Im going to read a statement which i typically dont do at these but i want to make sure you full will you understand fully understand what i have to say on the issue that i think is mostly on our minds this morning. Obviously, any foreign breach of our cybercurt measures is serving, and i strongly condemn any such efforts. Prior to the election the director of National Intelligence released a statement saying that the russian government directed the recent compromises of emails from u. S. Persons and institutions. Including from u. S. Political organizations. That is what the Intelligence Community believes can be said in had unclassified remarks without risking sources and methods. Anything else, anything else is irresponsible likely illegal, and potentially for partisan political gain. I agree with senator schumer, chairman mccain, burr, and others simply cannot be a partisan issue. Let me remind all of you that the Senate Intelligence committee on which i and chairman of the Arm Service Committee said as members is more than capable of conducting complete review of this matter. And senator schumer will soon join us on the committee and he can review this matter through the regular order. I have every confidence in chairman burr that hell review the matter in a responsible way. The Obama Administration is also now launching review and when they office of the director of National Intelligence completes its review, there will be Additional Information released to the public in a responsible manner. Chairman mccain will be within the threat of cyberattacks. That will be useful. As we need to inte grit our cybercapability into our overall war fighting doctrine. The Obama Administration for eight years attempted to reset relations with russia and setback while russia expanded its fever influence were intervene in crimea, Eastern Ukraine and amount to bully the baltic country it is defies belief that somehow republicans in senate are reluctant to either review russian tactics or ignore them. So last let me say that i have the highest confidence in the Intelligence Community in especially the central agencies, cia filled with selfless patriot anonymously risk their lives with the American People. Excuse me. Can i have some water . This, here, yes. Let me just say in wraing up the congress and then open up for your questions. I think about any objective standard to 114th congress, looks pretty good compared to the previous one. Everything from cures bill and in 20 years, faa, water of resources bill, permanent tax relief, we address the opioid and Prescription Drug epidemic and rewrite of no child left behind, the k12 education issue. Via accountable, cybersecurity bill, a permanent human traffic and many others, so even though there were, obviously, some pretty big difference its in a time of divided government, i think we were able to search for the things that it was my desire to search for thing hads to agree on and make some progress for the country and there were a number of things upon which had we were able to score some points for the American People. So with that let me throw it open. [inaudible] it was as i indicated the reason i read that statement sing that pretty thoroughly covers what im prepared to say. About that issue and you said you talked about an investigation bipartisan investigation and commission in any way that you want to do through the intelligence committee. You oppose were going to follow the regular order its an important subject, and we intend to review it on the bipartisan basis. In your statement there critique of the Obama Administration reset with russia or attempt to war with russia. Is it like wise concern to you the signal that are coming from the new administration on the top of a attitude and orientation and more friend friendliness with appointment and statements . Let me speak for myself, the russians are not our friends. Invaded crimea, senator mccain and i had some democratic friends met with the delegation from the baltic countries just this past week. To say that theyre nervous about the russians to put it mildly. Let me also say as ive said last year nato is important. We intend to keep the commitments that are made in the nato agreement which i think by any object will be one of the most if not the most successful military alliance in the world history. And i think we ought to approach all of these issues on the assumption that the russians do not wish us well. Connell is it a problem, though, that thing incoming president is sending resource signals to russia that he is sending and what hes to say about his supposed appointment [inaudible] im going to say this a lot of times but saying i addressed how i feel about the russians, and i hope that those who are going to be in position to responsibility in the new Administration Share my u view. You mentioned your confidence but are you concerned that president elect continues to deny october conclusion that russia was behind the hacking and now questioning the credibility of the cia . [laughter] look, ive already addressed my own view about where we are on those issues, and i really dont have any intention of further elaborating. Yep. Should president elect trump nominate secretary of state do you have any concern about a nominee to benefit from [inaudible] russia . Ive been very impressed with the nomination so far. And well have to wait and see who is nominated for secretary of state and well, obviously, treat whoever that is with respect and go through the regular process and respond to questions and see where it comes out. [inaudible] do you think confirmed in the senate . Lets wait until we get nominees. I think of the nominees that were already aware of, i think im optimistic that theyll all be confirmed. But i dont to accommodate comment on kind of a fan of nominee today. Yep. [inaudible] one more time to clarify for us it was reported over the weekend that you want exe expressed skepticism [inaudible] can you clarify for us . I clarified for you what i had to say about that in the statement that i read at our opening. Yeah. Can you state, though, this president elect is getting on such a great footing with the intelligence overall with the general you know, trajectory that is getting on right now . Well ill comment on who has been nominate sod far. I think pompeo is a great choice and im optimistic to have a Good National security team. All aspects of it in place. With regard to his relationship with the Intelligence Agency i think i pretty well covered that. Yeah. Senator mcconnell [inaudible] three year transition to replace obamacare and saying thats too long. Do you agree that too long to wait three years to replace obamacare . Let me just make sure everybody understands this status quo is not sustainable. The notion that we could do nothing and allow the current law to implode is unacceptable. So i hope no one believes no action. Is possible or appropriate. Therefore, we will move right after the first of the year on an obamacare replacement revolution. And then well work to come up with a better proposal than current law because current law is simply unacceptable and not sustainable. And well be working with the various stakeholders to get their best advice about what comes next. And with regard to the phasein period, the timing of all of that, that is yet to be determined. But let me just say again, doing nothing is not an option because you have seen the headline all across america. All last year about this status quo. Personal preference [inaudible] when we get through how we do that ill be happy to let you know. Stakeholders that you said youll be working with are also warning about danger that would come if replacement that were not established before it would happen. A Hospital Medical association, do you how does that factor into your decision . None of those poem that you mention are happy with a status quo. They want changes too. And were going to work with them to come up with a better situation than this monstrosity that was left behind by the Obama Administration. Any framework established before you endure in terms of what a replacement would look like. At the first of the year move forward first with the obamacare replacement revolution. What comes next is what comes next. In other words legislatively, then we will determine what the replacement is going to be. While youre trying to put together that replacement is one of your principles to cover as many [inaudible] well l85 of americans have coverage. And still roughly 25 million who dont. So if coverage was the issue obamacare was a failure. Surely, we can do better for the the people that means as ive said earlier move first with obamacare replacement resolution and then come with the replacement actually will be. Yep. Senator suggested replacement will be phased in over time that his a lota lot of people on lettingr plan, that will be separate. I dont know how many times i have to say the same they think. But were going to be working in the phasein period and what it looks like once we get to step two, step one is obamacare replacement resolution which well turn to after the first of the year. Paul back on russia, what exactly will the Intelligence Community be doing and is this just going to be in the Intelligent Community and the house have some sort of role here . Yeah, senator mccain i think senator burr will both be looking at this issue and dong it on a bipartisan basis as i indicated in my statement. Walk us through the fiscal budget solution on the house side [inaudible] your thoughts that it will be the same type of document from the senate side and then see any legislation on that side of the aca repealing with . We anticipate doing two budget revolutions this year. The first will be the Obamacare Repeal resolution. And then we will to one later in the spring which will largely be dedicated to tax reform. So it will be two this year. And they will set up reconciliation follow on vehicle for us to address two very important issues of president elect talked about about and we all care about repealing and replacing Obama Obamacare and imrensive comprehensive tax reform single biggest reason for that is our tax structure. Which makes it very difficult very instances to see the Corporate Tax rate and individual tax rate that most businesses use as well is way too high and uncompetitive situation. Now president elect made it clear to make a move on as many regulatory changes as he can as soon as he takes office. Much of that was done by executive order or regulation of one kind or another and two biggest impediment is overregulation and tax structure and president elect seems to be committed to eases draying both of those and republican majority in the House Majority as well. Past year was getting regular order restored [inaudible] passing spending bills on time, in response to decades, obviously, failed in that i didnt. The democrats as just a refresh your memory they decided to ball up the process which you can do if you have enough of a minority to do it because they us to end new ar end situation like we did and see if we have a different view next year. I hope so. I gave up to six weeks to try to process individual appropriation bills. The democrats wouldnt let them out of the senate. So put the failure where it belongs. But [inaudible] will be smaller next year true is same in the house. I guess im wondering why any data next year or should we . Well, i hope so. There would be enough Senate Democrat tousle baa the process up if they choose to what end, though . I think what they concluded look this past year was that when they have a president that they like, balling up the process give the president a lot of cloud at the end of the year, and actually benefited them. It will be interesting to see if they think balling up the process when you have a different president of a Different Party in the white house make sense. Maybe theyll have more incentive to cooperate to get back to regular corporation process which i speaker and i would both very much like to do. Call on them. It certainly was this year, and minority in the senate is not irrelevant unless it is a tiny minority. Senator last week democrats tried to get the president elect to weigh in on the [inaudible] by america did you see him or encouraged to stay out of it. What do you make out of the fact that he didnt stay . My own view on that is the Coal Miner Health care issue yatd hoped we would get a full year. We ended up getting enough fix through the deer it duration of cr and my goal to get that Coal Miner Health care issue fixed. [inaudible] in the past it shall for the first time it expires, are republicans going to take any affirmative action to reduce the debt and commit to nato and tax reform paying towards bills et cetera, in doing things like talked about before the election you hope to do next year like medicare and Social Security which are very difficult. Again i can only speak for myself. But i think this level of National Debt is dangerous. And unacceptable. And so whatever we choose to do next year i hope we will not lose sight. Steps that we could take that would exasperate the problem, so i am concerned about it. And all of those things i think we ought to take into consideration all each of the things that we do going forward. So president elect has talked about a massive plan over a trillion dollars a lot of other huge tax cuts which had nonpartisan expert naturally [inaudible] do you mitt to mine is to be revenue neutralo the government. That is not exasperate the issue that you raised. And on the infrastructure issue, it will be interesting to see how this is put together. We want to it see im interested in seeing what is the administration going to recommend . And i think that details are really important. What i hope we will clearly avoid and im confident we will, is trillion dollar stimulus and nobody bought too many things. It seemed to me basically what it did was bust up a bunch of federal accounts, and when you looked around trying to find examples of things that actually occurred they were darn few. So we need to do this carefully and correctly, an the issue of thousand pay for it needs to be dealt with responsibly. So wont be a legacy question im curious how you would describe yours last eight years and describe your relationship working so far with donald trump how long you speak and i understand it is regularly with a speaker. I think barack obama is a very smart guy. He wanted to most move the couny significantly to the left and he did. He did it the first two years because he had toalings total control of congress. 2 trillion surplus. And then i was wrong in my prediction three times. I thought after the 2010 election, president obama would pivot to the center. He did the do that. I thought after the 2012 election an didnt get the house election back, im sure after the 2014 election he would pivot to the . Ergs and he department it that. Clear over the last eight years that the president wanted to move america significantly to the left. What i would call the europeanization of america. High taxes, overregulation, and what you get in the end is slow growth and weve been underperforming from a growth point of view through these years a recession in world war ii. So if you bear in mind that thats what he wanted to do, i think he moved the country significantly in a european direction. The good news for us is that a lot of that was tone by executive orders and regulation. And to get the country going again, my view is as bs earlier we have to deal with a regulatory onslot and tax reform to take our foot off the brake to get it on the accelerator. And so i think that president was very effective at doing what he wanted to do. Bear in mind, reagan never had the house for eight years. He moved to the middle, raise the age for Social Security in the last comprehensive tax reform 30 years ago. Clinton when he lost the house and senate did welfare reform. And we balance the budget three years in a row. I think we can safely say that president obama he was not centuryist and with regard to the new president we have a different relationship, and hes a very high energy person. Just to give you an example. And talking about colleagues on the floor last week it was astonishing how many are talking to him. He is very, very excessable. Very energetic i wonder if the man ever sleeps, and i think were all excited about the energy and the direction that hes seems to want to take the country and best evidence of that is appointments that have been made so far all of which i think have been, you know, pretty impressive. Senator mcconnell during obama year you said debt ceiling should be instrument [inaudible] do you want to apply that principle during the trump year to view that as the instrument on one occasion it was, budget control in august of 2011. Actually did end up reducing Government Spending for two years in a row for the First Time Since the korea i can war, and the much reviled sequester s put a lot of pressure on domestic discretionary spending. And there have been other time when is we have raised the debt ceiling and not increase with some effort to reduce spending. But at least on that one o caution i think it was brought us all to the table. First of three deals idea with the Vice President who is transactional and terrific negotiator and i think if the president had wanted had wanted to do more deals with us he would have designated biden but that was in the first term there were three major deals negotiated in the first term. I did all three of them with with biden, the august 2011 budget control act, going back with the year before the twoyear century and tax cut the end of 2010 and fiscal cliff de