GWEN: WHAT'S WORKING IN WASHINGTON; WHAT'S NOT; WASHINGTON; WHAT'S NOT; AND WHY.
AND WHY.
FROM DEBT DEBATES TO HEALTH FROM DEBT DEBATES TO HEALTH CARE DISPUTES.
CARE DISPUTES.
THIS WEEK HAS BEEN A CASE THIS WEEK HAS BEEN A CASE STUDY.
STUDY.
WE EXPLAIN WHY, TONIGHT ON WE EXPLAIN WHY, TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
"WASHINGTON WEEK."
ALL IS IN THE EYE OF THE ALL IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.
BEHOLDER.
WHETHER IT'S ABOUT THE HEALTH WHETHER IT'S ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE LAW --M NOW, WE'RE CARE LAW --M NOW, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK AND SAY THIS GOING TO LOOK BACK AND SAY THIS WAS A MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT WAS A MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT >> JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT IT >> JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT IT COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE, THE COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE, THE WHITE HOUSE DECIDED TO DELAY WHITE HOUSE DECIDED TO DELAY THE MANDATE AGAIN.
THE MANDATE AGAIN.
THIS MUST BE WHAT A YEAR OF THIS MUST BE WHAT A YEAR OF ACTION LOOKS LIKE.
ACTION LOOKS LIKE.
GWEN: ETHEWHR IT'S ABOUT GWEN: ETHEWHR IT'S ABOUT INCREASING THE DEBT LIMIT -- INCREASING THE DEBT LIMIT -- >> OUR MEMBERS ARE NOT CRAZY >> OUR MEMBERS ARE NOT CRAZY ABOUT VOTING FOR THE DEBT ABOUT VOTING FOR THE DEBT INCREASE.
INCREASE.
>> HOUSE REPUBLICANS WERE >> HOUSE REPUBLICANS WERE WILLING TO JOIN IN A WILLING TO JOIN IN A CATASTROPHIC DEFAULT IN OUR CATASTROPHIC DEFAULT IN OUR NATION'S OBLIGATIONS.
NATION'S OBLIGATIONS.
GWEN: WHETHER IT'S ABOUT GWEN: WHETHER IT'S ABOUT RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE -- RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE -- >> TODAY I'M ISSUING AN >> TODAY I'M ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRING EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRING FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO PAY FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES A FAIR WAGE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES A FAIR WAGE OF AT LEAST $10.10 AN HOUR.
AT LEAST $10.10 AN HOUR.
>> TO ARGUE THAT RAISING THE >> TO ARGUE THAT RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS GOING TO CREATE MINIMUM WAGE IS GOING TO CREATE UPWARD MOBILITY IS, QUITE UPWARD MOBILITY IS, QUITE FRANKLY, SILLY.
FRANKLY, SILLY.
I MEAN, $10.10 IS NOT THE I MEAN, $10.10 IS NOT THE AMERAN DICREAM.
AMERAN DICREAM.
GWEN: THE DEBATES THAT COULD GWEN: THE DEBATES THAT COULD DEFINE POLICY AND POLITICS FOR DEFINE POLICY AND POLITICS FOR THE NEXT BIG ELECTIONS.
THE NEXT BIG ELECTIONS.
JOINING ME TO ASSESS JOINING ME TO ASSESS WASHINGTON'S HOUSE OCARDF S, WASHINGTON'S HOUSE OCARDF S, MOLLY BALL OF "THE ATLANTIC," MOLLY BALL OF "THE ATLANTIC," LEXIS SIMENDINGER OF "REAL LEXIS SIMENDINGER OF "REAL CLEAR POLITICS," AND KAREN CLEAR POLITICS," AND KAREN TUMULTY OF TUMULTY OF "THE WASHINGTON POST."
"THE WASHINGTON POST."
>> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND >> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND ANALYSIS COVERING HISTORY AS IT ANALYSIS COVERING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS.
HAPPENS.
LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK" WITH THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK" WITH GWEN IFILL.
THANK YOU.
ONCE AGAIN, LIVE FROM ONCE AGAIN, LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
IFILL.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
ON THIS VALENTINE'S DAY, WHY IS ON THIS VALENTINE'S DAY, WHY IS THERE NO LOVE FOR THERE NO LOVE FOR WASHINGTON?
WASHINGTON?
COULD IT BE BECAUSE EVERYTHING COULD IT BE BECAUSE EVERYTHING SEEMS SO PARTISAN?
SEEMS SO PARTISAN?
THIS WAS VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN, THIS WAS VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN, SPEAKING TO HOUSE DEMOCRATS AT SPEAKING TO HOUSE DEMOCRATS AT THEIR RETREAT TODAY IN THEIR RETREAT TODAY IN MARYLAND.
MARYLAND.
>> I WISH THERE WAS A >> I WISH THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN PARTY.
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
I WISH THERE WAS ONE PERSON YOU I WISH THERE WAS ONE PERSON YOU COULD SIT ACROSS THE TABLE COULD SIT ACROSS THE TABLE FROM, MAKE A DEAL, MAKE A FROM, MAKE A DEAL, MAKE A COMPROMISE AND KNOW WHEN YOU COMPROMISE AND KNOW WHEN YOU GOT UP FROM THAT TABLE, IT WAS GOT UP FROM THAT TABLE, IT WAS DONE.
DONE.
ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS LOOK AT ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS LOOK AT THE RESPONSES TO THE STATE OF THE RESPONSES TO THE STATE OF THE UNION.
THE UNION.
WHAT WERE THERE, THREE OR FOUR?
WHAT WERE THERE, THREE OR FOUR?
NO, I'M NOT BEING FACETIOUS.
NO, I'M NOT BEING FACETIOUS.
AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD JUST AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GET A LITTLE FOCUSED HERE.
GET A LITTLE FOCUSED HERE.
GWEN: AND HERE'S SENATOR JOHN GWEN: AND HERE'S SENATOR JOHN CORNYN, EARLIER THIS WEEK, CORNYN, EARLIER THIS WEEK, TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE LAW -- BUT NOT REALLY.
LAW -- BUT NOT REALLY.
>> IT'S THE PRESIDENT'S >> IT'S THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT CONGRESS MAKES AND LAWS THAT CONGRESS MAKES AND THAT HE SIGNS INTO LAW, BUT THAT HE SIGNS INTO LAW, BUT THIS PRESIDENT AND THIS THIS PRESIDENT AND THIS ADMINISTRATION ENFORCE THE LAWS ADMINISTRATION ENFORCE THE LAWS THEY CHOOSE TO ENFORCE AND THEY CHOOSE TO ENFORCE AND IGNORES THE LAWS THEY WANT TO IGNORES THE LAWS THEY WANT TO IGNORE, FOR POLITICAL IGNORE, FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCE.
EXPEDIENCE.
THIS IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF THIS IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF LAWLESSNESS AND SOMETHING THAT LAWLESSNESS AND SOMETHING THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT TOLERATE AND WILL NOT TOLERATE, TOLERATE AND WILL NOT TOLERATE, NOR SHOULD THEY BE REQUIRED TO NOR SHOULD THEY BE REQUIRED TO TOLERATE.
TOLERATE.
GWEN: LAWLESSNESS.
GWEN: LAWLESSNESS.
INTRACTABILITY.
INTRACTABILITY.
GENERAL UNHAPPINESS ON BOTH GENERAL UNHAPPINESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
SIDES OF THE AISLE.
IN SHORT, NOT A LOT OF IN SHORT, NOT A LOT OF LOVE.
LOVE.
BUT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DIG A BUT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DIG A LITTLE DEEPER, YOU CAN LITTLE DEEPER, YOU CAN DISCOVER, YES, A LOT IS NOT DISCOVER, YES, A LOT IS NOT WORKING IN WASHINGTON.
WORKING IN WASHINGTON.
BUT SOME THINGS ARE.
BUT SOME THINGS ARE.
THE QUESTION IS HOW AND THE QUESTION IS HOW AND WHY.
WHY.
THE ANSWERS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS THE ANSWERS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS ROOTED IN POLITICS.
ROOTED IN POLITICS.
LET'S START WITH THIS WEEK'S LET'S START WITH THIS WEEK'S DEBT-CEILING DEBATE.
DEBT-CEILING DEBATE.
IN THE END, THE SENATE JOINED IN THE END, THE SENATE JOINED THE HOUSE IN AGREEING TO RAISE THE HOUSE IN AGREEING TO RAISE IT UNTIL NEXT YEAR, BUT THE IT UNTIL NEXT YEAR, BUT THE PATH TO THAT AGREEMENT WAS A PATH TO THAT AGREEMENT WAS A TORTURED ONE.
TORTURED ONE.
STARTING IN THE HOUSE.
STARTING IN THE HOUSE.
MOLLY?
MOLLY?
>> YES, WHAT ORIGINALLY >> YES, WHAT ORIGINALLY HAPPENED, IF YOU'LL LALL THE HAPPENED, IF YOU'LL LALL THE LAST TIME WE RAISED THE DEBT LAST TIME WE RAISED THE DEBT CEILING WAS IN THE AFTERMATH OF CEILING WAS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
THAT WAS WHEN CONGRESS SORT OF THAT WAS WHEN CONGRESS SORT OF HIT BOTTOM.
HIT BOTTOM.
AND THE HOUSE IN PARTICULAR AND THE HOUSE IN PARTICULAR SORT OF VOWED NOT TO GO THROUGH SORT OF VOWED NOT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.
THAT AGAIN.
AND WE'VE SEEN IN THE ENSUING AND WE'VE SEEN IN THE ENSUING MONTHS JOHN BOEHNER SORT OF MONTHS JOHN BOEHNER SORT OF TRIED TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF TRIED TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF HIS MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.
HIS MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.
SO THIS TIME AROUND, EVEN IN SO THIS TIME AROUND, EVEN IN THE WEEKS PRECEDING THIS DEBT THE WEEKS PRECEDING THIS DEBT LIMIT DEADLINE, YOU HAD SOME OF LIMIT DEADLINE, YOU HAD SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE THE MOST CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS SOUNDING A SORT OF REPUBLICANS SOUNDING A SORT OF FATALISTIC NOTE SAYING I'M NOT FATALISTIC NOTE SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT, BUT THIS GOING TO VOTE FOR IT, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
DONE.
WELL, I'M SURE JOHN BOEHNER WELL, I'M SURE JOHN BOEHNER WOULD LIKE TO SEND THAT MEMO TO WOULD LIKE TO SEND THAT MEMO TO THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS OF 2011 THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS OF 2011 WHO WERE IN NO WAY RESIGNED TO WHO WERE IN NO WAY RESIGNED TO THIS HAVING TO TAKE PLACE.
THIS HAVING TO TAKE PLACE.
VARIOUS GAM BITS WERE FLOATED.
VARIOUS GAM BITS WERE FLOATED.
REPUBLICANS SORT OF FELT LIKE REPUBLICANS SORT OF FELT LIKE THEY OUGHT TO GET SOMETHING OUT THEY OUGHT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT, BUT THEY COULDN'T DECIDE OF IT, BUT THEY COULDN'T DECIDE ON WHAT BUT THEY WEREN'T GOING ON WHAT BUT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO PUSH THIS TO THE BRINK.
TO PUSH THIS TO THE BRINK.
SO IN THE END, WITH A SNOWSTORM SO IN THE END, WITH A SNOWSTORM LOOMING, 28 REPUBLICANS JOINED LOOMING, 28 REPUBLICANS JOINED ALMOST ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS IN ALMOST ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE TO PASS A CLEAN THE HOUSE TO PASS A CLEAN RAISING OF THE DEBT CEILING AND RAISING OF THE DEBT CEILING AND THAT'S EFFECTIVE FOR AN ENTIRE THAT'S EFFECTIVE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.
YEAR.
THIS CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL THIS CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL NEXT MARCH.
NEXT MARCH.
GWEN: MAYBE IT'S ACTS OF GOD GWEN: MAYBE IT'S ACTS OF GOD THAT FORCE ACTION IN THAT FORCE ACTION IN WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON.
BUT THE SENATE WAS EVEN MORE BUT THE SENATE WAS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED, BECAUSE IT SEEMS COMPLICATED, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT WAS MORE ABOUT TO ME THAT IT WAS MORE ABOUT FIGHTS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN FIGHTS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS OK, SO IN THE HOUSE, AND CAUCUS OK, SO IN THE HOUSE, AND WE'VE REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE'VE REACHED THE POINT WHERE AVERTING CATASTROPHE IS AVERTING CATASTROPHE IS CONSIDERED A HUGE SUCCESS IN CONSIDERED A HUGE SUCCESS IN WASHINGTON THESE DAYS.
WASHINGTON THESE DAYS.
THAT'S HOW LOW THE BAR IS.
THAT'S HOW LOW THE BAR IS.
BUT IN THE HOUSE, IT WAS A BUT IN THE HOUSE, IT WAS A SITUATION WHERE THE REPUBLICANS SITUATION WHERE THE REPUBLICANS WERE ALL VOTING AGAINST WERE ALL VOTING AGAINST SOMETHING, BUT COUNTING ON IT SOMETHING, BUT COUNTING ON IT TO HAPPEN.
TO HAPPEN.
TED CREWS, ONCE AGAIN, DECIDES TED CREWS, ONCE AGAIN, DECIDES THAT HE'S GOING TO TRY TO THAT HE'S GOING TO TRY TO PREVENT THIS DEBT CEILING PREVENT THIS DEBT CEILING INCREASE FROM EVEN COMING TO INCREASE FROM EVEN COMING TO THE FLOOR.
THE FLOOR.
THEREFORE, HE FORCES A LOT OF THEREFORE, HE FORCES A LOT OF HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, SOME HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, SOME OF WHOM HAVE PRIMARY OF WHOM HAVE PRIMARY CHALLENGES, HELLO MITCH CHALLENGES, HELLO MITCH MCCONNELL AND JOHN CORNYN, TO MCCONNELL AND JOHN CORNYN, TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF LETTING THIS VOTE IN FAVOR OF LETTING THIS PROCEED TO THE FLOOR.
PROCEED TO THE FLOOR.
GWEN: WHICH NORMALLY WOULD BE GWEN: WHICH NORMALLY WOULD BE 50 VOTES WOULD BE ALL THAT 50 VOTES WOULD BE ALL THAT YOU'D NEED.
YOU'D NEED.
>> SO AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, >> SO AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, THIS BLOCKS THE FILIBUSTER AND THIS BLOCKS THE FILIBUSTER AND THEN IT CAN PASS ON 50 VOTES.
THEN IT CAN PASS ON 50 VOTES.
BUT NONETHELESS, WE NOW HAVE A BUT NONETHELESS, WE NOW HAVE A BUNCH OF REPUBLICANS WHO BUNCH OF REPUBLICANS WHO POTENTIALLY HAVE DIFFICULT POTENTIALLY HAVE DIFFICULT PRIMARY RACES ON THE RECORD AS PRIMARY RACES ON THE RECORD AS ALLOWING A DEBT CEILING ALLOWING A DEBT CEILING INCREASE TO GO THROUGH.
INCREASE TO GO THROUGH.
SO TED CRUZ IS NOT THE POSS SO TED CRUZ IS NOT THE POSS POPULAR PERSON IN THE POPULAR PERSON IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
GWEN: MEANWHILE, THE PRESIDENT GWEN: MEANWHILE, THE PRESIDENT GOES TO VISIT THE DEMOCRATIC GOES TO VISIT THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE RETREAT TODAY AND AMONG HOUSE RETREAT TODAY AND AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE PRAISES THE OTHER THINGS, HE PRAISES THE DEMOCRATS FOR THEIR COURAGE, DEMOCRATS FOR THEIR COURAGE, UNITY AND DISCIPLINE.
UNITY AND DISCIPLINE.
IS HE DOING KIND OF A VICTORY IS HE DOING KIND OF A VICTORY LAP AFTER A WEEK LIKE THIS?
LAP AFTER A WEEK LIKE THIS?
>> HE'S TRYING TO BE THE >> HE'S TRYING TO BE THE CHEERLEADER FOR A VERY NERVOUS CHEERLEADER FOR A VERY NERVOUS DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE IN THE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE IN THE HOUSE.
HOUSE.
AND HE'S TRYING TO STICK, AT AND HE'S TRYING TO STICK, AT LEAST IN THE DISCUSSION HE HAD LEAST IN THE DISCUSSION HE HAD WITH THEM IN PUBLIC TODAY, TO WITH THEM IN PUBLIC TODAY, TO WHAT THEIR AGENDA IS, WHAT HE WHAT THEIR AGENDA IS, WHAT HE THINKS HE CAN LEAD THEM ON, THINKS HE CAN LEAD THEM ON, WHICH IS THIS IDEA OF WHICH IS THIS IDEA OF OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY, OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY, MINIMUM WAGE AND RAISING MINIMUM WAGE AND RAISING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, EXTENDING IT IF THEY POSSIBLY EXTENDING IT IF THEY POSSIBLY CAN, EDUCATION, ALL OF THOSE CAN, EDUCATION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
THINGS.
HE VERY, YOU KNOW, NARROWLY HE VERY, YOU KNOW, NARROWLY TRIED TO NEGOTIATE AROUND TRIED TO NEGOTIATE AROUND THINGS THAT DIVIDE DEMOCRATS.
THINGS THAT DIVIDE DEMOCRATS.
SEW DIDN'T BRING UP TRADE.
SEW DIDN'T BRING UP TRADE.
HE DID NOT BRING UP THE IDEA OF HE DID NOT BRING UP THE IDEA OF ANY ENVIRONMENTAL DISAGREEMENTS ANY ENVIRONMENTAL DISAGREEMENTS THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEY DO THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEY DO HAVE SOME.
HAVE SOME.
HE DIDN'T BRING UP SOME OF THE HE DIDN'T BRING UP SOME OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY INTELLIGENCE NATIONAL SECURITY INTELLIGENCE PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE, HE PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE, HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DIDN'T TALK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL POLICY.
POLICY.
HE VERY MUCH TRIED ON STICK TO HE VERY MUCH TRIED ON STICK TO THE THINGS THAT HE ARGUED BRING THE THINGS THAT HE ARGUED BRING THEM TOGETHER.
THEM TOGETHER.
GWEN: THE ADMINISTRATION HAS GWEN: THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN SAYING EVER SINCE THE BEEN SAYING EVER SINCE THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OF LAST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OF LAST YEAR, THIS DEBT CEILING DEBATE YEAR, THIS DEBT CEILING DEBATE WAS A DEAD LETTER, WAS NEVER WAS A DEAD LETTER, WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN, AS THE GOING TO HAPPEN, AS THE REPUBLICANS WANTED TO MAKE THIS REPUBLICANS WANTED TO MAKE THIS A FIGHT.
A FIGHT.
THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE IT.
THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE IT.
AND IT CAN BE SAFELY SAID THE AND IT CAN BE SAFELY SAID THE WHITE HOUSE WAS RIGHT.
WHITE HOUSE WAS RIGHT.
>> AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD -- >> AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD -- YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GOOD WEEK, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GOOD WEEK, FOR INSTANCE, FOR THE FOR INSTANCE, FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND THE HOUSE WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THEIR WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THEIR VOTES THAT REALLY PUT THIS VOTES THAT REALLY PUT THIS OVER.
OVER.
BUT INTERESTINGLY, WHEN THE BUT INTERESTINGLY, WHEN THE PRESIDENT CAME TO CONGRATULATE PRESIDENT CAME TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THIS VICTORY, WHAT HE THEM ON THIS VICTORY, WHAT HE ALMOST DIDN'T MENTION IN THAT ALMOST DIDN'T MENTION IN THAT SPEECH WAS THE FACT THAT THIS SPEECH WAS THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR.
IS AN ELECTION YEAR.
AND THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE A AND THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE A REALLY TOUGH GO AHEAD.
REALLY TOUGH GO AHEAD.
WHERE IN THE PAST THE PRESIDENT WHERE IN THE PAST THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN THESE EVENTS AS SORT HAS BEEN THESE EVENTS AS SORT OF A CHEERLEADER, THIS TIME ALL OF A CHEERLEADER, THIS TIME ALL HE COULD SAY IS BASICALLY GOOD HE COULD SAY IS BASICALLY GOOD LUCK, GUYS.
LUCK, GUYS.
GWEN: LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT GWEN: LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT SPEAKER BOEHNER AND MAJORITY SPEAKER BOEHNER AND MAJORITY LEADER REID HAD TO SAY AT LEAST LEADER REID HAD TO SAY AT LEAST AFTER THE HOUSE VOTE THIS WEEK AFTER THE HOUSE VOTE THIS WEEK AND THEN TALK ABOUT IT ON THE AND THEN TALK ABOUT IT ON THE OTHER SIDE.
OTHER SIDE.
>> THIS IS A LOST OPPORTUNITY >> THIS IS A LOST OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA.
FOR AMERICA.
WE'RE ON A SPENDING TRAJECTORY WE'RE ON A SPENDING TRAJECTORY THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.
THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.
THE PRESIDENT KNOWS IT.
THE PRESIDENT KNOWS IT.
EVERY DEMOCRAT AND EVERY EVERY DEMOCRAT AND EVERY REPUBLICAN IN THIS TOWN KNOWS REPUBLICAN IN THIS TOWN KNOWS IT, AND IT HAS TO BE DEALT IT, AND IT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH.
WITH.
AND IT'S A DISAPPOINTING AND IT'S A DISAPPOINTING MOMENT, I CAN TELL YOU MOMENT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
THAT.
>> I COMMEND SPEAKER BOEHNER >> I COMMEND SPEAKER BOEHNER FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.
FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.
HE HAD ENOUGH VOTES TO GET IT HE HAD ENOUGH VOTES TO GET IT DONE.
DONE.
I'VE OFTEN SAID HE HAS, IF NOT I'VE OFTEN SAID HE HAS, IF NOT THE MOST DIFFICULT, CERTAINLY THE MOST DIFFICULT, CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT JOBS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT JOBS IN WASHINGTON.
IN WASHINGTON.
UNFORTUNATELY, REPUBLICANS ON UNFORTUNATELY, REPUBLICANS ON THIS SIDE OF THE CAPITOL ARE THIS SIDE OF THE CAPITOL ARE FORCING US TO JUMP THROUGH FORCING US TO JUMP THROUGH PROCEDURAL HOOPS TO ALLEVIATE PROCEDURAL HOOPS TO ALLEVIATE THE THREAT OF DEFAULT.
THE THREAT OF DEFAULT.
-- THE THREAT OF A DEBT.
-- THE THREAT OF A DEBT.
GWEN: SO THE PROCEDURAL HOOPS, GWEN: SO THE PROCEDURAL HOOPS, MOLLY, THIS WAS NOT UNEXPECTED, MOLLY, THIS WAS NOT UNEXPECTED, OR WAS IT AN UNEXPECTED THING?
OR WAS IT AN UNEXPECTED THING?
>> DRAMA ON THE SENATE FLOOR >> DRAMA ON THE SENATE FLOOR THAT KAREN WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT KAREN WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WAS RELATIVELY BEFORE WAS RELATIVELY UNEXPECTED.
UNEXPECTED.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT TED THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT TED CRUZ HAD TO DO.
CRUZ HAD TO DO.
IF TED HADN'T DONE IT, THERE IF TED HADN'T DONE IT, THERE WASN'T ANYONE ELSE WHO WAS WASN'T ANYONE ELSE WHO WAS PREPARED TO DO IT.
PREPARED TO DO IT.
IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONSEQUENCES IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR THE SENATE DEMOCRATS.
FOR THE SENATE DEMOCRATS.
THEY'RE NOT THE ONES WHO WERE THEY'RE NOT THE ONES WHO WERE HURT BY THIS.
HURT BY THIS.
THAT'S WHY SO MANY REPUBLICANS THAT'S WHY SO MANY REPUBLICANS ARE ANGRY AT TED CRUZ BIT.
ARE ANGRY AT TED CRUZ BIT.
IT FORCED REPUBLICANS, SOME OF IT FORCED REPUBLICANS, SOME OF THEM VULNERABLE REPUBLICANS, TO THEM VULNERABLE REPUBLICANS, TO TAKE A TOUGH VOTE.
TAKE A TOUGH VOTE.
THE DEMOCRATS WERE ALL GOING TO THE DEMOCRATS WERE ALL GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS ANYWAY AND IT VOTE FOR THIS ANYWAY AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER FOR WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER FOR DEMOCRATS TO CRITICIZE THEM FOR DEMOCRATS TO CRITICIZE THEM FOR IT.
IT.
YOU ALSO HAD A MINIATURE REVOLT YOU ALSO HAD A MINIATURE REVOLT OF SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN OF SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN MODERATES IN THE SENATE, PEOPLE MODERATES IN THE SENATE, PEOPLE LIKE SUSAN COLLINS AND LISA MER LIKE SUSAN COLLINS AND LISA MER COULD YOU SKI, WHO ARE ALWAYS COULD YOU SKI, WHO ARE ALWAYS -- MER COW SKI, WHO ARE, AND -- MER COW SKI, WHO ARE, AND THEY SAID, LOOK, WE'RE SICK OF THEY SAID, LOOK, WE'RE SICK OF ALWAYS BEING THE ONES THAT THEY ALWAYS BEING THE ONES THAT THEY GO TO, YOU, MITCH MCCONNELL GO TO, YOU, MITCH MCCONNELL YOU'RE THE LEADER, JOHN CORN YOU'RE THE LEADER, JOHN CORN IP, WHY DON'T YOU SUCK IT UP IP, WHY DON'T YOU SUCK IT UP FOR A CHANGE.
FOR A CHANGE.
>> COULD WE GO BACK TO THE >> COULD WE GO BACK TO THE ARGUMEHAMADE, THAT THIS IS ABOU ARGUMEHAMADE, THAT THIS IS ABOU CONTROLLING SPENDING?
CONTROLLING SPENDING?
LIFTING THE DEBT CEILING IS NOT LIFTING THE DEBT CEILING IS NOT ABOUT CONTROLLING SPENDING.
ABOUT CONTROLLING SPENDING.
IT IS WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO IT IS WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO PAY THE BILLS THAT YOU HAVE PAY THE BILLS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY RUN UP.
ALREADY RUN UP.
THE CONVERSATION THAT THE CONVERSATION THAT WASHINGTON IS NOT HAVING IS THE WASHINGTON IS NOT HAVING IS THE ONE ABOUT CONTROLLING SPENDING, ONE ABOUT CONTROLLING SPENDING, AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE REAL AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE REAL DRIVER OF THE NATIONAL DEBT, DRIVER OF THE NATIONAL DEBT, WHICH IS ENTITLEMENTS.
WHICH IS ENTITLEMENTS.
GWEN: BUT HE SAYS THAT FOR A GWEN: BUT HE SAYS THAT FOR A REASON.
REASON.
ATLANTIS A POLITICAL REASON WHY ATLANTIS A POLITICAL REASON WHY BOTH -- THERE IS A POLITICAL BOTH -- THERE IS A POLITICAL REASON WHY BOTH SPEAKER REID -- REASON WHY BOTH SPEAKER REID -- SENATOR REID MADE THE POINT SENATOR REID MADE THE POINT THEY MADE AFTER THESE VOTES, THEY MADE AFTER THESE VOTES, WHICH IS THEY ARE TRYING TO WHICH IS THEY ARE TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO SOMEONE SEND A MESSAGE TO SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON, TO A OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON, TO A LARGER AUDIENCE.
LARGER AUDIENCE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WAS INTERESTING AT THE THINK WAS INTERESTING AT THE WHITE HOUSE FROM THEIR WERS WHITE HOUSE FROM THEIR WERS PECULIAR TIFF WAS YIPPY, YIPPY.
PECULIAR TIFF WAS YIPPY, YIPPY.
BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT GETS BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT GETS REPUBLICANS BRIEFLY OFF OF THE REPUBLICANS BRIEFLY OFF OF THE OBAMACARE ASSAULT AND GETS THEM OBAMACARE ASSAULT AND GETS THEM TALKING ABOUT THE DIVISIONS TALKING ABOUT THE DIVISIONS WITHIN THEIR OWN CONFERENCE IS WITHIN THEIR OWN CONFERENCE IS A GOOD HOUR OR A GOOD DAY OR A GOOD HOUR OR A GOOD DAY OR POTENTIALLY A GOOD WEEK AT THE POTENTIALLY A GOOD WEEK AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND AMONG WHITE HOUSE AND AMONG DEMOCRATS.
DEMOCRATS.
SO LISTENING TO MAJORITY LEADER SO LISTENING TO MAJORITY LEADER REID, HE'S BASICALLY TURNING REID, HE'S BASICALLY TURNING THE KNIFE IN AND SAYING, OH, THE KNIFE IN AND SAYING, OH, WHAT A TOUGH JOB YOU HAVE WHAT A TOUGH JOB YOU HAVE BECAUSE YOU'RE SO DIVIDED.
BECAUSE YOU'RE SO DIVIDED.
AND, OF COURSE, HE KNOWS THAT AND, OF COURSE, HE KNOWS THAT WHETHER IT'S ON TRADE OR SOME WHETHER IT'S ON TRADE OR SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES I JUST OF THE OTHER ISSUES I JUST TALKED ABOUT, HIS CONFERENCE TALKED ABOUT, HIS CONFERENCE IS, TOO.
IS, TOO.
>> AND IN THE BIG PICTURE, I >> AND IN THE BIG PICTURE, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS DID REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS DID GET THIS DONE WHEN THEY'VE HAD GET THIS DONE WHEN THEY'VE HAD PROBLEMS UNITING IN THE PAST A PROBLEMS UNITING IN THE PAST A IS BECAUSE THEY DO WANT TO PUT IS BECAUSE THEY DO WANT TO PUT IT BEHIND THEM.
IT BEHIND THEM.
THEY DON'T WANT TO GET THEY DON'T WANT TO GET DISTRACTED.
DISTRACTED.
THEY DON'T WANT THE DEMOCRATS THEY DON'T WANT THE DEMOCRATS DANGLE SHINY OBJECTS, WHEN THE DANGLE SHINY OBJECTS, WHEN THE STORY IS OBAMACARE, REPUBLICANS STORY IS OBAMACARE, REPUBLICANS ARE WINNING, AND THEY COULD ARE WINNING, AND THEY COULD THAT.
THAT.
GWEN: LET'S TALK ABOUT GWEN: LET'S TALK ABOUT OBAMACARE.
OBAMACARE.
THERE WERE INTERESTING THERE WERE INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS ON THAT THIS WEEK.
DEVELOPMENTS ON THAT THIS WEEK.
WE HAD TWO THINGS, ACTUALLY.
WE HAD TWO THINGS, ACTUALLY.
THE ADMINISTRATION DECIDED TO THE ADMINISTRATION DECIDED TO DELAY, AGAIN, A SMALL BUSINESS DELAY, AGAIN, A SMALL BUSINESS MANDATE, AND THEY CAME OUT WITH MANDATE, AND THEY CAME OUT WITH NEW NUMBERS.
NEW NUMBERS.
GOOD NEWS THAT SHOWS THAT GOOD NEWS THAT SHOWS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING MUCH ON TRACK THEY'RE PUTTING MUCH ON TRACK TO END UP IN THE BALLPARK OF TO END UP IN THE BALLPARK OF WHERE THEY WANT TO DO WITH NEW WHERE THEY WANT TO DO WITH NEW ENROLLEES IN THE PROGRAM.
ENROLLEES IN THE PROGRAM.
SO YIPPY AT THE WHITE HOUSE?
SO YIPPY AT THE WHITE HOUSE?
>> THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE >> THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE TWO SIDES OF WHAT GOOD OF THE TWO SIDES OF WHAT GOOD AND BAD NEWS IN WASHINGTON CAN AND BAD NEWS IN WASHINGTON CAN MEAN, AS KAREN AND YOU WERE MEAN, AS KAREN AND YOU WERE DESCRIBING.
DESCRIBING.
SO IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, SO IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, YOU COULD CELEBRATE THE IDEA YOU COULD CELEBRATE THE IDEA THAT THE TREND IS MOMENTUM THAT THE TREND IS MOMENTUM TOWARDS GOOD ENROLLMENTS.
TOWARDS GOOD ENROLLMENTS.
THE DOWN SIDE OF IT IS THAT ALL THE DOWN SIDE OF IT IS THAT ALL KINDS OF THE UNDERGIRTH OF THIS KINDS OF THE UNDERGIRTH OF THIS PROGRAM STILL HAS LOTS OF PROGRAM STILL HAS LOTS OF VULNERABILITIES.
VULNERABILITIES.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE PAID FOR THE PREMIUMS, HOW HAVE PAID FOR THE PREMIUMS, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE REALLY INSURED.
MANY PEOPLE ARE REALLY INSURED.
THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
ONLY 1/4 OF THE PEOPLE ARE ONLY 1/4 OF THE PEOPLE ARE ENROLLING IN THE YOUNG ENROLLING IN THE YOUNG DEMOGRAPH.
DEMOGRAPH.
IT'S SKEWING MORE TOWARDS IT'S SKEWING MORE TOWARDS WOMEN, WHICH IS GOOD, EXCEPT WOMEN, WHICH IS GOOD, EXCEPT WOMEN COST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WOMEN COST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHETHER THERE ARE A SUFFICIENT WHETHER THERE ARE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF THESE SOFTWARE NUMBER OF THESE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO WRITE SO THEY CAN ACCOUNT FOR WRITE SO THEY CAN ACCOUNT FOR THE EMPLOYERS THAT ARE SUPPOSED THE EMPLOYERS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPORTING.
TO BE REPORTING.
ALL THESE THINGS ARE ALL THE ALL THESE THINGS ARE ALL THE BACKSTORY OF WHAT COULD BE BACKSTORY OF WHAT COULD BE GOING WRONG.
GOING WRONG.
GWEN: WHAT ABOUT THE HEALTHIER, GWEN: WHAT ABOUT THE HEALTHIER, YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE TARGETING?
TARGETING?
ANY SIGN THAT THEY'RE BEGINNING ANY SIGN THAT THEY'RE BEGINNING TO SIGN UP IN GREATER NUMBERS?
TO SIGN UP IN GREATER NUMBERS?
>> THERE'S A LITTLE IMPROVEMENT >> THERE'S A LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN THAT MIX, BUT CERTAINLY NOT IN THAT MIX, BUT CERTAINLY NOT WHAT THEY WERE HOPING TO SEE.
WHAT THEY WERE HOPING TO SEE.
THE WHITE HOUSE IS ARGUING AND THE WHITE HOUSE IS ARGUING AND THEY ARE SAYING, FOR INSTANCE, THEY ARE SAYING, FOR INSTANCE, THE MASSACHUSETTS EXPERIENCE THE MASSACHUSETTS EXPERIENCE WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE VERY LAST MOMENT TO SIGN UP.
VERY LAST MOMENT TO SIGN UP.
AT THIS POINT ALL WE KNOW IS AT THIS POINT ALL WE KNOW IS THEY'VE GOT THEIR FINGERS THEY'VE GOT THEIR FINGERS CROSSED.
CROSSED.
GWEN: I READ TOYED THAT THEY'VE GWEN: I READ TOYED THAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED SOME ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED SOME REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED FROM LIKE 16%, FROM UNINSURED FROM LIKE 16%, FROM 18% LAST YEAR, THAT IT'S 18% LAST YEAR, THAT IT'S BEGINNING TO GO DOWN, WHICH YOU BEGINNING TO GO DOWN, WHICH YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT THIS IS THE WOULD ASSUME THAT THIS IS THE GOAL -- THAT IS THE GOAL HERE.
GOAL -- THAT IS THE GOAL HERE.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS PREPARED TO WHITE HOUSE IS PREPARED TO TRUMP?
TRUMP?
GOODNESS KNOWS PEOPLE RUNNING GOODNESS KNOWS PEOPLE RUNNING IN 2014 DON'T SEEM TO BE.
IN 2014 DON'T SEEM TO BE.
>> EVEN AS THERE HAVE BEEN >> EVEN AS THERE HAVE BEEN INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AS THE INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AS THE FEDERAL EXCHANGE IN PARTICULAR FEDERAL EXCHANGE IN PARTICULAR HAS BEGUN TO FUNCTION, ALTHOUGH HAS BEGUN TO FUNCTION, ALTHOUGH A LOT OF STATE EXCHANGES ARE A LOT OF STATE EXCHANGES ARE STILL IN TROUBLE, WE'VE MOSTLY STILL IN TROUBLE, WE'VE MOSTLY SEEN DEMOCRATS DROP THIS SEEN DEMOCRATS DROP THIS PRETENSE THAT THEY WERE PRETENSE THAT THEY WERE PREPARED TO CAMPAIGN IN FAVOR PREPARED TO CAMPAIGN IN FAVOR OF OBAMACARE JUST AS VIGOROUSLY OF OBAMACARE JUST AS VIGOROUSLY AS REPUBLICANS WERE GOING TO AS REPUBLICANS WERE GOING TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT.
THERE WAS A DEMOCRATIC THERE WAS A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE RELEASED AN AD THIS WEEK RELEASED AN AD THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT HOW HE'S FIGHTING TALKING ABOUT HOW HE'S FIGHTING TO FIX OBAMACARE.
TO FIX OBAMACARE.
NOT SAYING I'M SO PROUD OF NOT SAYING I'M SO PROUD OF OBAMACARE.
OBAMACARE.
GWEN: MARY LAND DREW SAID THE GWEN: MARY LAND DREW SAID THE SAME THING IN LOUISIANA.
SAME THING IN LOUISIANA.
>> EXACTLY.
>> EXACTLY.
SO DEMOCRATS NEED TO SHOW SO DEMOCRATS NEED TO SHOW THEY'RE ON THE SIDE OF VOTERS THEY'RE ON THE SIDE OF VOTERS WHO FEEL BETRAYED BY THIS TURN WHO FEEL BETRAYED BY THIS TURN OF EVENTS AND DON'T FEEL LIKE OF EVENTS AND DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN A GOOD THING.
IT'S BEEN A GOOD THING.
WE'VE REALLY SEEN DEMOCRATS WE'VE REALLY SEEN DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLING TO GET ON THE OTHER SCRAMBLING TO GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OBAMACARE AND SIDE OF OBAMACARE AND SCRAMBLING TO TALK ABOUT SCRAMBLING TO TALK ABOUT ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING ELSE.
ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING ELSE.
GWEN: ANYTHING ELSE.
GWEN: ANYTHING ELSE.
EXCEPT EVERY NOW AND THEN, EXCEPT EVERY NOW AND THEN, EVERY WEEK IT SEEMS, A NEW EVERY WEEK IT SEEMS, A NEW WEAPON IS HANDED TO THE WEAPON IS HANDED TO THE REPUBLICANS OR THE PEOPLE WHO REPUBLICANS OR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KEEP IT ALIVE.
WANT TO KEEP IT ALIVE.
IN THIS CASE IT WAS THE IN THIS CASE IT WAS THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO ONCE AGAIN ROLL BACK THE ONCE AGAIN ROLL BACK THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MANDATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MANDATE FOR SMALL BUSINESS -- SMALL AND FOR SMALL BUSINESS -- SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZE THE BUSINESSES.
MEDIUM-SIZE THE BUSINESSES.
>> 50 TO 100 EMPLOYEES.
>> 50 TO 100 EMPLOYEES.
GWEN: LET'S LISTEN TO SOME OF GWEN: LET'S LISTEN TO SOME OF THE DEBATE ABOUT THAT.
THE DEBATE ABOUT THAT.
>> THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS >> THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS NOT TO PUNISH THEM.
NOT TO PUNISH THEM.
IT'S SIMPLY TO MAKE SURE THEY IT'S SIMPLY TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE EITHER PROVIDING HEALTH ARE EITHER PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES OR INSURANCE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES OR THAT THEY'RE HELPING TO BEAR THAT THEY'RE HELPING TO BEAR THE COST OF THEIR EMPLOYEES THE COST OF THEIR EMPLOYEES GETTING HEALTH INSURANCE.
GETTING HEALTH INSURANCE.
>> TO ME THIS SPEAKS TO THE >> TO ME THIS SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT MILLIONS MORE OF FACT THAT MILLIONS MORE OF AMERICANS WERE GOING TO GET AMERICANS WERE GOING TO GET LETTERS REALIZING THAT THEY'VE LETTERS REALIZING THAT THEY'VE LOST THEIR INSURANCE BEFORE THE LOST THEIR INSURANCE BEFORE THE ELECTI PRESIDENT ELECTI PRESIDENT WANTED TO DO ANYTHING HE COULD WANTED TO DO ANYTHING HE COULD TO PREVENT THAT SECOND BATCH OF TO PREVENT THAT SECOND BATCH OF CANCELATION LETTERS FROM COMING CANCELATION LETTERS FROM COMING AROUND AND ACROSS THE AROUND AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
COUNTRY.
GWEN: THE WHITE HOUSE SAID GWEN: THE WHITE HOUSE SAID NOTHING TO SEE HERE, KEEP NOTHING TO SEE HERE, KEEP MOVING ALONG.
MOVING ALONG.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A GOOD WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A GOOD THING BETTER.
THING BETTER.
AND THE REPUBLICANS COME BACK AND THE REPUBLICANS COME BACK AND SAY, THIS WAS -- THIS IS AND SAY, THIS WAS -- THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A DISASTER ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.
WAITING TO HAPPEN.
WHO'S RIGHT?
WHO'S RIGHT?
>> WELL, IMAGINE WE HAD A >> WELL, IMAGINE WE HAD A PRESIDENT ROMNEY, AND HE HAD PRESIDENT ROMNEY, AND HE HAD SUDDENLY DECIDED THAT THIS LAW SUDDENLY DECIDED THAT THIS LAW WAS NOT GOING TO APPLY TO WAS NOT GOING TO APPLY TO BUSINESSES FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
BUSINESSES FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WOULD I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE BEENELY HAVE BEENELY OUTRAGED.
OUTRAGED.
AND THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE THAT THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THIS PART OF THE LAW TO GETTING THIS PART OF THE LAW TO WORK.
WORK.
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WELL, THEN, HOW COME YOU'RE WELL, THEN, HOW COME YOU'RE IMPLEMENTING THE INDIVIDUAL IMPLEMENTING THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE?
MANDATE?
AND A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS ARE AND A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS ARE EVEN SAYING, LOOK, IF THESE EVEN SAYING, LOOK, IF THESE MANDATES ARE BEING DELAYED, MANDATES ARE BEING DELAYED, PEOPLE LIKE JOE MANSION, PEOPLE LIKE JOE MANSION, CANDIDATES LIKE MICHELLE NUNN CANDIDATES LIKE MICHELLE NUNN IN GEORGIA, IF THEY'RE BEING IN GEORGIA, IF THEY'RE BEING DELAYED, WE OUGHT TO DELAY THEM DELAYED, WE OUGHT TO DELAY THEM FOR INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.
FOR INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.
GWEN: THE WHITE HOUSE CAN'T GWEN: THE WHITE HOUSE CAN'T AFFORD TO ACKNOWLEDGE, TO GIVE AFFORD TO ACKNOWLEDGE, TO GIVE EVEN THAT MUCH UP, BECAUSE THEY EVEN THAT MUCH UP, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT OBAMACARE, AS AN KNOW THAT OBAMACARE, AS AN ENTITY, IS TOO BIG A BAT TO ENTITY, IS TOO BIG A BAT TO HAND ANYBODY.
HAND ANYBODY.
>> THE TRUTH LIES SOMEWHERE >> THE TRUTH LIES SOMEWHERE IN-BETWEEN, BECAUSE THERE IS IN-BETWEEN, BECAUSE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION THAT BY ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION THAT BY EXTENDING THIS PAST THE MIDTERM EXTENDING THIS PAST THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND TRYING TO ELECTIONS AND TRYING TO MITIGATE SOME OF WHAT COULD BE MITIGATE SOME OF WHAT COULD BE EXPECTED TO BE EITHER GLITCHES EXPECTED TO BE EITHER GLITCHES IN THE SOFTWARE, WE'RE TALKING IN THE SOFTWARE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING A SYSTEM.
ABOUT DEVELOPING A SYSTEM.
THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL TRYING THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL TRYING TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM, AS MOLLY TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM, AS MOLLY WAS JUST SAYING SMMBINGS THE WAS JUST SAYING SMMBINGS THE STATE EXCHANGES ARE WAY BEHIND STATE EXCHANGES ARE WAY BEHIND AND ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS.
AND ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS.
TRYING TO GET THE EMPLOYERS' TRYING TO GET THE EMPLOYERS' PART OF IT WAY PAST THE PART OF IT WAY PAST THE ELECTION AND ALSO THE ELECTION AND ALSO THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
ONE OF THE BRICK BATS ONE OF THE BRICK BATS REPUBLICANS USE IS THESE REPUBLICANS USE IS THESE EMPLOYERS ARE DECIDING TO PUSH EMPLOYERS ARE DECIDING TO PUSH THEIR EMPLOYEES INTO THE THEIR EMPLOYEES INTO THE EXCHANGES OR DOWNSIZING THE EXCHANGES OR DOWNSIZING THE SIZE OF THEIR COMPANIES, SO SIZE OF THEIR COMPANIES, SO THAT THEY GO UNDERNEATH IN THE THAT THEY GO UNDERNEATH IN THE SMALLER EMPLOYER CATEGORY SO SMALLER EMPLOYER CATEGORY SO THAT THEY ARE NOT COMPELLED TO THAT THEY ARE NOT COMPELLED TO HAVE TO PROVIDE INSURANCE SO.
HAVE TO PROVIDE INSURANCE SO.
THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO SAY, WE'RE GIVING EMPLOYERS SAY, WE'RE GIVING EMPLOYERS CHOICE.
CHOICE.
PART OF THE REASON IS THAT PART OF THE REASON IS THAT STATISTICS SAY THAT EMPLOYERS STATISTICS SAY THAT EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE MORE THAN 200 WHO HAVE MORE THAN 200 EMPLOYEES, ALMOST ALL OF THEM EMPLOYEES, ALMOST ALL OF THEM ALREADY OFFER INSURANCE.
ALREADY OFFER INSURANCE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SMALLER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SMALLER GROUP OF EMPLOYERS WHO STILL GROUP OF EMPLOYERS WHO STILL ARE NOT OFFERING IT.
ARE NOT OFFERING IT.
GWEN: ONE INTERESTING THINGS GWEN: ONE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE WAY THINGS WORK IN ABOUT THE WAY THINGS WORK IN WASHINGTON, A LOT OF TIMES YOU WASHINGTON, A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S NOT HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S NOT HAPPENING, OR WHAT'S HAPPENING HAPPENING, OR WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE EDGES, AS WELL AS THE AT THE EDGES, AS WELL AS THE BIG DEBATES.
BIG DEBATES.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE OFF THE TABLE THIS THAT WERE OFF THE TABLE THIS WEEK.
WEEK.
AMONG THEM, THE PRESIDENT AMONG THEM, THE PRESIDENT DECIDED, AND THEY SAID THIS IN DECIDED, AND THEY SAID THIS IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH, HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH, THAT HE WAS GOING TO START THAT HE WAS GOING TO START WORKING AROUND CONGRESS.
WORKING AROUND CONGRESS.
PEOPLE GOT CAUGHT UP WITH THE PEOPLE GOT CAUGHT UP WITH THE EXECUTIVE ACTION PART OF THIS.
EXECUTIVE ACTION PART OF THIS.
BUT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT BUT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT HE AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ACTED HE AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ACTED ON THIS WEEK.
ON THIS WEEK.
ONE IS TO FULFILL THE PROMISE ONE IS TO FULFILL THE PROMISE HE MADE AT THE STATE OF THE HE MADE AT THE STATE OF THE UNION OF RAISING THE MINIMUM UNION OF RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO WAGE FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO $10.10 AN HOUR FROM, I THINK, $10.10 AN HOUR FROM, I THINK, $7.25.
$7.25.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE TALKING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?
ABOUT HERE?
IS THIS JUST AROUND THE EDGES, IS THIS JUST AROUND THE EDGES, AS FAR AS WE KNOW?
AS FAR AS WE KNOW?
>> IT'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF >> IT'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
PEOPLE.
IT DOESN'T EVEN APPLY TO IT DOESN'T EVEN APPLY TO EXISTING FEDERAL CONTRACTORS.
EXISTING FEDERAL CONTRACTORS.
ONLY FOR NEWLY HATCHED FEDERAL ONLY FOR NEWLY HATCHED FEDERAL CONTRACTS IN THE FUTURE.
CONTRACTS IN THE FUTURE.
BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT'S A BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT'S A SYMBOLIC GESTURE.
SYMBOLIC GESTURE.
DEMOCRATS WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE DEMOCRATS WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE AND ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT AND ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO GET AN INCREASE IN THE GOING TO GET AN INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE THROUGH FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE THROUGH THE CONGRESS.
THE CONGRESS.
BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT VOTERS LIKE.
VOTERS LIKE.
THE POLLING IS VERY GOOD FOR THE POLLING IS VERY GOOD FOR IT.
IT.
EVEN REPUBLICANS LIKE THE IDEA EVEN REPUBLICANS LIKE THE IDEA OF RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IN OF RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IN A LOT OF POLLS.
A LOT OF POLLS.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD AND IT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO CAMPAIGN ON.
LIKE TO CAMPAIGN ON.
AGAIN, RATHER THAN CAMPAIGNING AGAIN, RATHER THAN CAMPAIGNING ON SOME OF THE MORE TOXIC ON SOME OF THE MORE TOXIC ISSUES.
ISSUES.
GWEN: REPUBLICANS LIKE THE IDEA GWEN: REPUBLICANS LIKE THE IDEA OF RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.
OF RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.
BUT THEY LIKE THE IDEA -- BUT THEY LIKE THE IDEA -- THAT'S A VERY SMALL PART OF THAT'S A VERY SMALL PART OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
THEY DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE THEY DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS ECONOMIC REVIVAL THEY'RE ECONOMIC REVIVAL THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
TALKING ABOUT.
>> IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE >> IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE THE TERMS OF ART THAT ARE BEING THE TERMS OF ART THAT ARE BEING -- I MEAN, DEMOCRATS THESE DAYS -- I MEAN, DEMOCRATS THESE DAYS ARE TALKING ABOUT INCOME ARE TALKING ABOUT INCOME INEQUALITY AND REPUBLICANS ARE INEQUALITY AND REPUBLICANS ARE TALKING ABOUT MOBILITY AND YOUR TALKING ABOUT MOBILITY AND YOUR ABILITY TO MOVE FROM ONE CLASS ABILITY TO MOVE FROM ONE CLASS TO ANOTHER.
TO ANOTHER.
AND SO I THINK BOTH SIDES ARE AND SO I THINK BOTH SIDES ARE TRYING TO SORT OF FRAME THE TRYING TO SORT OF FRAME THE DEBATE.
DEBATE.
GWEN: ACTUALLY DEMOCRATS GWEN: ACTUALLY DEMOCRATS STARTED APPROPRIATING THE STARTED APPROPRIATING THE MOBILITY LANGUAGE, TOO.
MOBILITY LANGUAGE, TOO.
SEEMS LIKE THEY'VE ALMOST CAVED SEEMS LIKE THEY'VE ALMOST CAVED IN ON THAT ARGUMENT.
IN ON THAT ARGUMENT.
ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENED ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK WHICH IS INTERESTING, THIS WEEK WHICH IS INTERESTING, AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THEY DECIDED TO GRANT FELONS THEY DECIDED TO GRANT FELONS THEIR VOTING RIGHTS BACK.
THEIR VOTING RIGHTS BACK.
WHAT'S IES ME ABOUT WHAT'S IES ME ABOUT THIS IS THAT THERE'S NOT THAT THIS IS THAT THERE'S NOT THAT BIG A FIGHT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS BIG A FIGHT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.
AND REPUBLICANS.
LISTEN TO THIS -- LISTEN TO THIS -- >> THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT >> THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT ONLY UNNECESSARY AND UNJUST, ONLY UNNECESSARY AND UNJUST, THEY ARE ALSO THEY ARE ALSO COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
BY PERPETUATING THE STIGMA AND BY PERPETUATING THE STIGMA AND ISOLATION IMPOSED ON FORMERLY ISOLATION IMPOSED ON FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, THESE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, THESE LAWS INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD, LAWS INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD, INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WILL COMMIT FUTURE THEY WILL COMMIT FUTURE RIMES.
RIMES.
>> I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF GIVING >> I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF GIVING PEOPLE BACK THE RIGHT TO VOTE PEOPLE BACK THE RIGHT TO VOTE BACK IN MY STATE.
BACK IN MY STATE.
MY STATE'S ONE THAT NEVER GIVES MY STATE'S ONE THAT NEVER GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO VOTE BACK.
YOU THE RIGHT TO VOTE BACK.
SO I'LL BE TESTIFYING NEXT WEEK SO I'LL BE TESTIFYING NEXT WEEK IN FRANKFORT BEFORE THE STATE IN FRANKFORT BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
LEGISLATURE.
AND I WILL BE TESTIFYING IN AND I WILL BE TESTIFYING IN FAVOR OF RESTORING VOTING FAVOR OF RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS FOR NONVIOLENT RIGHTS FOR NONVIOLENT FELONS.
FELONS.
GWEN: EVERYBODY'S TOGETHER, GWEN: EVERYBODY'S TOGETHER, RIGHT?
RIGHT?
EXCEPT RAND PAUL WENT FROM EXCEPT RAND PAUL WENT FROM THERE TO SUING THE GOVERNMENT THERE TO SUING THE GOVERNMENT ON N.S.A.
SECRECY PROBABLY ON N.S.A.
SECRECY PROBABLY MOMENTS BEFORE OR MOMENTS MOMENTS BEFORE OR MOMENTS LATER.
LATER.
IS THIS A SIGN OF -- SEEMS TO IS THIS A SIGN OF -- SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERYONE IS IN SEARCH ME THAT EVERYONE IS IN SEARCH OF A SWEET SPOT, WHERE THEY CAN OF A SWEET SPOT, WHERE THEY CAN KINDS OF AGREE.
KINDS OF AGREE.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINTS OUT >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINTS OUT WHERE THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WHERE THIS IS AN AREA WHERE RAND PAUL IS AN ICON CLASSIC RAND PAUL IS AN ICON CLASSIC REPUBLICAN.
REPUBLICAN.
NOT ALL ARE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES NOT ALL ARE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES IN GENERAL AND ON SPECIFICALLY IN GENERAL AND ON SPECIFICALLY THESE ISSUES OF FELON THESE ISSUES OF FELON DISENFRANCHISEMENT IN DISENFRANCHISEMENT IN PARTICULAR.
PARTICULAR.
BUT IT IS TRUE THAT IF YOU BUT IT IS TRUE THAT IF YOU THINK BACK TO A TIME WHEN CRIME THINK BACK TO A TIME WHEN CRIME WAS ONE OF REPUBLICANS' WAS ONE OF REPUBLICANS' SIGNATURE ISSUES AND BEING SIGNATURE ISSUES AND BEING TOUGH ON CRIME WAS SOMETHING TOUGH ON CRIME WAS SOMETHING THAT ALMOST EVERY REPUBLICAN THAT ALMOST EVERY REPUBLICAN RAN ON, YOU HAVE AN INCREASING RAN ON, YOU HAVE AN INCREASING NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS WHO NOW NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS WHO NOW SAY THAT WE'RE SPENDING TOO SAY THAT WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH ON PRISONS.
MUCH ON PRISONS.
THAT THE SENTENCES ARE TOO THAT THE SENTENCES ARE TOO LONG.
LONG.
ACTUALLY, THERE IS A SENTENCING ACTUALLY, THERE IS A SENTENCING REFORM BILL THAT LOOKS LIKE IT REFORM BILL THAT LOOKS LIKE IT ACTUALLY HAS A CHANCE OF ACTUALLY HAS A CHANCE OF PASSAGE ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS.
PASSAGE ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS.
SO YOU HAVE SEEN, NOW THAT THIS SO YOU HAVE SEEN, NOW THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT AS HOT AND NOT AS ISSUE IS NOT AS HOT AND NOT AS PARTISAN, QUITE A BIT OF PARTISAN, QUITE A BIT OF AGREEMENT BEING CARVED OUT WITH AGREEMENT BEING CARVED OUT WITH THIS -- AGAIN, THE MORE THIS -- AGAIN, THE MORE LIBERTARIAN-LEANING LIBERTARIAN-LEANING REPUBLICANS, PEOPLE LIKE RAND REPUBLICANS, PEOPLE LIKE RAND PAUL AND THE SPENDING HAWKS PAUL AND THE SPENDING HAWKS WITH DEMOCRATS WHO WOULD LIKE WITH DEMOCRATS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SYSTEM BE A LITTLE TO SEE THE SYSTEM BE A LITTLE MORE MERCIFUL.
MORE MERCIFUL.
GWEN: IS IT NECESSARY AT THIS GWEN: IS IT NECESSARY AT THIS POINT IN A SECOND TERM TO FIND POINT IN A SECOND TERM TO FIND A WAY TO REACH OUT FOR THOSE A WAY TO REACH OUT FOR THOSE THINGS, THOSE LITTLE TINY THINGS, THOSE LITTLE TINY THINGS, PERHAPS, THAT YOU CAN THINGS, PERHAPS, THAT YOU CAN AGREE ON, IN ORDER JUST TO GET AGREE ON, IN ORDER JUST TO GET THROUGH THE DAY ANYMORE IN THROUGH THE DAY ANYMORE IN WASHINGTON?
WASHINGTON?
BECAUSE YOU CAN DESPITE BECAUSE YOU CAN DESPITE YOURSELF TO A DRAW ON YOURSELF TO A DRAW ON EVERYTHING ELSE.
EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> IF YOU'VE CALLED IT THE YEAR >> IF YOU'VE CALLED IT THE YEAR OF ACTION, YOU'RE GOING TO BE OF ACTION, YOU'RE GOING TO BE KNITTING SMALL LITTLE STITCHES.
KNITTING SMALL LITTLE STITCHES.
GWEN: IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING?
GWEN: IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING?
>> IT IS NOT AN UNCOMMON THING >> IT IS NOT AN UNCOMMON THING TO FIND IN A SECOND TERM.
TO FIND IN A SECOND TERM.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL REMEMBER BILL YOU KNOW, WE ALL REMEMBER BILL CLINTON, PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A CLINTON, PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A DIFFERENT ECONOMY AND OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT ECONOMY AND OBVIOUSLY WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF OPPOSITION FORCES IN THE OPPOSITION FORCES IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOUND THAT REPUBLICAN PARTY FOUND THAT VOTERS RESPONDED WELL TO THIS VOTERS RESPONDED WELL TO THIS IDEA OF YOU'RE WORKING EVERY IDEA OF YOU'RE WORKING EVERY DAY FOR ME.
DAY FOR ME.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE IS DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE IS ROOM AROUND THE -- ROOM AROUND THE -- GWEN: DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE GWEN: DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE IS ROOM AROUND THE EDGES FOR IS ROOM AROUND THE EDGES FOR BIG ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION BIG ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION REFORM, TO FIND COMMON GROUND?
REFORM, TO FIND COMMON GROUND?
>> I DO THINK THAT THESE ARE >> I DO THINK THAT THESE ARE VERY, VERY CONCRETE STEPS THAT VERY, VERY CONCRETE STEPS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THEM, KNOW THEY ARE AFFECTED BY THEM, KNOW THEY ARE AFFECTED BY THEM.
THEM.
FOR INSTANCE, EARLIER THIS WEEK FOR INSTANCE, EARLIER THIS WEEK WE HAD ERIC HOLDER ANNOUNCE WE HAD ERIC HOLDER ANNOUNCE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE FEDERAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM WAS FEDERAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM WAS GOING TO RECOGNIZE GAY GOING TO RECOGNIZE GAY MARRIAGES AND THAT, YOU KNOW, MARRIAGES AND THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, A SPOUSE WOULD NO FOR INSTANCE, A SPOUSE WOULD NO LONGER HAVE TO TESTIFY IN COURT LONGER HAVE TO TESTIFY IN COURT AGAINST ANOTHER.
AGAINST ANOTHER.
GWEN: TAKES NOT A SINGLE PIECE GWEN: TAKES NOT A SINGLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION ANYWHERE.
OF LEGISLATION ANYWHERE.
>> BUT IT'S ALSO FOLLOWING >> BUT IT'S ALSO FOLLOWING PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT GAY PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE.
MARRIAGE.
AND I THINK THAT, AGAIN, THESE AND I THINK THAT, AGAIN, THESE ARE CONCRETE STEPS THAT THEY ARE CONCRETE STEPS THAT THEY CAN TAKE, AND THERE ARE THINGS CAN TAKE, AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND.
UNDERSTAND.
GWEN: BRIEFLY, BEFORE WE GO, I GWEN: BRIEFLY, BEFORE WE GO, I WONDER HOW OPTIMISTIC OR WONDER HOW OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC THE THREE OF YOU PESSIMISTIC THE THREE OF YOU ARE ABOUT THE ABILITY TO GOVERN ARE ABOUT THE ABILITY TO GOVERN IN THIS MANNER, BIT BY BIT, IN THIS MANNER, BIT BY BIT, STEP BY HORRIBLE STEP ALONG THE STEP BY HORRIBLE STEP ALONG THE WAY BETWEEN NOW AND THE WAY BETWEEN NOW AND THE ELECTION, AND EVEN INTO 2016.
ELECTION, AND EVEN INTO 2016.
>> WELL, FORTUNATELY FOR THIS >> WELL, FORTUNATELY FOR THIS CONGRESS, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH CONGRESS, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE FOR THE YEAR.
DONE FOR THE YEAR.
I THINK THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH I THINK THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH PREPARING BEYOND SOME SORT OF PREPARING BEYOND SOME SORT OF TECHNICAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNICAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO PRETTY MUCH PACK IT MEASURES TO PRETTY MUCH PACK IT UP.
UP.
THEY GOT THE BUDGET DONE, SO THEY GOT THE BUDGET DONE, SO THE GOVERNMENT IS FUNDED.
THE GOVERNMENT IS FUNDED.
THEY LIFTED THE DEBT CEILING, THEY LIFTED THE DEBT CEILING, SO THEY CAN CAMPAIGN FROM HERE SO THEY CAN CAMPAIGN FROM HERE ON IN.
ON IN.
>> I THINK IT'S JUST SO >> I THINK IT'S JUST SO DEPRESSING TO THINK THAT DEPRESSING TO THINK THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ELECTIONS, THIS TOWN, THIS ELECTIONS, THIS TOWN, THIS COMMUNITY, HAS TO GRIND TO A COMMUNITY, HAS TO GRIND TO A STOP AND WE ALL HAVE TO WAIT ON STOP AND WE ALL HAVE TO WAIT ON BIG PROBLEMS.
BIG PROBLEMS.
>> I'M WILLING TO GO WITH >> I'M WILLING TO GO WITH AVERTING CATASTROPHIES BEING AVERTING CATASTROPHIES BEING PROGRESS.
PROGRESS.
GWEN: WELL, ON THAT OPTIMISTIC GWEN: WELL, ON THAT OPTIMISTIC NOTE, AVERTING CAS TO TROPHY AS NOTE, AVERTING CAS TO TROPHY AS PROGRESS, I'M FOR THAT, TOO.
PROGRESS, I'M FOR THAT, TOO.
WE HAVE TO GO, BUT AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE TO GO, BUT AS ALWAYS, THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES ONLINE.
ONLINE.
THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" WEBCAST THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" WEBCAST EXTRA STREAMS LIVE AT 8:30 P.M.
EXTRA STREAMS LIVE AT 8:30 P.M. EASTERN, WHERE WE'LL BE TALKING EASTERN, WHERE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S UPCOMING FOREIGN POLICY UPCOMING FOREIGN POLICY PIVOT.
PIVOT.
AND DO DEMOCRATS HAVE A TEA AND DO DEMOCRATS HAVE A TEA PARTY?
PARTY?
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PANELISTS ARE REPORTING.
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"WASHINGTON WEEK."
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY AND GOOD HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY AND GOOD NIGHT.