use 215 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: it to get there done. Um. Vouci's right, you're going 216 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: to see more variants globally, and we need to get 217 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: folks vaccinated to decrease the number of hospitalizations and deaths 218 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: from this virus. And there's definitely a lot of discussion 219 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: on either side about how important it is that you know, 220 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 1: the US is never fully protected until the global population 221 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: is protected because of vaccines. Well, Chris, thank you so 222 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: much for joining us. That was Chris Meekins, healthcare policy 223 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: analysts and managing director at Raymond James Up. Next, we 224 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 1: assemble the panel and take a look at both COVID funding, 225 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: immigration lawmakers brilling oil executives today on gas prices. I'm 226 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: Emily Wilkins with Jack Fitzpatrick. This is Bloomberg. This is Bloomberg, 227 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: so On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. Senate efforts 228 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: to pass a ten billion dollar COVID relief bill by 229 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 1: the end of the week have faltered amid a debate 230 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: over the so called Title forty two restriction on migrants 231 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 1: and asylum seekers at the border. You're gonna hear about 232 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: Title forty two. Boite a bit in the news for 233 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: the foreseeable future. I'm Jack Fitzpatrick, co hosting today with 234 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: my Bloomberg Government colleague Emily Wilkins. We are in for 235 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 1: Joe while he's out for the week. We're gonna bring 236 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: in our panel, all star panel of Bloomberg Politics contributors 237 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 1: Jeannie she and Zano and Rick Davis guys. Today, White 238 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: House Press Secretary Jen Saki blamed Republicans for insisting on 239 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: an immigration amendment on a public health funding bill. Here's 240 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:05,079 Speaker 1: what she had to say. Unfortunately, even after Senate leadership 241 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: agreed upon a on a paired down bipartisan bill, Senate 242 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: Republicans decided to move the goalposts yet again and force 243 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: amendment votes on something completely independent of our COVID response needs. 244 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: And at this point we have the question we have 245 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: is whether Republicans are acting in good faith to provide 246 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: the resources we need to save American lives, or if 247 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: they are just playing politics. The virus is not waiting 248 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: for Republicans in Congress to get their act together nich McConnell. Meanwhile, 249 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: the Senate Minority leader, laid out what Republicans in the 250 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: Senate need to see in order to support this COVID 251 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: funding bill. I think they'll have to be an amendment 252 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: on titled forty two in order to move the bill. 253 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: There are several other amendments that we're gonna want to offer, 254 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 1: and so we'll need to enter int some kind of 255 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: agreement to process as amendments in order to go forward 256 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: with the bill. Well, Chris Meekins, who was just on 257 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: with us from Ray and James and previously an employee 258 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: at the Department of Health and Human Services, said boy 259 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: that's a real mistake by the Biden administration on timing 260 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: rescinding Title forty two right before, right as they were 261 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: announcing a deal on this COVID funding bill, Genie Sheenzano, 262 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: Rick Davis, I gotta get your thoughts on this, Genie. 263 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: Did the Biden administration make a mistake just in terms 264 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: of timing and managing what they need to do on COVID? 265 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: You know that they did. They will say that it was, 266 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: of course, it's a c d C public health decision, 267 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: and they came into this pandemic into office saying they 268 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: would follow the science. The c d C has said 269 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: that there's no good health reason to keep this in place, 270 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: so they are saying it's a health decision, you know, 271 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: and we have to look at the reality. The Biden 272 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: administration is also being pushed by immigration advocates who are 273 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: saying that there's no reason that Title forty two should 274 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: be in place. But of course it's a political misstep 275 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: when you don't have a plan in place before you 276 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: do this, because they've le to their own very vulnerable 277 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: democrats in purple districts like Mark Kelly and so many together, 278 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, very vulnerable to attacks from Republicans in 279 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: a very difficult mintterm season. So obviously politics always ways 280 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: in here, always got to think about about the political angle. 281 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: But I'm wondering just sort of going back to the 282 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: bill and what it is. I mean, they did get 283 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: bipartisan support on this. Is there some sort of way, 284 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: Rick Davis, that that you can see this legislation eventually 285 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: passing Congress and then working something out on this immigration provision. Yeah, 286 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: this is certainly not the first time something like this 287 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: has happened. And typically the majority calls the cards and says, okay, fine, 288 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: we'll give you three amendments. You know, we're gonna put 289 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: a time behind it. We're gonna start voting tonight, and 290 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: and and and there you go. And and the reality 291 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: is the reason they don't want to do it is 292 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: because they actually have the votes to passing them him 293 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: and on Title forty two. Because I have a bunch 294 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 1: of Democrats who don't like it either, and that's the 295 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: last narrative they want. So uh, it's the intrangendence of 296 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: the leadership who doesn't want to just open it up 297 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: and give vote. That is how the sentence is post 298 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: to work, right. You know, if you can't get a 299 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: total agreement. Just vote up on up or down on 300 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: the amendments and move on and whatever passes passes. So um, 301 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: Schumer's got a test of his leadership coming up now, 302 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: and he's not got really great options. But if he 303 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: wants to pass a bill, and he can pass a bill, 304 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: let him vote on the amendment. And if amendment passes, 305 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: the bill passes. Right. Well, the the issue there is 306 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: Democrats may not have the votes to vote this amendment down, 307 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: and Democratic leadership doesn't want it on there. Uh. Speaking 308 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: of issues that have caused people to yell at each 309 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: other on Capitol Hill, oil and gas executives testified at 310 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing today where they 311 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: took a lot of heat from Democrats for gas prices 312 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: oil prices. More broadly, Chevron CEO Mike Worth pointed out, 313 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: he can't just flip a switch. He's that he's not 314 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: in charge of your gas prices. We do not control 315 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: the market price of crude oil or natural gas US, 316 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: nor of refined products like gasoline and diesel fuel, and 317 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: we have no tolerance for price couching. Genie I noticed 318 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 1: in the Senate Budget Committee Chairman H. Bernie Sanders, known 319 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: for his his presidential campaigns and and hitting on oil 320 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: and gas, said that he's also going to be having 321 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: some hearings in that committee on on inflation, on what 322 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: he describes as greed of corporate America. Are these getting 323 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: us anywhere? Is this getting at policy or have we 324 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: just entered fully into the campaign mode. We are in 325 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: full blown campaign mode. You said the right word. It 326 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: is all about blame. Democrats are blaming the CEOs. Republicans 327 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: are blaming the Biden administration's energy policies. You had Jensaki 328 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 1: out today telling the CEOs and the and the oil 329 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,199 Speaker 1: companies don't sit on your profits, and they want to 330 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: keep going back to these unused permits, which is not 331 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,199 Speaker 1: really a fair criticism for a variety of reasons. So 332 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: you've got a whole lot of finger pointing. And of 333 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 1: course you've got frustrated Americans at the pump paying enormous prices, 334 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: which is why you've got these House Dems calling the 335 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 1: CEO CEO is in. They can't do much except yell 336 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: at them and blame them and try to put the 337 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: onus on them as opposed on themselves. Right, for what 338 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: it's worth, I thought it was kind of funny. Bill Johnson, 339 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 1: the Republican from Ohio, also yelled at them for airing 340 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: TV ads. The oil and gas companies airing TV ads 341 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: talking about their clean energy and in his words, liberal values. 342 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: So maybe some bipartisan frustration with them. Coming up, We're 343 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:33,239 Speaker 1: gonna talk to Congressman Derek Kilmer. He's on appropriations and 344 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: leads the New Democrat Coalition, with Emily Wilkins. I'm Jack Fitzpatrick. 345 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg broadcasting live from our nation's capital, Bloomberg 346 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: to New York, Bloomberg eleven Frio to Boston, Bloomberg one 347 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: O six one to San Francisco, Bloomberg nine sixty to 348 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:01,439 Speaker 1: the country, Serious x M General one nineteen and around 349 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: the globe, the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg Radio dot Com. 350 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg sold On with Joe Matthew That. This 351 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: is Emily Wilkins here with Jack Fitzpatrick. We are in 352 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: for Joe Matthew this week. Well, in just a minute, 353 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna be speaking with Congressman Derek Kilmer. He's a 354 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 1: member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and the head 355 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: of another panel that's looking to modernize and update Congress. 356 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: He's also a noted Star Wars fan. I'm not sure 357 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: how that's going to factor into the interview, but figured 358 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: i'd throw it out there. We'll joining us now is 359 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: Congressman Derek Kilmer, a Democratic lawmaker from the state of Washington. Congressman, 360 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: thank you so much for taking the time to join 361 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 1: us today. I wanted to start off by asking a 362 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: little bit about what Democrats need to do going forward. 363 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:52,920 Speaker 1: It is two d sixteen days until the mid terms, 364 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: and while we don't know what happens this November, we 365 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: know that Democrats have control of the House at least 366 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: until then. What is your party need to do in 367 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: the next two hundred sixteen days. Well, it's going to 368 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 1: be with you, Emily. I think the agenda for the 369 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: rest of the year needs to focus on a few 370 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 1: big pieces. One, passing a bipartisan innovation bill that's important 371 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 1: in terms of securing our supply chains. All of us 372 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 1: are concerned about rising costs and the impacts that that 373 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: that those costs have on our constituents, and so an 374 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 1: innovation bill that reduces costs and that creates jobs here 375 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,360 Speaker 1: in our country I think is a priority for us. 376 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: On top of that, I think there's an opportunity to 377 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: pass a budget reconciliation bill that will also lower costs, 378 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: the costs of health care, the cost of prescription drugs, 379 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: and that will make important progress in tackling the climate crisis. Um. 380 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: You also heard at the end of the President's um 381 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: State of the Union him speak about the President speak 382 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: about a unity agenda on key issues like opioids, on 383 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 1: mental health, on curing cancer, and helping our veterans. The 384 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 1: reality is Democrats and Republicans have a lot of common 385 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: ground on those issues, and I think we should answer 386 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 1: the presence call by sending bills on those issues to 387 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: a desk. Congressman, I have to hone in on that 388 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: second point there, the fact that you think there might 389 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 1: still be a chance to get a reconciliation package done. 390 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: I know that the build back better as it once 391 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: was is dead. But I'm wondering at this point when 392 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: you talk with your colleagues, when you speak with your 393 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: colleagues in the Senate, where is the momentum at could 394 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 1: something get done this year and what would actually be 395 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: a part of that package. Well, I think you saw 396 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: a good example this last last week when Congress, when 397 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 1: the House passed a bill focusing on louring prices of insulin, 398 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 1: that's a good example of an area that actually got 399 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 1: some bipartisans support. I think there is bipartisan support, and 400 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: I think there is fifty votes for doing something related 401 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: to prescription drug prices. I think you've also seen broad 402 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: support for taking action on climate and there's debate and 403 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: discussion around what the specifics of that should be. But 404 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 1: you know, from one side of the Senate Democratic Caucus 405 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,479 Speaker 1: to the other, I think there's agreement on taking action 406 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 1: on that issue. So I think those are two big 407 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 1: issues that could make a real difference. There's others that 408 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: I would like to see move forward as well. But 409 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: my hope is that we see as big and bold 410 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: a plan as can pass because you know, frankly, having 411 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: continued debate without actually getting a puck into the net 412 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,919 Speaker 1: doesn't help my constituents. So my hope is that we 413 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: can see the House and the Senate work together and 414 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: get something across the finish line here. Congressman, what about 415 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: the expanded child tax credit? Is that just too expensive? 416 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: Should we rule that out for these reconciliation priorities, or 417 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: is that still alive. Well, you know, it's been a 418 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: priority for the new Democrat coalition. Obviously, it's been a 419 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:55,119 Speaker 1: priority for House Democrats. We've seen the enormous benefit of 420 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: it in a district like mine. In the district I represent, 421 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:03,639 Speaker 1: there's one thousand kids who benefited from that expanded tax credit. 422 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: So I'd like to see that happen. I think it's 423 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: really important for reducing child poverty in our country. You've 424 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: seen what it's meant for the families that have benefited 425 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 1: from it. Most of them used it to pay for 426 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: housing and to pay for food, uh, and you know, 427 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: just to to keep the lights on. And so I 428 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 1: do think that is an important priority. I'd like to 429 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 1: see it move forward one way or the other. Time 430 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 1: will tell whether will whether that's something that's able to 431 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: get fifty votes in the United States Senate Congressman, you're 432 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: also on House Appropriations, my personal favorite committee. You guys 433 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: actually have bills that always become law. Where are the 434 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: talks in the early stages, And in particular, yesterday we 435 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: had n Calvert on who's on the Defense Subcommittee. A 436 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,880 Speaker 1: lot of Republicans, including him, are talking about a defense 437 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: spending increase. He's at around nine to eleven per cent. 438 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:58,200 Speaker 1: Where do you see that conversation on the defense versus 439 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 1: non defense debate going? And and and can you get 440 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: off to a fast enough start to actually make progress 441 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 1: this year? I hope we get off to a fast start. 442 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 1: And to the credit of Chair de Lauro and the 443 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:13,320 Speaker 1: chairs of each of the sub committees, nobody's waiting around. 444 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: As soon as the President's budget was put out, you 445 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,439 Speaker 1: saw fast action, uh, to start having hearings. You know, 446 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 1: we had. I've been in multiple hearings for the last 447 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,640 Speaker 1: couple of weeks going into the specifics of the President's budget, 448 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: not just with regard to defense spending, but with regard 449 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: to the other priorities laid out in the presence in 450 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 1: the President's budget. Listen, the reality is it's important for 451 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: Congress to pass it spending bills on time. Congress has 452 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 1: not at a particularly good success rate on that over 453 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 1: the last three decades. Um. But you know, I had 454 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: a meeting earlier today with some of the senior leadership 455 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 1: of the United States Navy, and they talked about just 456 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 1: the negative impact that has for them in terms of planning, 457 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: in terms of purcha erment when Congress faces delays in 458 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: passing spending bills on time. They also talked about the 459 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 1: negative impact it has for taxpayers because they see uh 460 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:13,199 Speaker 1: increase in some of those procurement cross if they're not 461 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: able to have a whole year to plan. So um, 462 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,960 Speaker 1: we're not waiting. The Appropriations Committee is doing its work 463 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: for what it's worth. This last year, the House did 464 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,200 Speaker 1: its job early and got bills out, not just a committee, 465 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: but out of the House early. Our hope and our 466 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 1: intent and the process that we are undertaking is to 467 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,439 Speaker 1: just to once again do that. It will definitely be 468 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 1: following that process. Congressman, we only have about a minute left, 469 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:40,360 Speaker 1: but I do want to quickly ask, because you are 470 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: the chair of the House Modernization Committee. Had a really 471 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 1: interesting hearing today on what might happen if there was 472 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: a major attack or disaster and a majority of Congress 473 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: was incapacitated. Is there something that Congress needs to do 474 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: to protect itself from future disasters? I think one of 475 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: the clear things that came out of today's hearing was 476 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: that Congress is not ready. The status quo is inadequate, 477 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,919 Speaker 1: and you know, listen, no one wants to imagine a 478 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 1: future that doesn't involve them, and and so it's it's 479 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:18,439 Speaker 1: not fun to think about these awful worst case scenarios. UM, 480 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:20,359 Speaker 1: but it's important if we want to have a function 481 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: in the United States House of Representatives. I mean, you 482 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:26,199 Speaker 1: heard Mike Bishop during today's hearing testify the fact he 483 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: was on the baseball field when, um, when Whip Schoolies 484 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: was shot. You know. In his comment was you know, 485 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 1: that could have been far more disastrous, you know, And 486 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: and it's he said it struck him literally, the majority 487 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: could have flipped if Congressman, Unfortunately, we do have to 488 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 1: leave it there. Congressman Derrick Kilmer, thank you so much 489 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: for joining us. This is Bloomberg. This is Bloomberg, So 490 00:26:54,119 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 1: long with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. While Congress struggles 491 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,479 Speaker 1: today to agree to a COVID funding bill, one area 492 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,360 Speaker 1: that has seen a lot of agreement on a bipartisan basis, 493 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: of course, has been US support for Ukraine. I'm Jack 494 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: Fitzpatrick here with Emily Wilkins. We've got to bring in 495 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 1: the paneled Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeannie she and Zano and 496 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: Rick Davis to talk about the latest in Russia and Ukraine. Guys. 497 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 1: The European Union's budget chief Johannes Han said today he 498 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: told reporters Ukraine is gonna need essentially a new version 499 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: of the Marshall Plan to rebuild the country after Russia's 500 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 1: invasion on Capitol Hill. We've asked a lot about this. 501 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 1: There was the one round of military aid for Ukraine. 502 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 1: There seems to be some buzz about potentially a second bill. Uh. 503 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,680 Speaker 1: There is interest, according to Lindsay Graham, about food aid. 504 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 1: But considering all the support for military aid, what kind 505 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 1: of position is the US in Rick Davis in terms 506 00:27:56,560 --> 00:28:01,920 Speaker 1: of helping someday Ukraine rebuild after all of the US Well, obviously, 507 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: you know, conditions are going to dictate not only what 508 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 1: needs to be rebuilt, and that is pretty obvious from 509 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:08,720 Speaker 1: the screens of our TVs that it's going to take 510 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:11,640 Speaker 1: a lot, but also what role is Russia gonna play 511 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 1: in that? Um, there's no question that there'll be an 512 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,679 Speaker 1: effort to get war reparations from Russia. Uh. Certainly the 513 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:20,439 Speaker 1: use of Russian capital that's been frozen in banks all 514 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: across the West could be applied to this. And and 515 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 1: I think the European and US governments UM are going 516 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:30,879 Speaker 1: to come to the aid of the Ukrainians. But um, 517 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,360 Speaker 1: it's it's all in the context of you know, how 518 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 1: does how does Russia exit the Ukraine? I would say 519 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 1: that the rest of the world's gonna have to pony up. 520 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: I mean, the sanctions right now are really being limited 521 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: to Europe and the United States, and the rest of 522 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 1: the world, regardless of how they feel about the war, 523 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 1: are gonna need to come to the table with resources 524 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 1: to rebuild Ukraine. You know, Rick, I want to follow 525 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: on that last point about the rest of the world 526 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 1: need to pitch in, because there was a wild story 527 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 1: on the terminal that the ruble has surged back to 528 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: where it is before Putin invaded Ukraine despite all of 529 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: the sanctions, all of the companies leaving. It all seems 530 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: that it's toothless because foreign countries are still buying Russian oil. 531 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: And Genie, I want to bring you in here. I mean, obviously, 532 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: the the US is in a position where only a 533 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 1: small fraction of our oil came from Russia. But what 534 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: is the US's role in making sure that our allies 535 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: in Europe and elsewhere are able to divest from Russian oil? 536 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: You know, it's very difficult that the United States. We've 537 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: seen the Secretary of State, we've seen the administration focus 538 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:39,959 Speaker 1: really hard on keeping the allies together. Um. But of 539 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: course if you look just the European example, they are 540 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 1: a lot more dependent than the United States, so it's 541 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 1: a bit easier for us to you know, move away 542 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 1: from Russian oil. We have seen movement, and certainly these pictures, 543 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: these horrific pictures out of Mayorpal and Bucca have you know, 544 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 1: intensified that movement. But you know, you look outside of Europe. 545 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 1: We don't talk a lot about, but the latest news 546 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: out of India that they're not going to move away 547 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 1: from it at all. This is very devastating and helps 548 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 1: you know, underscore what you're saying about the ruble and 549 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 1: why it is able to bounce back to where it 550 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: was pre invasion. Well, on that note, on the difficulty 551 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: of Europe pulling away from Russian oil and gas, uh 552 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 1: Italy this is news today Also on the terminal, Italy 553 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 1: would support a ban on Russian gas imports if the 554 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 1: European Union is united behind that, according to Prime Minister 555 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: Mario Draggy um Rick does the US, as we noted, 556 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: it's a lot easier for the US to move away 557 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 1: from Russian oil and gas. But does the US have 558 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 1: a role at this point in this European conversation. Is 559 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 1: there even an informal role for President Biden to play 560 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 1: to try to get Europe to unite in some regard 561 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 1: on Russian oil and gas. Yeah, I think on retrospect, 562 00:30:58,080 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 1: I think we've done the easy stuff first. And it 563 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,240 Speaker 1: was always, oh my god, these sanctions are really going 564 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:05,800 Speaker 1: to hurt these guys. But as the terminal story UH indicates, 565 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 1: the ruble is right back to where it was pre 566 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 1: war levels and and it's and it's you know, primarily 567 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 1: because Russia has done a good job of continuing to 568 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: sell oil and gas and their current accounts surplus. I mean, 569 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: how could Russia have a current accounts surplus with all 570 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 1: these Western nations saying they're not going to take their hydrocarbon? So, UH, 571 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 1: the US can do it by friendly means, UH to 572 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:30,239 Speaker 1: try and convince Europe and other countries like India and 573 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 1: China and others to UH to not take the Russian 574 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 1: gas and oil. But they can also do it through 575 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: secondary sanctions, and it's been talked about quite a bit. 576 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 1: The administration has been teasing sanctions all week, but um, 577 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 1: you know, uh, President Zelinsky went to the UN and 578 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 1: said what you're doing is not enough and if you 579 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 1: don't do more, you're culpable for the genocide that's happening 580 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 1: in Ukraine. And I think he's spot on with that. 581 00:31:55,160 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: I think that the rest of the world's got to 582 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: look at what they're doing and saying, are we really 583 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 1: encouraging russia efforts in the Ukraine by by fueling their 584 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:06,280 Speaker 1: war effort? Well, and on that note, Genie, as you 585 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 1: touched on, do you think, Jennie, the carnage we've seen 586 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:15,600 Speaker 1: out of Buscha and the accusations of war crimes, has 587 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: that actually changed the state of play when it comes 588 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: to European willingness to do more, whether it's sanctions, pulling 589 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 1: away from oil and gas, has that actually changed anything, Jennie? 590 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: You know, I do think it intensifies the push for 591 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 1: these governments to move away from it, and we have 592 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 1: heard that repeatedly, at least giving lip service to that idea. 593 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:39,520 Speaker 1: You know, the mayor of Mariple today five thousand dead, 594 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 1: two of those children in horrific crimes, as Rick mentioned, genocide, 595 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 1: and yet the sanctions that the administration imposed today a 596 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:52,200 Speaker 1: large allowed rather a carve out for energy because of 597 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:55,239 Speaker 1: the e use dependence on Russian oil and gas. And 598 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:58,239 Speaker 1: while the administration keeps saying rightly so we're working with 599 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 1: the nations to reduce such import that remains a key challenge. 600 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: So I do think the pictures intensify the lip service 601 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:08,520 Speaker 1: towards that end, and there is a will towards that, 602 00:33:08,760 --> 00:33:12,240 Speaker 1: but the reality of dependence and also the politics. Let's 603 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: just look at the difficult electoral situation that the you know, 604 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:20,400 Speaker 1: French president finds himself in right now. Those all coupled 605 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 1: the difficulty of making that move away. Yeah, and it 606 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,360 Speaker 1: seems at this point like there's still a lot of 607 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: support for Ukraine. There's still a lot of support for 608 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:35,440 Speaker 1: Ukrainian President Zelinski, but you are now seeing slowdowns in 609 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:38,600 Speaker 1: certain countries, including the US. I mean, the Senate has 610 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 1: still not passed that band to end permanent trade relations 611 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 1: with Russia. And I'm wondering, Rick or Serve the politics 612 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:53,680 Speaker 1: around Ukraine changing at a global level. Is there some 613 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 1: momentum now that's being lost as the war is continuing on. Yeah, Emily, 614 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: I'm really glad you mentioned the p NT R the 615 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 1: Russian p nt R permit trade relations. This passed with 616 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:09,640 Speaker 1: overwhelming support in the House of Representatives. I mean it 617 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:13,120 Speaker 1: was I think only eighty voters votes against it. And 618 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:15,239 Speaker 1: and yet it's been stuck in the Senate. And that's 619 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 1: just a function of the leadership of the Senate not 620 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 1: saying we're gonna prioritize this and push it through. And 621 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:24,719 Speaker 1: and granted it's more symbolism than not, but like, why 622 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:27,439 Speaker 1: wouldn't symbolism matter at a time like this? And so 623 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:31,279 Speaker 1: I think that that the president sets the agenda. Um, 624 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:35,319 Speaker 1: I agree with our genie these sanctions today. I mean, 625 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:37,279 Speaker 1: like if we waited all week for this, I mean, 626 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:41,000 Speaker 1: you know, oh my gosh, it was so disheartening that 627 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:44,000 Speaker 1: they've got no bite whatsoever. Um. The I think the 628 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 1: world's got to decide where they want to continue to 629 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:48,799 Speaker 1: see Russia witness war and kill people in Ukraine for 630 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:52,399 Speaker 1: no good reason, or unite around some some really tough 631 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 1: measures that are going to hurt at home and uh 632 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:58,719 Speaker 1: and push them through because without that, we're giving Vladimir 633 00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:03,680 Speaker 1: Putin to much rope. Uh. Stuck in the Senate definitely 634 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:06,360 Speaker 1: seems to be the theme of the day, with the 635 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 1: COVID bill as well as as you mentioned, good point, Emily, 636 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: that that permanent normal trade relations measure that the President supports, UH, 637 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 1: and that got through the House so easily has not 638 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:20,839 Speaker 1: actually passed the Senate yet, that that's something that needs 639 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:25,560 Speaker 1: congressional approval. One other kind of strange issue we've seen 640 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: today as we talk about hopefully somewhat of a COVID 641 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 1: wind down or contrasting with that, maybe an expectation of 642 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:39,520 Speaker 1: a future wave. UH. Attorney General Merritt Garland tested positive 643 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 1: for COVID, and so has the Commerce Secretary, Gina Romando 644 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:45,759 Speaker 1: UH to at least two members of the House have 645 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:49,520 Speaker 1: said so, Adam Schiff and Joaquin Castro. Actually, just before 646 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:52,160 Speaker 1: the show started, UH, the White House announced that the 647 00:35:52,239 --> 00:35:57,360 Speaker 1: Vice President's communication director, Jamal Simmons, also tested positive. And 648 00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:01,879 Speaker 1: we know that Garland, Romando, Shift and Castro were at 649 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 1: the Gridiron Dinner within the last week. I you know, 650 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:07,719 Speaker 1: I wanted to raise this one because it's a little 651 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:11,520 Speaker 1: bit of a COVID wave, UH that seems to potentially 652 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 1: back to the Gridiron Dinner. I, Emily, if you've been 653 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:17,400 Speaker 1: to the Gridiron Dinner, we should just like emphasize for 654 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 1: like all our listeners who are not in d C. 655 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 1: The Gridiron Dinner is this fancy, swank, white tie president 656 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:31,080 Speaker 1: usually shows up. Didn't this year event between lawmakers and journalists. 657 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:34,600 Speaker 1: And and yeah, it's it's it's a thing. It's it's 658 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:38,240 Speaker 1: a fancy thing. And on that note, you know, I 659 00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:41,560 Speaker 1: I see on the on Capitol Hill very few lawmakers 660 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:45,359 Speaker 1: right now wearing masks. Even it's a it's a bipartisan thing. Now, 661 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:47,879 Speaker 1: it seems that within the last few weeks, maybe month 662 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 1: or so, Democrats kind of decided everything's going back to 663 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 1: normal in our daily life. Genie, I'm wondering if we 664 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:57,920 Speaker 1: in any way jumped the gun going back to normal, 665 00:36:58,239 --> 00:37:00,480 Speaker 1: not wearing masks so much. At least people a lot 666 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 1: of people in the Capitol having the Gridiron Dinner. Uh, 667 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:06,400 Speaker 1: did we go back to normal too easy? Too early? 668 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:09,399 Speaker 1: You know? And it's fascinating, as you mentioned, I think Jack, 669 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 1: you have a country song. They're stuck in the Senate 670 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:14,200 Speaker 1: seems to be you know, sort of the the watch 671 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:17,719 Speaker 1: the watch phrase of the year. But yeah, yeah, but um, 672 00:37:17,719 --> 00:37:20,120 Speaker 1: and and we understand from the Gridiron Dinner at least 673 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:21,959 Speaker 1: we heard that while you were supposed to show proof 674 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:24,960 Speaker 1: of vaccination. People who were there said not everybody was checked. 675 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:27,799 Speaker 1: This is the same day the COVID prevention built, you know, 676 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:30,640 Speaker 1: Falters in the Senate Um. You know, I do think 677 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:32,839 Speaker 1: there's a sense people feel like this thing is over. 678 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 1: They want to move beyond it. People aren't wearing masks, 679 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:37,160 Speaker 1: and yet I can tell you sitting in New York 680 00:37:37,239 --> 00:37:40,080 Speaker 1: City Broadway and off Broady has been hit very hard 681 00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 1: in the last few days by this B two variant. 682 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:46,040 Speaker 1: Matthew Broderick tested positive, Daniel Craig, lots of shows canceled 683 00:37:46,040 --> 00:37:48,920 Speaker 1: and suspended. So it is, you know, popping up, and 684 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,920 Speaker 1: it's a huge challenge. Not over yet. Thanks again to 685 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:56,560 Speaker 1: our guests Chris Meekins out of Raymond James, Representative, Derek 686 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: Kilmer from the state of Washington, and of course Jeanie 687 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:03,759 Speaker 1: Sheen's Ano and Rick Davis with Emily Wilkins. I'm Jack Fitzpatrick. 688 00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:07,839 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg MH.