| 00:00:01 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
LAMAR ALEXANDER, REPUBLICAN FROM TENNESSEE, WELCOME. DAVID, YOU HAVE THE FIRST QUESTION. >>
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| 00:00:10 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SENATOR ALEXANDER, YOU ANNOUNCED YOU WILL STEP DOWN FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE. HE SAID IT WOULD BE LIBERATING. WHAT IS IT THAT HE MIGHT...
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| 00:00:28 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
WILL NOT CHANGE. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TWO CALLS FOR MITCH MCCONNELL THIS MORNING. INSTEAD OF SPENDING MY TIME ON LEADERSHIP, I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES...
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| 00:01:11 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BIPARTISAN EFFORTS IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER, MOST NOTABLY THE GANG OF SIX TRYING TO GET A BIG DEBT DEAL. THEY GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION. 36 ARE SUPPORTIVE....
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| 00:01:51 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A PART OF THE SENATE DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT OPERATES BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. EACH SENATOR HAS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE. WHAT I CAN DO IS MAKE...
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| 00:02:42 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE LEADERSHIP FOCUS ON, IF NOT RESULTS? >> THE LEADERSHIP HAS TO
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| 00:02:47 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TAKE POSITIONS THAT REFLECT THE CAUCUS FEELINGS AT THE MOMENT. SOON AFTER I CAME TO THE SENATE, WE WERE STUCK WITH THE NUCLEAR OPTION. REPUBLICANS WERE...
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| 00:03:28 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HAVE SAID THIS IS AN ABOUT FACE FOR YOU TO MOVE UP THE LEADERSHIP RANKS. THERE HAVE BEEN STORIES THAT SAID IF YOU HAD BEEN ASSURED OF THE WHIP SPOT IN...
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| 00:03:45 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
NOT TRUE. I COULD STAY IN MY CURRENT POST FOR ANOTHER TWO AND A HALF YEARS. I AM ELIGIBLE TO DO THAT. I AM ELECTED UNTIL NEXT YEAR. I THINK WE'RE ALL...
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| 00:04:25 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
EYEING A CHAIRMANSHIP? >>
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| 00:04:26 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OF COURSE. YOU GET THOSE BY SENIORITY. IF I AM CHAIRMAN OF THE COUPLE OF COMMITTEES AND HAVE BEEN HERE NINE OR 10 YEARS, HOPEFULLY I HAVE ENOUGH RESPECT...
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| 00:05:01 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
PROBLEM WITH THE SENATE THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TRYING TO BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS THE AISLE? HOW MUCH HAS THAT CHANGED IN THE 8 1/2 YEARS YOU HAVE...
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| 00:05:16 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HABIT OF MAKING OUR SPEECHES, OF PROVING OUR CREDENTIALS. AFTER WE DO THAT, THE PEOPLE EXPECT US TO GET RESULTS. IT COMES TO WHAT WE NEED ON ROADS, DEBT,...
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| 00:05:43 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SO FAR, THE SENATE? >>
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| 00:05:47 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE SENATE IS NOT AS PRODUCTIVE AS IT COULD BE, BUT IT IS MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN IT LOOKS LIKE. IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WE HAVE PASSED A PATENT BILL. THAT...
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| 00:06:17 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
LAST REVISED IN THE 1950'S. IT TOOK 60 YEARS. THE FAA BILL HAS BEEN ON AUTOPILOT FOR EIGHT YEARS OR 18, I DO NOT QUITE REMEMBER. WHEN YOU SAY THESE...
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| 00:06:35 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE WORD EFFICIENCY, I HOPE. THERE'S NOTHING EFFICIENT ABOUT THE SENATE, NOR HAS THERE EVER BEEN. IT WAS DESIGNED TO SLOW THINGS DOWN. IT DOES A GOOD...
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| 00:08:30 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CONGRESS DOES NOT DO COMPREHENSIVE WELL, THE BIG THINGS. LOOKING AT THE $15 TRILLION IN DEBT, THAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE ISSUE. HOW DO YOU REQUIRWIRE...
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| 00:08:57 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
NOT DO COMPREHENSIBLE. WE WILL HAVE TO REDUCE THE DEBT STEP-BY-STEP. STEP ONE WAS WHAT NOBODY LIKED BUT WHAT I THINK WAS A GOOD STEP. THE DEAL IN AUGUST,...
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| 00:09:50 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ANY WAY THE REPUBLICANS MIGHT AGREE TO A DEAL THAT INCREASES GOVERNMENT REVENUES? >> WE WILL
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| 00:09:56 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HAVE TO SEE. A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS BEFORE MAKING THAT DECISION. SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I HAVE SAID THAT...
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| 00:10:37 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AS INCREASED TAXES? >> I AM NOT GOING TO TRY
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| 00:10:41 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TO WRITE THE BILL BEFORE I SEE IT. I AM NOT ON THAT COMMITTEE. I WILL RESERVE THE OPTION -- I HOPE THEY CONSIDER EVERYTHING. I WILL NOT TRY TO SAY...
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| 00:10:57 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
NEW FRESHMEN IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE CHANGED THE OVERALL ATMOSPHERE? IT FEELS AS IF THE HOUSE, AS IF IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO PASS ANYTHING...
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| 00:11:31 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THEY HAVE MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE. THAT SHOWS OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM WORKS WELL. WHAT WE HAVE HAD FOR MANY YEARS IS A SYSTEM WHERE MOST OF THE FORCES WERE...
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| 00:12:24 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
FRUSTRATION WITH THAT WING OF THE PARTY IN TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE? >> ANYBODY WHO
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| 00:12:31 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
GETS EASILY FRUSTRATED SHOULD NOT BE A UNITED STATES SENATOR. >> BUT DO YOU FEEL ANY
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| 00:12:38 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SORT OF FRUSTRATION? >> I SERVED IN
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| 00:12:42 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE BODY THAT LITERALLY OPERATES BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. ANYONE, THE TEA PARTY SENATOR OR A SOCIALIST FROM VERMONT CAN STOP THE TRAIN. THAT CAN BE FRUSTRATING...
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| 00:13:13 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES THAT NEED TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE. HOW HARD WAS THAT TO GET THEM? >>
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| 00:13:21 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IT WAS HARD. ALL THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE SENATE HAVE TRIED TO DO THAT FOR 20 YEARS. SENATORS REID AND MCCONNELL TRIED TO DO IT AS WHIPS. WE GOT IT DONE....
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| 00:14:13 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE CASE THAT SENATOR MCCONNELL DOES NOT WANT TO LET ANYTHING PASSED BY MAJORITY VOTE? >> HE WANTS
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| 00:14:21 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
60 VOTES. SENATOR MCCONNELL BELIEVES MOST THINGS REQUIRED 60 VOTES. WE COULD STILL GET 60 VOTES. SENATOR MCCONNELL WILL SAY TO SENATOR REID THAT IF YOU...
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| 00:14:49 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THAT SOMETIMES THE REASON HE DOES NOT WANT TO BRING A BILL TO THE FLOOR IS BECAUSE HE IS BRINGING A BILL TO THE FLOOR ABOUT FUNDING NATIONAL PARKS AND...
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| 00:15:18 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE 1980'S WHEN SENATOR BYRD AND SENATOR BAKER RAN THE SENATE, YOU DID NOT HAVE TO CHECK WITH THEM TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT. THEY WOULD JUST OPENED A BILL...
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| 00:16:08 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
DOWN IN GENERAL, YOU SAID IT WOULD BE LIBERATING. WHAT ABOUT BEING IN LEADERSHIP IS NOT A LEADER -- LIBERATING? >> YOU
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| 00:16:18 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HAVE TO REFLECT THE MAJORITY OF YOUR CAUCUS. SOMETIMES EVEN THE MINORITY OF YOUR CAUCUS. YOU HAVE TO WORK AROUND -- IF YOU ARE IN THE HUDDLE AND THE...
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| 00:17:02 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
NOT LIKE THE WAY THE SENATE IS OPERATING NOW UNDER R EID. WANT TO SEE SOME CHANGES. IF THINGS DO NOT CHANGE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU RUNNING AGAIN...
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| 00:17:16 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
RUN AGAIN IN 2014. I UNDERSTOOD THE SENATE WHEN I CAME. YOU HAVE TO WORK TO GET THINGS DONE. I WORKED FOR TWO YEARS TO PASS THE ACT ABOUT OUR OUR COUNTRY...
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| 00:17:49 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ISSUES BELOW THE RADAR OF WHAT WE COVER THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO WORK ON? >> I WOULD LIKE TO FIX NO
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| 00:17:58 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CHILD LEFT BEHIND. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE CLEAN AIR LAWS INSTEAD OF THE REGULATIONS THAT COME OUT. I WANT TO BE A VOICE THAT SAYS NOT TO ALLOW...
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| 00:18:33 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ARE NOT ENOUGH VOICES TO MAKE THAT PART OF THE REPUBLICAN PROGRAM. >> WE LIKE TO
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| 00:18:39 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TALK ABOUT TAXES AND REGULATION. THAT IS WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT AT THE BIG DINNERS. I FOUND OUT WHEN GEORGE W. BUSH TALKED ABOUT EDUCATION WHEN HE PASSED...
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| 00:19:12 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THAT IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN SO FAR? WHERE DO YOU THINK OF THE CANDIDATE? >> I
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| 00:19:21 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
LIKE THE THREE GOVERNORS. I AM BIASED TOWARDS THE GOVERNORS. I THINK THEY EACH HAVE SHOWN STRONG LEADERSHIP QUALITIES. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS A GREAT MANY...
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| 00:20:11 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AGREE WITH GOVERNOR. PERRY ON HIS VIEWS ON SOCIAL SECURITY THAT IT IS A PONZI SCHEME? HE HAS SAID THAT IN THE PAST. HE HAS SET IN THE PAST IT SHOULD...
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| 00:20:42 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ONE- AND-A-HALF TIMES AND I WILL NOT GET INTO THAT RACE. I LIKE ALL THREE OF THEM. PERRY HAS MADE SOME STATEMENTS THAT DO NOT SOUND COMPLETELY PRESIDENTIAL....
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| 00:21:11 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS NEVER CREATED A JOB. DO YOU BELIEVE GOVERNMENT -- HAS SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER CREATED A JOB. >> THE GOVERNMENT CREATES
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| 00:21:23 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE SHOULD BE MAKING IT EASIER AND CHEAPER FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CREATE JOBS. I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT GOVERNOR PERRY IS...
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| 00:21:36 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
DECIDES IT IS GOING TO SPEND $3 MILLION TO BUILD A ROAD. IT SENDS THE MONEY TO THE STATE. THE STATE HIRES CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. THAT IS NOT CREATING...
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| 00:21:50 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THAT IS NOT THE GOAL. THE GOAL OF CREATING HIGHWAYS IS NOT TO CREATE CONSTRUCTION JOBS. THE GOAL IS SO THAT TENNESSEE CAN HAVE A GOOD HIGHWAY SYSTEM...
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| 00:22:20 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
NOT REALLY GIVE US YOUR VIEWS ON SOCIAL SECURITY. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM? >> I THINK THE SOCIAL
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| 00:22:31 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SECURITY PROGRAM IS IN TROUBLE. THIS YEAR, IT HAS MORE MONEY GOING OUT THEN COMING IN. IT IS IN A LOT LESS TROUBLE THAN MEDICARE. THIS YEAR, YOU PAY...
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| 00:23:18 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
YOU THINK YOU COULD ADEQUATELY GET THAT MESSAGE OUT TO THE PUBLIC? THE LAST FEW TIMES PEOPLE HAVE CUT MEDICARE, THERE HAS BEEN A VIOLENT REACTION FROM...
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| 00:23:29 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS ELECTED AND OFFERED TO WORK WITH HIM ON SOCIAL SECURITY. HE NEVER HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT ABOUT IT....
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| 00:24:04 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR THE SUPER COMMITTEE AT WORK TRYING TO COME UP WITH A DEBT REDUCTION PLAN? >> I AM
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| 00:24:12 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OPTIMISTIC. WE NEED FOR THEM TO SUCCEED. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEM NOT SUCCEEDING ARE PRETTY SEVERE BECAUSE OF THE BUILT-IN PENALTIES. 1/3 OF THE SENATE...
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| 00:24:36 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
US ON "NEWSMAKERS." WE ARE BACK WITH OUR TEAM OF REPORTERS -- TWO REPORTERS. LAMAR ALEXANDER IS STEPPING DOWN IN JANUARY FROM HIS LEADERSHIP POST AS CONFERENCE...
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| 00:25:03 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OF TRYING TO WORK ACROSS PARTY LINES WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP. HE AND SENATOR SCHUMER WORK ON LEGISLATION TO CUT DOWN ON THE TIME CONSUMING CONFIRMATION...
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| 00:25:40 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IS WHAT HE SEEMS TO BE SAYING IN HIS FEELING LIBERATED FROM LEADERSHIP IS WHETHER THE LEADERSHIP ITSELF IS SO BOUND TO THE PARTY LINE THAT MAKES THE...
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| 00:26:37 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TO DO WITH THE QUARTERBACK SAYS. DID YOU HEAR THAT HE DID NOT LIKE THE PLAY IS BEING CALLED? >>
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| 00:26:43 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
I DID NOT HEAR THAT. HE SAID THERE WERE A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN HE DOES NOT. NO ONE GOES INTO THE LEADERSHIP WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ARE PART OF...
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| 00:27:23 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
FOR LEGISLATION? VIEWERS KNOW THERE IS THE DEFICIT REDUCTION COMMITTEE WORKING ON THE $1.2 TRILLION IN SAVINGS. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR LEGISLATION...
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| 00:27:40 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OLD-FASHIONED BRIDGE ACROSS THE AISLE THAT KENNEDY WAS BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY. TRENT LOTT TRIED TO DO IT EARLIER THIS DECADE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT HE...
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| 00:28:18 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BEING ON "NEWSMAKERS." >> NEXT, "DAY
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NOTE: The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.