Transcripts For CSPAN Democratic 20240705 : vimarsana.com

Directory now available as cspan shop. Org, your access to the federal government with a bio and Contact Information for every house and Senate Member and Important Information on congressional committees, the president s cabinet, federal agencies, and state governors. Scannecode at the right to order your copy today or go to cspanshop. Org. It is 29. 95 plus shipping and handling, and repurchase help support our nonprofit helps support our nonprofit operations. Announcer House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries discusses the cma between house leadership and more conservative members of the party after they put it on a roll that stalled floor debate on the house floor this week. A game during his Weekly News Conference on the legislative agenda. It came during his Weekly News Conference on the legislative agenda. Mr. Jeffries good morning, everyone. Thank you for your patience. House democrats stand ready to get to work on behalf of everyday americans. From the very beginning of this congress, we have said that we are willing to find Common Ground with House Republicans whenever and wherever possible. While at the same time being prepared to confront extremism whenever necessary. The extremists in the House Republican conference have once again taken control of the house floor. And stopped us from doing the business of the American People. This is extraordinary. And we stand ready to find Common Ground with the other side of the aisle. If they can break from their extremists. The problem that seems to exist is that House Republican conference is captive to the most extreme wing of their party. At the same time were thankful for the leadership of President Biden. President biden was able to arrive at a resolution that avoided a dangerous default and stopped the extreme maga republicans from crashing the economy and triggering a jobkilling recession which would have inflicted tremendous pain on millions of everyday americans. House democrats remain tha pgful for the leadership of President Biden, which spared the country from another hostagetaking situation that the extremists have now made clear they would have been ready to bring about the first opportunity they had to do just that. But the debt ceiling has now been suspended into the early part of 2025. Thanks to the leadership of President Biden. Were also thankful that President Biden was able to negotiate a resolution consistent with our values that protected social security, protected medicare, protected medicaid, protected veterans, protected education, protected public safety, protected the inflation reduction act, and protected the American People from the draconian 22 across the board cuts that would have underminded undermined the health, the safety and the wellbeing of everyday americans. So this week puts into clear focus the choices that the American People have in front of them in terms of which direction their government will go. On the one side, democrats, team reasonable, team normal, and team get stuff done. On the other side, republicans, team chaos, team dysfunction, and team extreme. Reporter do you have any concerns that hostage taking strategies by maga republicans [indiscernible] could become the norm . In the house, the potential to [indiscernible] and how do you [indiscernible] mr. Jeffries in terms of the way out, House Republicans are going to have to decide whether theyre going to be responsible public policymakers, or continue to bend the knee to the extreme maga republicans in their party. This is a very serious situation in that the extreme maga republicans have stopped the house of representatives from doing the business of the American People. There are several things that need to happen, including the reauthorization of the farm bill, the reauthorization of the f. A. A. , so that the American People can fly safely in this country and that our economy can continue to function in a normal way. We have to reach a spending agreement so that the needs of the American People can be reached. But right now there is no activity happening in the congress because of the extreme nature of the House Republican conference. Thats sad. Reporter on redistricting in new york, theres arguments this week, litigation around that, do you think the new makeup of the court will make it more receptive to the case being brought by democrats . Mr. Jeffries thats not clear to me and ultimately i think the case right now is before the third department, as i understand it, which is the intermediate level court. So i think what is clear to me is that the notion that the people of the state of new york should be forced to make decisions as to who represents them based on a partisan map drawn by an unelected, out of town special master, signed off on by a rightwing judge, who was hand selected in a Forum Shopping exercise by republicans is ridiculous. Now what the legal case is in terms of how it resolves itself on the merits, i leave to the lawyers and ultimately the judges and i will respect whatever judge or judicial decision is rendered. [indiscernible question] mr. Jeffries i think Kevin Mccarthy is going to continue to work the dynamics out on his side of the aisle the best he can due to the extreme nature of the republican conference. That situation is what it is. They need to work it out because the American People are the ones suffering with the house of representatives shut down. I havent had the opportunity to review the Supreme Court decision but it appears to be an affirm makes that the Voting Rights act is the law of the land and illegal to engage in racebased gerrymandering. It is clear that Alabama Legislature engaged in it. And they are not the only ones throughout the country who have done that. And we can at least draw some comfort from the fact that the 1965 Voting Rights act remains alive. Reporter two questions. One, what is your response to china and cuba reaching a secret agreement to establish eavesdropping facility on the island and would democrats have a discharge petition that includes aid for ukraine . Mr. Jeffries i have no comment on the first issue until i am briefed on it. With respect to the democratic approach in terms of any supplemental, our view is that a resolution was reached consistent with the conversations that took place between President Biden and House Republicans that was subsequently voted on and passed with decisive margins in the house and the senate and that is the law of the land. Reporter following up on that. House democrats support appropriation bills [indiscernible] mr. Jeffries no. Mr. Leader. , based on building this point youre making about the how conservatives are blocking attempts. You have had success and democrats and republicans partnering to get legislation passed and isolating that very small faction of farright republicans that are causing mr. Mccarthy grief. Isnt there some rationale you working with him Going Forward to find Common Ground on legislation so every time he runs into trouble with that faction they arent as big an issue . Mr. Jeffries House Democrats will continue to find Common Ground whenever and wherever possible. The majority has the responsibility in managing the floor in terms of the legislation that is brought before the body for votes to take place. And its not clear right now that the majority has the capacity to manage the house floor because the extremists have taken it over. That is quite unfortunate. And we are hopeful that it gets worked out before we return next week. Reporter mr. Leader [indiscernible question] mr. Jeffries its not clear to me its a victory but it was an accommodation that was reasonable that was reached and its our hope this will put an end to the foolishness that is going on under the republicancontrolled Oversight Committee. I mean, the House Republicans from the very beginning of this new congress have engaged in a fishing expedition that has one goal, destroy joe biden and his family. Its not working. And in the process, they are undermining the rule of law and are willing to attack law enforcement, attack the f. B. I. And attack the department of justice. All partisan political purposes because they believe that it will benefit them in 2024. Dead wrong. Reporter along those lines but a bit more broad, what about the Oversight Committee cancelling the hearing today . Mr. Jeffries the Oversight Committee is a complete and total embarrassment right now. They have failed to do any damage politically to President Biden, which is the standard by which they have themselves said they expect to be judged and if anything they continue to prove the point that this group of republicans is too extreme for the American People. Reporter i was wondering if you have a comment on the p. G. A. Liv tour . And. [indiscernible] mr. Jeffries to the extent there are antitrust laws that have been been implicated by the proposed merger and i expect the congress would do its job. Reporter biden vetoed legislation that would block his student loan program. Why do your colleagues continue to oppose to help those with student loan debt. Mr. Jeffries republican colleagues will do everything to enact tax cuts for the wealthy, well off and well connected and say its going to benefit the economy when there is no evidence that is the case. All House Republicans have done consistently, including, but not limited to, the passage of the g. O. P. Tax scam where 83 and exploded the debt and do Everything Possible to subsidize the lifestyles of the wealthiest people in this country and then undermine the ability of every day americans, including students to pursue the american dream. And were going to make clear to the American People that our focus will continue to be on standing up for middleclass folks, for those who aspire to be the middle class, students, seniors, the sick, the afflicted, the least, lost and left behind. And that is a big contrast to our colleagues who stand up for the wealthy and well off and well connected. Reporter a white woman has been arrested for shooting her black woman. Now given the facts, this was a senseless killing, but what can congress curb these tragedies . Mr. Jeffries this is gun violence Prevention Month and congress has been deer like that in its duty under this House Republican majority to do anything to combat the epidemic of gun violence in america. In fact, what we expect to see when House Republicans can get their act together and bring bills to the floor, they wont use that moment to strike a blow to the gun violence epidemic but will unleash weapons of war on the American People. Democrats will use every tool available to us to try to get legislation to the floor that would do something meaningful to promote gun safety in america. Reporter given the situation in the house does this worry you there could be heightened chance of a Government Shutdown later in the year . Mr. Jeffries i have full confidence in rosa delauro and Appropriations Committee on the democratic side of the aisle to work through the process and arrive at an agreement in terms of spending decisions that promote the health, safety and economic wellbeing of the American People. Its my hope that we will have good Faith Partners on the other side of the aisle to engage in this appropriations process in a manner that does not result in the extreme maga republicans shutting down the government. Reporter following up on ryans question about the rule, we understand the tradition that the Minority Party votes against the rule but that isnt a compelling argument when you go back to a town hall, we support the legislation but we dont support the rule. You can say we will help you get a rule to the floor if you give us x, y and z. Why not use that leverage . Mr. Jeffries there is no legislation in front of us that is enlightened and will advance the interests of the American People. To the extent that opportunity presents itself, well explore the best path forward in conversation with the members of the House Democratic caucus. This week, what House Republicans wanted to do is strike a blow against the ability of President Biden and his administration to protect the American People in terms of reasonable consumercentered regulation and other measures that are designed to protect the environment, clean air, clean water and the health of the American People. Extreme maga republicans wanted us to spend this week talking about kitchen appliances. Some phony narrative that joe biden and democrats want to take away gas stoves. Nothing can be further from the truth. We dont have serious legislation that is in front of us at the moment. If that opportunity arisees, we will cross that bridge when we get to it. Reporter have you spoken to the speaker about that . Mr. Jeffries no. Was your question answered . [indiscernible question] mr. Jeffries i didnt have a conversation with the speaker about specifically our response to that moment other than first urging him to make sure that works as hard as he could to bring the rule through the house of representatives so we cop vote on the underlying bill. That is the role of the majority and this was a House Resolution that republicans negotiatedded but we made clear privately and publicly that we would not allow america to default. And of course, everybody understood that in trying to make sure that didnt happen, if an extraordinary number of republicans decided to try to tank the rule that democrats would have to step in to rescue republicans from their extremists. Thank you, everyone. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2023] captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org. In a post on truth social former President Donald Trump says his attorneys have been informed he has been indicted into the federal investigation into his handling of classified documents and has been summoned to appear at a federa are reporting as many seven counts against the former president. He is proclaiming his innocence in the post on truth and social. On the next washington journal, more on the story and your reaction by taking your calls, texts, tweets, and facebook comments. During the conversation at 7 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan. Join the conversation at 7 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan. Since 1979 in partnership with the cable industry cspan has provided coverage from the halls of, party briefings and committee meetings. 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