TOE-TO-TOE.
WATCH.
>> THE ONE THING I THINK WE CAN
AGREE ON IS WE SHOULDN'T SHUT
DOWN THE GOVERNMENT OVER A
DISPUTE.
AND YOU WANT TO SHUT IT DOWN.
>> NO, NO, NO.
THE LAST TIME, CHUCK, YOU SHUT
IT DOWN.
>> NO, NO.
>> AND THEN YOU OPENED IT VERY
QUICKLY.
>> 20 TIMES.
>> I DON'T WANT TO DO WHAT YOU
DID.
>> 20 TIMES YULED FOR I WILL
SHUT -- YOU CALLED FOR I WILL
SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT IF I
DON'T GET MY WALL.
YOU SAID IT.
>> I WILL TAKE IT.
OKAY?
>> GOOD.
>> IF WE DON'T GET WHAT WE WANT,
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I WILL SHUT
DOWN THE GOVERNMENT.
>> WE DISAGREE.
>> I'M PROUD TO SHUT DOWN THE
GOVERNMENT FOR BORDER SECURITY,
CHUCK.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF THIS
COUNTRY DON'T WANT CRIMINALS AND
PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOTS OF
PROBLEMS AND DRUGS POURING INTO
OUR COUNTRY.
SO I WILL TAKE THE MANTLE.
I WILL BE THE ONE TO SHUT IT
DOWN.
I'M NOT GOING TO BLAME YOU FOR
IT.
THE LAST TIME YOU SHUT IT DOWN,
IT DIDN'T WORK.
I WILL TAKE THE MANTLE OF
SHUTTING IT DOWN.
I'M GOING TO SHUT IT DOWN FOR
BORDER SECURITY.
>> WE BELIEVE YOU SHOULDN'T SHUT
IT DOWN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYBODY.
KENNEDY: WOW, IT WAS LIKE TWO
OLD NEW YORKERS FIGHTING OVER
THE LAST BAGEL.
FOR SOME REASON AFTER THE
MEETING PELOSI REPORTEDLY
QUESTIONED THE PRESIDENT'S
MANHOOD AS IF THINGS WEREN'T
STRANGE ENOUGH.
IT IS UNCLEAR WHICH SIDE TRULY
HAS THE UPPER HAND.
AS FAR AS CONGRESSIONAL VOTES
ARE CONCERNED.
WILL WE SEE A SHUTDOWN AND WHO
IS GOING TO GET THE BLAME?
AND WAS TODAY'S STAND OFF A SIGN
OF WONDERFUL THINGS TO COME ONCE
DEMOCRATS TAKE POWER IN THE
HOUSE?
JOINING ME NOW, HE WILL BE ONE
OF NANCY PELOSI'S SUBJECTS VERY
SOON, KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN.
WELCOME BACK.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.
KENNEDY: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF
THAT ENTERTAINING EXCHANGE?
>>I'M ALL FOR TRANSPARENCY.
I THINK YOU NEED MORE OF THAT.
I'M IN SOME MEETINGS IN
CONGRESS, I WISH THERE COULD BE
CAMERAS THERE.
IF THE VOTERS COULD SEE WHAT
GOES ON, IT WOULD BE BETTER M
KENNEDY: WHO DO YOU THINK CAME
OUT ON TOP OF THIS THREE-WAY
BATTLE ROYALE?
>> TRUMP IS IN A GREAT
NEGOTIATING POSITION BECAUSE THE
LITTLE SECRET THAT NOBODY IS
DISCUSSING IN THE NEWS IS THAT
THE SHUTDOWN WOULD ONLY SHUT
DOWN ONE QUARTER OF ONE QUARTER
OF THE GOVERNMENT.
I DON'T MEAN TO DISAPPOINT
CONSERVATIVES, BUT SO MUCH OF
THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALREADY
FUNDED BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
THE SOLDIERS ARE ALREADY GOING
TO GET PAID FOR A YEAR.
THE MILITARY IS FUNDED.
OKAY?
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES, ALL FUNDED.
THE VA IS FUNDED.
SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE
REALLY IF TRUMP DOES SHUT IT
DOWN, IF IT IS HIS SHUTDOWN,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXTENDED
VACATION FOR NASA WORKERS AND
THE EPA.
THAT'S ABOUT -- I MEAN THERE'S
NOT MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
LESS THAN 10% OF THE GOVERNMENT
THAT WOULD NOT BE FUNDED.
KENNEDY: I KNOW YOU HAVE WRITTEN
VERY TIGHTLY WORDED LEGISLATION
ABOLISHING ENTIRE DEPARTMENTS OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IS THERE ANY WAY IF WE HAVE A
SHUTDOWN LIKE THIS YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES CAN WRITE SOMETHING
THAT SAYS THAT INSTEAD OF, YOU
KNOW, TAKING A LITTLE BIT FROM
HERE AND A LITTLE BIT FROM THERE
AND, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT
WORKERS GET A LITTLE TIME OFF,
THEY WILL GET PAID EVENTUALLY,
CAN WE JUST ABOLISH THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE?
>> WE COULD START THERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
>> THAT WAS YOUR BILL.
I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE PASSED
>> YOU KNOW, THE DEADLINE IS
DECEMBER 31ST, 2018 FOR IT TO
SHUT DOWN IN MY LEGISLATION.
LOOK, EVEN THAT IS ALREADY
FUNDED.
EVEN IN THE SHUTDOWN, IF IT WERE
TO HAPPEN, THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION WOULD BE FUNDED.
THAT'S WHAT NOBODY IS TALKING
ABOUT.
TO BE VERY SERIOUS, THE
PRESIDENT IS IN A VERY GOOD
POSITION BECAUSE IF HE DOES --
IF HE DOESN'T BLINK, AND IF HE
SAYS GIVE ME THE WALL OR I'M NOT
SIGNING THIS BILL, WHAT HAPPENS
IS THE EPA DOESN'T GET FUNDED,
AND SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR AND NASA FOR INSTANCE
AND PEOPLE MAY NOT MISS IT.
THAT'S THE DANGEROUS THING FOR
THE LIBERALS AND THE PROPONENTS
OF BIGGER GOVERNMENT IS WHAT IF
NOBODY CARES AFTER TWO WEEKS
THAT THE EPA IS SHUT DOWN.
KENNEDY: YEAH, THAT'S ALWAYS THE
DANGER OF AN ULTIMATUM IS
SOMEONE LIKES TO BE SINGLE AND
MINGLE AND THAT'S NEVER A GOOD
FEELING.
THE PRESIDENT ALSO THREATENED TO
HAVE THE MILITARY GO BUILD THE
WALL.
I DON'T THINK HE CAN DO THAT.
DO YOU THINK HE CAN DO THAT?
>> PRACTICALLY HE CANNOT DO
THAT.
BUT WHAT I HEARD HIM SAY IS I
WOULD USE THE MILITARY FOR
BORDER SECURITY.
SO I THINK HE COULD, YOU KNOW,
AS HE'S DONE IN THE PAST USE
THEM TO ASSIST THE BORDER AGENTS
THERE, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY
CAN ACTUALLY BE BUILDING A WALL.
CERTAINLY NOT A PERMANENT WALL.
BUT LOOK --
KENNEDY: WHAT IF IT IS ONE OF
THOSE TEMPORARY WALLS THAT'S
ACTUALLY BUILT WITH REALLY GOOD
MATERIAL THAT'S HARD TO BLOW
DOWN WITH HUMANS OR HURRICANES.
>> TEMPORARY WALLS ARE VERY
EXPENSIVE.
KENNEDY: YEAH, THEY ARE.
>> SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD TAKE
DOWN AND PUT UP.
BACK TO THAT POINT, THE MILITARY
IS FULLY FUNDED FOR THE FULL
YEAR.
THAT'S THE THING THAT WE DID
HEAR IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE
IS TRUMP IS IN A VERY GOOD
NEGOTIATING POSITION, IF HE
WANTS TO DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN
BECAUSE THREE QUARTERS OF
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING IS
ALREADY FUNDED FOR A FULL YEAR.
AND 100% OF THE NONDISCRETIONARY
FUNDING.
WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT A
QUARTER OF A QUARTER PERCENT
THAT WOULD NOT GET FUNDED IF THE
PRESIDENT DRIVES THIS HARD
BARGAIN AND DOESN'T GET HIS
WALL.
KENNEDY: I KNOW.
YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO TACKLE
THE NONDISCRETIONARY SPENDING.
>> THAT'S THREE QUARTERS OF THE
GOVERNMENT RIGHT THERE.
KENNEDY: IT IS TOO MUCH.
>> NOT EVEN ON THE TABLE.
KENNEDY: LET'S GET A NEW TABLE.
>> WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A
SPEAKER FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS,
ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT LONGER
THAN THAT, CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND
MEANS AND CHAIRMAN OF BUDGET ET
AND AN EXPERT ON THIS TYPE OF
SPENDING.
KENNEDY: I KNOW HOW TO TINKER
WITH NUMBERS.
I'M A POLICY.
CUT WITH MY GIANT SCISSORS.
>> NONE OF THAT HAPPENED.
KENNEDY: NOTHING, NO.
HE PREACHED THAT.
GOOD JOB, PAUL.
WHILE FUNDING FOR THE WALL IS
CAUSING MAJOR POLITICAL
DIVISIONS, THE PARTIES SEEM TO
BE COMING TOGETHER FOR A
DIFFERENT REASON AND THAT'S
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PRESSURING
MITCH McCONNELL TO HOLD A VOTE
ON THE BILL.
TODAY THE LEADER AGREED SAYING
HE'S GOING TO TAKE IT UP THIS
MONTH.
TODAY IN THE OVAL OFFICE THE
PRESIDENT EXPRESSED HIS DELIGHT.
>> WE JUST HEARD WORD, GOT WORD
THAT MITCH McCONNELL AND THE
GROUP ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING IT
UP FOR A VOTE.
WE HAVE GREAT DEMOCRAT SUPPORT,
GREAT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM,
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO GET HOW LONG?
MANY MANY YEARS.
>> A LONG TIME.
KENNEDY: THE BILL WOULD ALLOW
JUDGES A LITTLE MORE DISCRETION
FOR REDUCING SENTENCES FOR
NON-VIOLENT DRUG CRIMES, ALSO
ASSISTANCE TO HELP INMATES
DEVELOP SKILLS TO READJUST TO
LIFE AFTER PRISON.
WILL THIS GET PASSED BEFORE THE
END OF THE YEAR OR IS TOM COTTON
GOING TO GO IN AND SCREW
EVERYTHING UP, CONGRESSMAN?
>>I THINK IT IS GOING TO PASS IN
THE SENATE.
A VERSION OF IT HAS ALREADY
PASSED IN THE HOUSE.
THE VOTE WAS 360 TO 59.
NOW, THAT VERSION ONLY HAD
PRISON REFORM.
THIS VERSION AS YOU JUST
MENTIONED ALSO HAS SENTENCING
REFORM.
SO SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS GET A
LITTLE QUEASY AT THAT.
THEY WANT TO LOCK THEM UP AND
THROW AWAY THE KEY.
YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF
REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WHO
WOULD VOTE FOR THIS BILL.
WE'VE GET AN EXPEDITED PROCESS
FOR PASSING A BILL.
IF WE KNOW WE CAN GET TWO THIRDS
MAJORITY, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO
RUN IT THROUGH COMMITTEE AND
DEBATE ALL THAT TIME.
WE COULD PASS IT VERY QUICKLY IN
THE HOUSE.
WITH THE TWO THIRDS MAJORITY, IF
THE SENATE WILL PASS IT.
AND IT'S A GOOD BILL.
KENNEDY: IT IS ONE OF THE FEW
AREAS WHERE YOU LIKE TO SEE
BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS BECAUSE
IT'S REALLY NOT SPENDING MONEY.
IT'S ABOUT -- IT'S ULTIMATELY
ABOUT FREEDOM AND REDEMPTION AND
I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT THINGS
FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND
EITHER PARTY TO EMBRACE.
I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD ON
ANYTHING YOU SO CHOOSE, YOUNG
MAN.
>> WELL, I SAY LOCKING PEOPLE UP
IN PRISON IS LIKE SOCIALISM WITH
RESTRAINED MOBILITY; RIGHT?
YOU'RE PAYING FOR THEIR FOOD,
THEIR HEALTHCARE, THEIR HOUSING,
THEIR CABLE TV, AND SO
CONSERVATIVES SHOULDN'T BE
LOCKING FOR EVERYBODY UP BECAUSE
IT'S JUST LIKE SOCIALISM WITH
RESTRAINED MOBILITY.
AND I THINK JUDGES DO NEED MORE
DISCRETION.
REPUBLICANS, WE'RE FOR
REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE FOR LEAVING THINGS TO THE
STATES.
I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE MORE
DISCRETION TO THE JUDGES SO THEY
DON'T END UP LOCKING UP PEOPLE
FOR TOO LONG OF A PERIOD OF
TIME.
AND THE MORE NON-VIOLENT PEOPLE
THAT YOU LOCK UP, THE MORE
VIOLENT CRIMINALS YOU HAVE TO
LET GO BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY SO
MANY JAILS.
KENNEDY: YOU ALSO TAKE
NON-VIOLENT PEOPLE AND TURN THEM
INTO VIOLENT PEOPLE BECAUSE
THEIR LIVES ARE IRREPARABLY
CHANGED BY THE SYSTEM.
LOCK THEM UP.
