1 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: Live from our nation's capital. This is Bloomberg sound on. 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: Biden lost a lot of goodwill, He lost a lot 3 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: of the trust that was given to him. At the 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: outset of this year. The Democratic Party can't find its 5 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: way back to the JFK days because it's so far 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: over to the last Bloomberg sound on politics, Policy and 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,159 Speaker 1: perspective from DC's top names. People generally don't have a 8 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: favorable view of Congress, but they do of their own Congressman. 9 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: It's got to be something that all fifty Senators, every 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: single fifty Senator can support. Bloomberg Sound On with Joe 11 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: Matthew on Bloomberg Radio, We're coming to you live from 12 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: the White House. And what timing how Speaker Nancy Pelosi 13 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: arrived here a short time ago to meet with the President, 14 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: who canceled his trip to Chicago for this very reason. 15 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: Opportunities like these. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also meeting 16 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: with the President here today, and of course they have 17 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: a lot to talk about him. Other day, closer to 18 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: a possible government shutdown, even as the Senate prepares legislation 19 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 1: to fund operations beyond tomorrow, while the House takes another 20 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: crack at the debt ceiling, and then yes, of course 21 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: there's infrastructure, with a Thursday vote in the House looking 22 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: highly unlikely at the moment, but as Jen Saki just 23 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,839 Speaker 1: told the White House Press Corps, the day is young 24 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: and we'll get into it all this hour with Bloomberg 25 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: Government Congressional reporters Emily Wilkins and Jack Fitzpatrick, and the panel. 26 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: Democratic strategist Kevin Walling at h G Creative Media with 27 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: us today along with Republican strategist John Hart of C 28 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: three Solutions. They'll be around for the hour and later 29 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: our conversation with Congressman James Comer, Republican from Kentucky, ranking 30 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: member on the House Oversight Committee, who is in the 31 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: House voting this hour as we speak. We have both 32 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: ends of Pennsylvania Avenue covered for you today as we 33 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: join you live from Bloomberg Radio's White House studio, And 34 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: there has been a flurry of activity here with as 35 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: I mentioned, Speaker Pelosi arriving just in the last hour 36 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: for a meeting with the President well congressional leaders. Democratic 37 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: congressional leaders tackle government funding and the debt ceiling today 38 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 1: on the Hill, while the debate around infrastructure and reconciliation continues, 39 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: you have four simultaneous potential crises. The latter two, infrastructure 40 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: and reconciliation, remain stuck in a stair off between moderate 41 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: and progressive Democrats, none of whom seemed to be budging. 42 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 1: Still another day, groundhog day. So what about the infrastructure 43 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: vote that Nancy Pelosi promised moderates by tomorrow? Remember Thursday 44 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: was supposed to be the time, and if you were 45 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: with us this time yesterday, you already know that it 46 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: may not happen. White House Press Secretary Jen Saki was 47 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: just asked about it upstairs in the briefing room. How 48 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: competent is the White House at this point of a 49 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: vote on infrastructure tomorrow or do you think that could 50 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: slip into next week? Can you got any insurance of this? Zo? Well, 51 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: this is why we all came to Washington. It's like 52 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: an episode of a TV show where we I am 53 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: not in a position to put lick in a crystal 54 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: ball here. Maybe the West Wing if something good happens, 55 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: maybe if not, I'm not sure. I will assess tomorrow 56 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: where we stand. Yes, that's why we're here in the 57 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: West Wing, at least in the basement of the West Wing, 58 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: just above the old swimming pool, the new home of 59 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: the fastest hour in politics. We're here live in the 60 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: sound On studio. But of course things have changed a 61 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: lot since President Bartlett was on TV. So we still 62 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 1: do not know if infrastructure gets a vote tomorrow twenty 63 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: four hours out, and it's unclear when a framework for 64 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: reconciliation will be ready for Progressives, even though they're asking 65 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: for more than that. The Democrats say they will pass 66 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: a bill to fund the government avoid a shutdown, and 67 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: they even took another swing, as I mentioned today, at 68 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: the debt ceiling. And I want to start there with 69 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Government's Jack Fitzpatrick, who has been crawling through the 70 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: halls of Congress throughout the day. Jack, welcome, Why don't 71 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: we take away at these one at a time. Here 72 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: a bill to fund the government. The Senate's been working 73 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: on that, and we're told there could be a vote 74 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: even tonight. What are you hearing, Yeah, Well, crawling through 75 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: the halls is a good way to put it, because 76 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: that kind of gets at the pace of action here 77 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: in Washington. Even though it's very, very busy, they're moving 78 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: a little more slowly than they would like last I've 79 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: heard from Republicans who are pushing for at least one amendment, 80 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: if not multiple, uh say, this is probably going to 81 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: have to be a vote tomorrow. Remember tomorrow night PM 82 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: is the deadline, and the House hasn't passed this, so 83 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: they would have to be uh two chambers acting in 84 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: quick succession on this stop gap measure for that to 85 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: work out. Although I would point out on this government 86 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: funding issue, not so much the debt limit issue, but 87 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 1: on government funding, nothing has really become the bombshell that 88 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 1: stops them in their tracks. These are issues that they 89 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: have the ability to work through on the Afghanistan funds 90 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: that are needed in that kind of thing. And I 91 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 1: haven't heard from anybody who says they actually expect a shutdown. 92 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: It's just that they're kind of procrastinating and probably gonna 93 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 1: cut it close tomorrow. Boy, it sure sounds like it. 94 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: I've been making a big deal throughout the day Jack 95 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: the Congressional baseball game. Does that actually get in the 96 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: way of voting tonight because they don't have a solution 97 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: to this wrapped up right now? It probably isn't a 98 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 1: major issue, especially because that's more a House thing and 99 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: it's the Senators who have this in their hands right now. 100 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 1: There have been times when they've put off significant action 101 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: in Congress because of the baseball or the softball game. 102 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: But fortunately the crisis here has not come from the 103 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: baseball game that it's real. It's really other issues right now. 104 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: Not to be too cute, but uh, it does seem 105 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: as if though that will get done in time. Right. 106 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: This is not a terribly controversial issue, and as you mentioned, 107 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: there's no debt ceiling attached to this cr so when 108 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 1: lawmakers are are in the room here, they'll pass a 109 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: bill to fund the government, right Jack, Yeah, everyone expects 110 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: there to be bipartisan support for this stopgap measure. They're 111 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: working through the details. The details they're working on are 112 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: exactly the language on the Afghanistan refugee issues and also 113 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 1: Iron Dome funding that is really a defense system. But 114 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: there's it's stuff that there's going to be bipartisan support for. 115 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 1: If they were to miss a deadline, they would probably 116 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 1: fund the government very very quickly. But nobody I've talked 117 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: to actually expect a shutdown at this point. This is 118 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: pretty good news because, as you've been hearing throughout the 119 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: day on Bloomberg. Some in the markets are wondering if 120 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: that will actually get done now. The debt ceiling is 121 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: another matter. As we told you yesterday in our Schoolhouse 122 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: Rock episode, it has been stripped from the CR to 123 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: fund the government, and it remains highly controversial. Republicans don't 124 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: want to go near it. But there was an effort 125 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: today to actually get this moving again in the House, 126 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: which I'll ask you about in a moment. Jack Jensaki, 127 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: press secretary here at the White House, was asked about 128 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: this again today. It's it remains a big problem for 129 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: Democrats who have been told to go it alone by 130 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: Senator Mitch McConnell and and Saki responds to that, here's 131 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: what she said. But so absurd about this is that 132 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: these are individuals, especially Senator McConnell, who have made very 133 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: clear uh in the past about their concerns and the 134 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: risks of the U. S Government defaulting. This is why 135 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: it's never happened in the past. It would have a 136 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: huge devastating impact on our economy. He knows that, he 137 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: stated that publicly. He still won't vote for it, and 138 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: he's still is trying to stop us from raising the 139 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: debt limit. If that's not politics, I don't know what is. Well, 140 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: there's a lot of politics going around up there right now. Jack, 141 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: There was a move in the House today Congressman mcgoverned 142 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: the Rules Committee brought a bill, a debt ceiling bill, 143 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: to the floor. What happens here, Well, Democrats are going 144 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: to try to push that through, but they're they're not 145 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: using the reconciliation process that allows them to pass something 146 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: with a simple majority in the Senate, So that's not 147 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: a solution. Republicans were totally united in opposing, uh, the 148 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: previous attempt to stop gap measure to fund the government 149 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: along with the debt limit suspension, so that really doesn't 150 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: solve things. Talking to Democrats that they don't really know 151 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: exactly what their plan be is. We've gotten to the 152 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: point where they're talking about mint the coin, they're talking 153 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: about constitutional constitutional arguments that maybe the debt limit is unconstitutional, 154 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: but they haven't rallied around a plan B. I think 155 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: that this is a sign there will be more votes, 156 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: but those votes will be rejected in the Senate by Republicans. UH. 157 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: And this is a much more serious and scary issue 158 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: than the prospect of the shutdown, which people are pretty 159 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: optimistic on that the debt limit. Uh, there's really not 160 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: a clear path that Democrats have settled on. Well, lastly, Jack, 161 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: what's the point of this exercise? Is this again an 162 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: attempt by Democrats to kind of paint Republicans into a 163 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: corner or was there a belief that it might actually pass? Uh? Well, 164 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: Democrats who probably want to blame Republicans for blocking this, 165 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: But mostly this is happening because Republicans are insisting Democrats 166 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: go back and change their reconciliation instructions, which would use 167 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: up floor time. It could get them into a debate 168 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: where they start rethinking their reconciliation Shanville. It's very very difficult, uh, 169 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 1: And Republicans are insisting on that for that reason. It 170 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: would slow down everything Democrats want to do over the 171 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: next couple of weeks. And so that's why Republicans are 172 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: making this this point and Democrats obviously don't want to 173 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: do that because it's the most difficult route to go uh. 174 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: And And really the the issue is that they probably 175 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: need to come up with a plan D, but they 176 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: just haven't done it yet. Bloomberg Government's Jack Fitzpatrick with 177 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: US live from Capitol Hill. And we want to bring 178 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: in thank you as always, Jack, want to bring in 179 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:35,079 Speaker 1: Emily Wilkins, Jack's colleague at Bloomberg Government, who's also spent 180 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: yet another busy day on Capitol Hill here as we 181 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: turned to the matter of infrastructure and reconciliation, Emily, the 182 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: leaders came down to this end of Pennsylvania Avenue Pelosi 183 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 1: and Schumer to meet with Joe Biden. Is there any 184 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: thought that there could be a break a deal in 185 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:52,439 Speaker 1: time for that promised vote tomorrow? Not if your Senator 186 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: Joe Manson. He told reporters today that there was no 187 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: way that they were going to be able to get 188 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: a framework with the top ling are on the conciliation 189 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,199 Speaker 1: done by tomorrow. And that's the one thing Speaker Nancy 190 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: Flosi was really holding out hope for. She thought that 191 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: maybe if they had a framework, they could convince those 192 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,959 Speaker 1: Progressives to go ahead and vote for infrastructure. At this point, 193 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,479 Speaker 1: one of three things is going to happen. Either Progressives 194 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 1: will pave the vote for the bill, either the bill 195 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: will stam or other Speaker Plosy will decide within the 196 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: next twenty four hours that she doesn't have the votes 197 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: and and yank the build from the floor, and and 198 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: that's going to upset moderates and centrists and and probably 199 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: a number of people who are really hoping to see 200 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: this bill pass. We had calls out to a lot 201 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: of lawmakers today, Emily. Are people getting quiet at this point, 202 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: especially moderates, at at the prospect of losing this opportunity 203 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: to vote tomorrow and what are they going to do 204 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: if it doesn't happen. I felt like a number of 205 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: members today who are really running in these challenging districts 206 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: are the ones far most likely to lose their seats 207 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: in twenty two And what they told me is that 208 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: they really we do need to get both films one. 209 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: It needs to be not just infrastructure, of both infrastructure 210 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: and reconciliation, because reconciliation has priorities in it, like affordable childcare, 211 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,719 Speaker 1: expansion of medicare, over drugs, PRIs scene and these are 212 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: all things that Democrats, even more moderate Democrats mainly do 213 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 1: want to run on. But it will say as you 214 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: go around and you ask lawmakers about what's going to 215 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: happen tomorrow, there's a lot of we don't know yet, 216 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: and we're not sure A lot of them are leaning 217 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: on speaker Nancy Policy and her vote with beat abilities. 218 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: But it really doesn't mean to be seen. Emily. I 219 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 1: only have a couple of seconds here, but you cover 220 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: this as closely as anyone. Do you feel any differently 221 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: now than you did a couple of days ago about 222 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: the odds of this happening? No, not really. If anything, 223 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: it seems like only the prospects have only gotten worse 224 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: for infrastructure to pass tomorrow. This is someone who covers 225 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: this every day for a living, Emily Wilkins. It's great 226 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: to have you as always a friend of the family 227 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: here at sound On, and thanks to Jack as well. 228 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: Sound On brought to you by Barish and to Gary 229 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 1: lawyers for the nine eleven community. For twenty years. They've 230 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: been fighting for those who continue to get sick from 231 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: the nine eleven Tocsin's free healthcare and compensation are available 232 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,959 Speaker 1: visit nine eleven Victims dot com. Up next, we assemble 233 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: the panel. Democratic strategist Kevin Walling, Republican strategist John Hart. 234 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: Up next, I'm Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg. You're listening 235 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg. You Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg 236 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: Radio Headline on the terminal, Biden rushes to rescue agenda 237 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:39,840 Speaker 1: as Democrats splinter clock ticks. It doesn't sound good. As 238 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: we read the White House and touch again today with 239 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: moderate Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kirsten Cinema, both of 240 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: whom were here at the White House for hours long 241 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: sessions yesterday. And as we speak, as I've mentioned Nancy 242 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: Pelosi and Chuck Schumer coming here to the White House 243 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue to meet with 244 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 1: President Biden today. We are live from the West on 245 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: this episode, this Wednesday edition of Bloomberg Sound On, and 246 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: Progressives are not happy either. No one can seem to 247 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: get on the same page. We've been keeping an ear 248 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: each day on remarks and tweets and other comments from 249 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: the head of the Progressive Caucus in the House, Representative 250 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: form Ilagaya Paul, who weighed in yet again today on 251 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: her feelings about infrastructure. Here's what she said. We are 252 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: not voting for the bipartisan bill unless we have the 253 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 1: reconciliation bill done word for word. What she told us 254 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: on this program the end of last week. Went on 255 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: to say that even Democrats who are lukewarm on the 256 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: infrastructure package have that end goal in mind. If it 257 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,319 Speaker 1: even came up on its own without the bike, without 258 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: the Reconciliation bill, people would vote it down just on 259 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: substance because they don't like it that every single one 260 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 1: of them understands they play on a Democratic team for 261 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: a Democratic president, the Democratic agenda, and that president wants 262 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 1: to see both of them past. The question is what 263 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: happens if infrastructure does not move tomorrow as Nancy Pelosi 264 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 1: had promised. Moderates progressives seemed to be ready to wait 265 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: as long as both moved together. And we assemble the 266 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: panel today to get the insights from Kevin Walling, Democratic 267 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: strategist at h G Creative Media, former Biden campaign surrogate, 268 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: and John Hart, Republican strategist, co founder of C three Solutions, 269 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: co author of The Debt Bomb, an awfully important book 270 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: at the moment. Welcome to both of you. Kevin. President 271 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: Biden appears to be digging in here meeting with all 272 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: of the parties in person. He canceled his trip to 273 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: Chicago that have been set for today on another matter, 274 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: giving up the opportunity to talk to some lawmakers on 275 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: Air Force one. Is he going to start leaning into 276 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: these meetings a little more to provide more direction. He's 277 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: been referred to as the closer more than once. It's 278 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: gonna be with you. I think you know more than 279 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: anyone that president can close this deal. Obviously, as you 280 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: rightly point out, reporting live from the West wing, he's 281 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: got Schumer and Pelosi right now in the Oval Office 282 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: hammering this out. I'm sure he's working the phones to 283 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: both ends of my party, uh, in terms of the 284 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: progressive and more centrist wing. But I think at the 285 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: end of the day, you know, what you heard from 286 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: a kind of swimming Japol at the end is that 287 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: we're all on the same team. They know that they 288 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: can only be as successful on the reconciliation package if 289 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: we move forward on infrastructure and get a win notched 290 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: for the president. That's how we stay competitive. Just four 291 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: hundred days out from the mid terms, uh, and I 292 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: think you're gonna see forward momentum on that, hopefully tomorrow. Now. 293 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: I think you know you're reporting from Jack and Emily 294 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: spot on. I think you know we are not going 295 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: to see the government shut down. I think that's also 296 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: going to be a win for the president. There doesn't 297 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: seem to be any kind of cracks in that in 298 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: the next forty eight to twenty four hours in terms 299 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: of actually getting the government funded before tomorrow's midnight deadline. 300 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: So I think it's gonna happen in rapid succession. This 301 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: president has been at it for you know, five decades 302 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: elected life, and I think he can bring folks to 303 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: the table and and get this done for the American people. 304 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: John Hart, just to back up as Kevin did for us, 305 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: this this more immediate deadline about a government shutdown, is 306 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: that is that a bipart is an issue in your 307 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: view to actually keep the government running. Well, Joe, yeah, 308 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: thanks for having me on. I think the government shot that. 309 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: I agree with Kevin. I don't think it's going to happen. 310 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: I think I think McConnell has effectively played the Democrats 311 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 1: on that quite frankly. I think he's he had a 312 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: short term tactical goal kind of like having Saddan Hussain 313 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: was drawing from Kuwait, you know, without reshaping the Middle East, 314 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: I think, and he's achieved that. He wants Democrats to 315 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: own increasing with that limit. So that's mission accomplished, I 316 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: think from McConnell. From this perspective. But I think, you know, 317 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: the bigger picture here is I think what we're watching 318 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: his house. Progressives have taken Joe Biden hostage and they're 319 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: begging Republicans to not shoot. So if you remember the 320 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: movie Blazing Saddles where there where the protagonist takes himself hostage, 321 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: I think that's that's part of what we're seeing unfold. 322 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: And this reminds me a lot about I spent ten 323 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 1: years in the Senate as a maid to Senator Tom 324 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: Coburn from Oklahoma, and this is a lot like the 325 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: Obamacare shut down in two thousand thirteen where Ted Cruz 326 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: and we strongly opposed this because Ted Cruz took the 327 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: Republican Party hostage and beg Democrats not to shoot when 328 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: he demanded that President Obama defund his his signature chief 329 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,640 Speaker 1: An Obamacare in order to keep the government open. So, 330 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: I you know, there's gonna be some messy in this 331 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,640 Speaker 1: over the next few days. I think there's a there's 332 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: a realistic chance this, uh the entire Biden gender falls apart. 333 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 1: I wouldn't necessarily bet on that. I think I think 334 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: Democrats want to pass something, but you know, Joe Biden 335 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: is no, LBJ. He doesn't have the force of will 336 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 1: and muscle to do. I think what needs to be 337 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: done to force Democrats to agree on something. Can you 338 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: speak to this of this idea, Kevin, that that Joe 339 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 1: Biden is being held hostage by progressive We heard about 340 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 1: this during the campaign. You certainly did. That was the 341 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: line from Donald Trump and his surrogates that Joe Biden 342 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: would be taking orders from the progressive wing. Does this 343 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: not fulfill that vision? So it's a good point. I mean, 344 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:15,479 Speaker 1: and and you know too, John, I love any kind 345 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: of blazing Saddle's reference. So I'm with you on that, 346 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: my friends. But listen, this is this is this is 347 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 1: the president's agenda. I mean, the progressives are fighting for this, 348 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: buildbacks better agenda, this three point five trillion dollar reconciliation package. 349 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:28,959 Speaker 1: This is the president's agenda. This is what he has 350 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 1: set out. He's not being pulled in any direction by 351 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: centrist or or progressives of my party. This is what 352 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: he's laid out. So I think this is something that 353 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: he campaigned on in terms of the key tenants of that, 354 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,439 Speaker 1: in terms of shallow tax credits, you know, free a 355 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 1: college tradition at tuition at um at local and community colleges. 356 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: So these are all kind of key tenants of what 357 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 1: he ran on in the in the primary, right, Uh, 358 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: that he wants to deliver on. And again he has 359 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: an eye to the mid term. He stuck, you know, 360 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: no matter what, one hundred days from now, if we 361 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: love either of the houses. Uh, Kevin will get back 362 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 1: to this next I'm sorry, we're out of time. I'm 363 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg. Of course, we couldn't come 364 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 1: to the White House today without inviting Jonathan Bernstein, Bloomberg 365 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: opinion columnists who's focused on and writing about the debt limit, 366 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: among other things. Which is pretty good timing as Democrats 367 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,479 Speaker 1: take another swing here, another crack at the debt ceiling. 368 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: As we discussed with Jack a little bit earlier in 369 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: the broadcast Jack Fitzpatrick on Capitol Hill, the Rules Committee chair, 370 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: Congressman Jim McGovern got a debt ceiling measure back on 371 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,959 Speaker 1: the floor today. They're planning to vote on this and well, 372 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: it's not likely it will lend any differently than the 373 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: last one, even though it's not tied to government funding. 374 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: Republicans just have no appetite for it, as I read 375 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: in Jonathan's column the headline blame GOP on debt limit, 376 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: Democrats too the unanimous Republican refusal, Jonathan writes, even to 377 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: allow a vote to let the government keep paying bills 378 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: as irresponsible. The Democratic response, he writes, has been feckless. Jonathan, 379 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:01,679 Speaker 1: what's feckless about the response? Well, you know that it 380 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: doesn't make much sense. Um, there's no question Republicans are responsible. 381 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: The Republican position doesn't make any you know, it's it's 382 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: Democrats have the votes, so they should do it. But 383 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 1: we're going to prevent that from happening because we're gonna 384 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: use the filibuster. The problem is that we know they're 385 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: going to do that. It's no real surprise that they're gonna, 386 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: um act reckless and they're responsible. So what are the 387 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: Democrats going to do about it? And you know, sending 388 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 1: one after another after another. This will be the third 389 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: one at least um resolution attempt to the Senate floor, 390 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: only to have it lose at some point. You know, 391 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: it's it's difficult to see what the advantage of doing this. 392 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: Why why don't they just move on to whatever they're 393 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 1: gonna eventually do to resolve this thing, because I don't 394 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: see how it helps them. Multiple I'm assuming it's to 395 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 1: film commercials for the midterms, right, multiple attempts to paint 396 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,160 Speaker 1: Republicans into a corner right or wrong so they can 397 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 1: have them on the record. Is isn't that the way 398 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 1: Washington works? Jonathan? You know, I suppose so, But it's 399 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 1: if that's what's happened, there's no you know, they've got 400 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: one vote that's happened. Um, the audience here are people 401 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: out in the country desperately trying to figure out who 402 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: to blame for a debt limit impasse that eventually is 403 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: going to have to get resolved. Are people gonna remember 404 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 1: about that a year from now when when we're coming 405 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: close to elections, And of course not, that's not how 406 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: elections work. What matters for Democrats is getting the economy 407 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: and good year, you know, testing their proposals when they 408 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: have a chance to do so. They need to do 409 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: something about the debt limit. There are various ways they 410 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: could do it without Republicans. They're going to have to 411 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 1: pick one of them. Um, they've made their points, Okay, 412 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: we get it. Move on. Yeah, we've seen we've seen conversations, 413 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: one of which We discussed yesterday about using the fourteenth Amendment. 414 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: We've heard about a trillion dollar coin, but the White 415 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: House and Democratic leaders have made clear this needs to 416 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: be done through legislation, right, Jonathan, You know it doesn't 417 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: They couldn't met in the coin. They could declare the 418 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: fourteenth Amendment process, but they're not going to get that 419 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 1: done in the next less than twenty days. They could 420 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: menting the coins can be done very quickly. They could 421 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 1: do any of this very quickly. Reconciliation is the one 422 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,479 Speaker 1: which actually has multiple steps, and if Republicans are foot dragging, 423 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: it's hard to get done. Now. We don't know to 424 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:21,199 Speaker 1: what extent Republicans would actually try to extend it beyond 425 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: the deadline. We also don't know how firm the deadline is. 426 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 1: You know, with the government shutdown, that's a deadline that 427 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 1: there's no money appropriated after a certain point then, you know, 428 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: so you have to pass something with the debt limit, 429 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 1: there's always a little bit of shakiness with it. Yeah. Sure, 430 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:40,359 Speaker 1: we should note. By the way, just to keep people 431 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: posting on what's happening here at the White House, Nancy 432 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 1: Pelosi has just left. The speaker came this way from 433 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: the Capitol today for an oval office session with President Biden. 434 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: I'm kind of wondering if the President is going to 435 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: go to the baseball games and the annual Congressional baseball 436 00:22:55,680 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 1: game happening across town as well. Jonathan uh what saying 437 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:04,160 Speaker 1: that this the suggestion that people aren't even gonna remember 438 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: this is probably true, you know a year or two 439 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: from now brings me to another column emote recently, popular 440 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: policies don't win elections. We keep hearing from Democrats how 441 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: popular this business is, but we can't seem to get 442 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 1: an agreement on it. Infrastructure, I should say, well, you know, 443 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: the record on this over time is that, um, you 444 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 1: pass a programs because you want them to be passed. 445 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: It doesn't really matter how they pull beforehand. You know, 446 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: you take something like um, the Great Society programs, which 447 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: were very popular, medicare Right, Medicaid um, etcetera, etcetera. And 448 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: after that happened, the amazingly productive Congress in six passed 449 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,640 Speaker 1: a lot of things that were popular at the time, 450 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:52,679 Speaker 1: and then Democrats lost a bunch of seats in the 451 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 1: next election. It's there just isn't a straightforward connection between 452 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 1: doing popular things and what kind of results they're So, 453 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: you know, there've been some polling um this summer about 454 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: did um this Congress and then President Biden produce anything 455 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 1: that personally helps you? And it turns out that Democrats 456 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,880 Speaker 1: all say yes, Republicans all say no, and most people 457 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: who are not partisans were also saying no. Even though 458 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: people got stimulus checks, you can't get a more. And 459 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: everybody thinks that the stimulus checks were great. Then they 460 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:30,199 Speaker 1: I think noticed it, but two months after it happened, 461 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: people forget that that was actually done. Now that doesn't 462 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: mean you shouldn't do them, because the stimulus checks helped 463 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 1: the economy, and people do notice if the economy is 464 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 1: doing well or not, and that does matter to elect obviously, 465 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,199 Speaker 1: though why the argument is not working, right, You're not 466 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,679 Speaker 1: the only one who's got this in mind. Apparently that 467 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: just because things are polling well does not mean that 468 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: they become legislation exactly. And and if they pull well, 469 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: you know, we had a great example with Obamacare back 470 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: in nine that it pulled really really well before congressional 471 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 1: debate started. Then it's it went downhill and and it 472 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: passed and eventually became relatively popular So the direct connection 473 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 1: between popularity and you know, how things pull and how 474 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 1: popular they turn out to be, it's just real tricky. 475 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: And and then the further connection between that and election 476 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: electoral results, election results is even more tricky. So you know, 477 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: there's lots of reasons to do things, and it's good 478 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 1: for parties to have a sense of what's popular what's not. 479 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 1: You don't want to, you know, to the extent that 480 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 1: it matters in the margin. You don't want to go 481 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 1: trumpeting your least popular program without realizing it. The dead 482 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: ceiling is one thing. How about infrastructure though, I mean, 483 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:45,120 Speaker 1: couldn't you say this, this member voted against a bridge 484 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: in your town. That's local news come election time. You know, 485 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: it could be but it could be that that. There's 486 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 1: all kinds of other, um, you know, factors that come 487 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: into play when we get to elections next year. After all, 488 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: most people vote breast one party, and after that, most 489 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: people vote on sort of big fundamentals like how's the 490 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: peace and prosperity or lap thereof. Jonathan Bernstein, great to 491 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: have you appreciate the insights as ever, Bloomberg opinion columnist 492 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:19,400 Speaker 1: on Sound on This is Bloomberg you're listening to Bloomberg 493 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 1: you sound on with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. Thanks 494 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 1: for joining us Slide from the White House today, we've 495 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: heard about minting a trillion dollar coin that came up 496 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: in the briefing using the fourteenth Amendment. We talked about 497 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:38,120 Speaker 1: that yesterday, enabling the Treasury Secretary to handle it, even 498 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: using couch cushions to manage the death ceiling. But Democrats 499 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:45,400 Speaker 1: are trying again to handle it through legislation, even as 500 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 1: Republicans continue to say no. One of them joins US now. 501 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 1: Congressman James Comer, Republican from Kentucky, ranking member on the 502 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: House Oversight Committee. Congressman, welcome. I'm told you already voted 503 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 1: no on this latest effort. Are you Are you worried 504 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 1: about a possible default at this point? No, I'm not worried. 505 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 1: I think that the Democrats are gonna have to get 506 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: it together. Uh. They have complete power in Washington, they 507 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 1: have the ability to do that. But the disappointing thing 508 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:15,159 Speaker 1: that I've witnessed over the past eight months since ChIL 509 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: Biden and President is despite his record of being a 510 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: bipartisan senator. Uh, despite his campaign pledge of being bipartisan. 511 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:28,040 Speaker 1: He's tried to rule uh, the first nine months in 512 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 1: office in a partisan manner, and it's just created a 513 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: situation Washington where there's more gridlock than we've ever seen. 514 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:39,160 Speaker 1: And that's saying a lot in an institution known for gridlock. 515 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: It's interesting because we were calling this infrastructure bill the 516 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: the biff right, the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. It was crafted 517 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 1: with help from Republicans, but it appears House Republicans for 518 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:52,919 Speaker 1: the most part, will not vote for it. Are you 519 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: one of them? I am one of them? And UH, 520 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: you were correct to say that in the beginning it 521 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:03,359 Speaker 1: was a bipartisan infrastructure bill created in the Senate. But 522 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 1: then immediately after those Republican senators left the White House 523 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 1: with an agreement, UH, President Biden catching flak from his 524 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: uh what you might call the progressive wing, what I 525 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,360 Speaker 1: call the socialist wing of the of the Democrat Party, UH, 526 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 1: furious over the fact that the bipartisan Infrastructure bill took 527 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: out their human infrastructure and all their Green New Deal policies. 528 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 1: He pledged to them that he would have another bill, 529 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 1: which ends up being the Budget Reconciliation Bill with all 530 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: this trillions of dollars worth of unnecessary spending on on 531 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: just a liberal wish list of items. So what's happened 532 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: is uh Pelosi and President Biden and I don't know 533 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: but Schumer, he's all over the board. But at least 534 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: Pelosi and Biden are trying to couple the infrastructure bill 535 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 1: with the Budget Reconciliation Bill. So, uh, you you're not 536 00:28:56,120 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: voting on simply one bipartisan infractus UTOR bill. You're voting 537 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: on uh, two bills now that have been coupled together. 538 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 1: And it's just unacceptable to just about every Republican up here. 539 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: What's in that Budget Reconciliation bill? Well, remembering that Mitch McConnell, 540 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: of course, Uh, not just the minority leader, but but 541 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: senator from Kentucky voted for for that infrastructure bill. Is 542 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: there anything in there you're gonna miss? If you vote no, 543 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: you get no money for Rhodes, bridges, broadband. Well, I 544 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 1: think we can do better than the original infrastructure bill. Uh. 545 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 1: Only of the total spending in the infrastructure bill went 546 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: for Rhodes and Bridges. That's something that a lot of 547 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: people don't don't realize. So I think that infrastructure is bipartisan. 548 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: I think it was something that honestly the Trump administration 549 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: uh failed to do that they probably could have done 550 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 1: if they had, you know, worked at it in an 551 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 1: organized manner. Uh. This is something that Republicans and Democrats 552 00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: both law. This is something our constituents law. But when 553 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 1: you're high and an infrastructure bill to a budget reconciliation 554 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: bill with trillions and trillions of dollars worth of unnecessary spending, 555 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: then I think you you you're gonna end up where 556 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: we are today with with gridlock in a partisan manner. 557 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 1: And the problem that Pelosi is having is her progressives 558 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: or socialists, whatever you wanna call don't want to trust 559 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 1: her on saying we're gonna vote for the infratructure bill 560 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: and then we'll turn around and wait for you to 561 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: bring that budget ecociliation bill to us, because Mansion has 562 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: been very clear that he's not going to support that 563 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: budget reconciliation bill at the current levels. Conversation, will you 564 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 1: vote to fund the government if that comes before the 565 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: House in the next twenty four hours. I don't want 566 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 1: to see a government shutdown that never ends. Well, I 567 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 1: don't want to. I certainly don't want to see the 568 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: federal government default on its debt. However, we we cannot 569 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:01,200 Speaker 1: continue to spend at the levels that we're spending, and 570 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 1: in drastic measures are required. When when you have a 571 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 1: situation where you have a federal government that's just out 572 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: of control with spending, I mean there's no transparency. Uh, 573 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 1: there's no bipartisan cooperation taking place right now. Uh. The 574 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:21,840 Speaker 1: Democrats control the House, the Senate, and the White House. 575 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: So uh when they they can't fund the government without Republicans, well, 576 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 1: that's true, that's true, but they haven't. You know, this 577 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 1: is the first time they've tried to come to two 578 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 1: Republicans in the House any right now. I know they 579 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 1: can't work with Republicans on the infrastructure bill in the Senate, 580 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:40,240 Speaker 1: but they didn't work with Republicans in the House on 581 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: the infrastructure bill. So uh, you know, we're trying to 582 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: hold our ground. We represent of America who is not 583 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 1: satisfied with the spending. They're not satisfied with the lack 584 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 1: of cooperation. Certainly not with the direction the country's going 585 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 1: in when you talk about the lack of order, security 586 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 1: in increasing crime, and certainly inflation. So uh, you know, 587 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:05,600 Speaker 1: it's just not a pretty scene here in Washington. I'm 588 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: just taking the House floor right now, and it's you know, 589 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 1: it's it's gonna be a rough forty eight hours. I'm 590 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 1: afraid I get your view, though, Congressman. But it's just 591 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,480 Speaker 1: so our listeners understand, a clean CR to fund the government, 592 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:18,560 Speaker 1: a continuing resolution is something that you would be in 593 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 1: favor of. It's it's it's in principle. I would be 594 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:25,480 Speaker 1: in favor of it. In principle. I don't want to 595 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 1: see the government shut down. I don't want to see 596 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 1: the US default. But you know, I'm not happy with 597 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 1: the fact that Pelosi is in a closed door room 598 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 1: only communicating with her members on what her secret plan 599 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: is moving forward. Joe Biden's not making any effort to 600 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 1: secure the border. So we've got a lot of problems, uh, 601 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 1: that Republicans are trying to represent and our voices aren't 602 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,200 Speaker 1: being heard. Uh. It's supposed to be a democracy here 603 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 1: in Washington right now. Until we've come up on the 604 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 1: clock for a government shutdown, they've really not tried to 605 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 1: including the half Republicans on anything. And remember, Pelosi can 606 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 1: only lose four votes on a bill, and the bill 607 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 1: fails if all the Republicans stick. So, uh, a lot 608 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,800 Speaker 1: of a lot of questions are gonna be answered in 609 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 1: the next forty eight hours. And it's terrible that we're 610 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 1: in this situation in America, but just thirty hours away. 611 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 1: Congressman James Comer with US Republican from Kentucky. He's ranking 612 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: member on the House Oversight Committee, and we do appreciate 613 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:27,960 Speaker 1: your insights, Congressman for being with us on a very 614 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:31,120 Speaker 1: busy day in the House. As we get back to 615 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:34,760 Speaker 1: the panel for our remaining moments here, Kevin Walling, Democratic 616 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 1: strategist HD creative, former Biden campaign sur a get Us, 617 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: joined as well by John Hart, Republican strategist co founder 618 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 1: of C three Solutions, wrote the book The Debt Bomb. Kevin, 619 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 1: that's the very phenomenon we were just talking about that. 620 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: Congressman Comber outlined this sense among Republicans that the president 621 00:33:53,320 --> 00:33:58,160 Speaker 1: is being wagged by progressives. Yeah, I mean, it was 622 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 1: a really interesting interview that you had with the concern 623 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 1: from from Kentucky and and some you know, things to highlight. Obviously, 624 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:07,080 Speaker 1: he's not really sure if he supports a cr broken 625 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 1: out from the gent limit. Obviously, he said he doesn't 626 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:11,719 Speaker 1: want to see the government default. But but this is 627 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 1: the problem that we see is, you know, this debt 628 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:18,200 Speaker 1: limit question should and has always been a bipartisan issue, 629 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:22,440 Speaker 1: this question of bipartisan infrastructure investment. Now, I will grant 630 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 1: you that the you know, the White House has spent 631 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:26,600 Speaker 1: a lot of time with Senate Republicans on this issue, 632 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:30,080 Speaker 1: Shelley Moore, capital others engaging over the months, and probably 633 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:33,000 Speaker 1: not as focused on the House um. And that might 634 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 1: be a problem as the you know, the White House 635 00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 1: scrapples with how to engage Republicans in the Congress. That 636 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 1: would be you know, one one point that I would 637 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 1: you know, disagree with, probably with the strategy of the 638 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: White House. But we'll see in these next you know, 639 00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 1: twenty four to forty eight hours how that how that 640 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:50,880 Speaker 1: all plays out. Well, I can't imagine that a CR 641 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:55,240 Speaker 1: which continues it's a continuing resolution, it does not increase spending, 642 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:58,279 Speaker 1: John Hart, would be a problem for Republicans in the House. 643 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:01,120 Speaker 1: Or are we going to hear the Republican leadership tell 644 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:04,080 Speaker 1: members to vote against that. Well, you know, I would 645 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:05,960 Speaker 1: bet a Queen CR would pass. But I think on 646 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: the debt limit, the option that no one talks about 647 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 1: in Washington that the American people like is to cut spending, 648 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:14,040 Speaker 1: is to live within our means instead of constantly raising 649 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 1: the debt limit. And back in we pioneered at Coburn's 650 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:20,760 Speaker 1: office using the dead limit as a as a negotiating tool, 651 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:24,520 Speaker 1: got the Budget Control Act and spending actually went down 652 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 1: for the first time since the Korean War a couple 653 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,440 Speaker 1: of years after that. So you can be a very 654 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:33,600 Speaker 1: effective negotiating tactic. And and the the analogy of Coburn 655 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:35,480 Speaker 1: us at the time, who was a doctor, is like, look, 656 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:37,880 Speaker 1: if you're dealing with a patient who was a drug addiction, 657 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:40,640 Speaker 1: is it better to let them convulse or to go 658 00:35:40,719 --> 00:35:43,880 Speaker 1: on with your addiction and die? And that's how a 659 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 1: lot of Republicans use the debt is that is that 660 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:49,320 Speaker 1: we're on an unsustainable physical course. We're hurting our economy 661 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:52,400 Speaker 1: or slowly growth by having a high debt is GDP 662 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 1: ratio And and look at it's House progressives who have 663 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:59,440 Speaker 1: taken the posture of it's it's our way or no highway, 664 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:03,440 Speaker 1: and they've they've really stalled the process here. Well, that's 665 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:05,880 Speaker 1: a missed opportunity though John, for Republicans, is it not 666 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 1: why not use this as leverage for to call for 667 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: debt reduction? Or am I just sounding old and I 668 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 1: couldn't agree with you more? No, look and look at 669 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:17,160 Speaker 1: and all on the climate issue, I think Democrats are 670 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:20,319 Speaker 1: are so irresponsible and all over the map in terms 671 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:23,399 Speaker 1: of the messaging you know they're they've linked, They've said 672 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,120 Speaker 1: climate is the existential crisis of our time. Yet they're 673 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:30,840 Speaker 1: pushing a package that includes universal preschool and includes major 674 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:35,759 Speaker 1: expansions and government run healthcare, free college. So you know, what, 675 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:37,919 Speaker 1: what are the what is the carbon reduction of having 676 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:40,560 Speaker 1: universal preschool? I mean, there's there's none. It's it's a 677 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,600 Speaker 1: total non sequitur. So I think what Republicans should do 678 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:46,239 Speaker 1: is make the case that free economies are clean economies, 679 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:49,000 Speaker 1: We should live within our means, we should recycle government 680 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:53,560 Speaker 1: waste rather than creating more, and and make that argument 681 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:55,799 Speaker 1: in a very fulsome way, and I think we'd win 682 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:59,400 Speaker 1: a lot of people over Kevin Welling, we just learned 683 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,520 Speaker 1: that Chucks, who were just left the building here as 684 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 1: we join you from the White House, he has left 685 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:07,400 Speaker 1: his meeting following Nancy Pelosi UH to head back to 686 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:10,360 Speaker 1: I presume Capitol Hill. What do you think they talked 687 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:12,560 Speaker 1: about do you think they move the needle when you 688 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:15,920 Speaker 1: have both leaders in the room on the eve of 689 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:18,440 Speaker 1: two pretty important deadlines here, are we going to get 690 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:22,760 Speaker 1: an announcement? I think so. I mean, you know, I'm 691 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:24,799 Speaker 1: I'm hopeful, Like I said that, you know, at the 692 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 1: outside of this interview, I think they've focused like a 693 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 1: laser on Centator Cinema for the most part, and maybe 694 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:32,480 Speaker 1: a secondary with the Center Mansion. But you know, to 695 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 1: John's point about the debt limit, you know, I I 696 00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:38,120 Speaker 1: love that entertain these conversations, but I think it would 697 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:41,279 Speaker 1: be more impactful and meaningful if Republicans spoke out during 698 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:43,160 Speaker 1: the four years of Trump and the eight trillion dollars 699 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,239 Speaker 1: added to the debt. I mean, you know, we we 700 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:48,600 Speaker 1: only have these conversations on the debt and deficit when 701 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:50,640 Speaker 1: it seems like the other parties in charge and yeah, 702 00:37:50,719 --> 00:37:53,120 Speaker 1: spendings out of control. I'm a litleal Democrat, spendings out 703 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:55,160 Speaker 1: of control at least, you know, I think in the 704 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:59,080 Speaker 1: you know, in the regards the reconciliation package, their pay 705 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:01,160 Speaker 1: for it? Do we want to raise taxes on corporation 706 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:03,080 Speaker 1: and the most wealthy to pay for it? At least 707 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:05,160 Speaker 1: we're not adding to the debt and depths and when 708 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:06,879 Speaker 1: it comes to that. But it can't be this cat 709 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:08,360 Speaker 1: and mouskin that we play all the time at the 710 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:10,560 Speaker 1: debt and deficit. When when party is in control we're 711 00:38:10,560 --> 00:38:13,040 Speaker 1: talking about when we're in control, we don't talk about it. 712 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:15,359 Speaker 1: We've got to have some responsibility across the board when 713 00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:18,280 Speaker 1: it comes to things like that. Kevin Walling, John Hart. 714 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:20,200 Speaker 1: I don't have any time left, but I need to 715 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:21,960 Speaker 1: hear from both of you. Will infrastructure you get a 716 00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:25,759 Speaker 1: vote in the House tomorrow Kevin, Yes, John, what do 717 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:29,320 Speaker 1: you think? Yes? And I will fail. Then we'll try again. Wow, 718 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:32,080 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a big day. See you better join 719 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:34,640 Speaker 1: us back here at this time tomorrow. Hey, we've got 720 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:36,759 Speaker 1: a dinner lid at the White House. Keep your eyes 721 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:40,080 Speaker 1: on that baseball game. Let's see what happens. Kevin, John, 722 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:43,839 Speaker 1: thank you, appreciate you being part of the fastest hour 723 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,359 Speaker 1: in politics. How does it go by? It's sound on. 724 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:48,320 Speaker 1: I'm Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberger