Charting The Next 100 Days Of Donald Trump's Presidency | Morning Joe

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "MORNING JOE."
7:24 ON THE EAST COAST. PRESIDENT TRUMP WROTE IN "THE
WASHINGTON POST" IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS I KEPT MY PROMISE TO
AMERICANS. AFTER DECADES OF A SHRINKING
MIDDLE CLASS, OPEN BORDERS AND MASS OFFSHORING OF AMERICAN JOBS
AND WEALTH, THIS GOVERNMENT IS WORKING FOR THE CITIZENS OF OUR
COUNTRY AND NO ONE ELSE. THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT MEDIA
THAT CONCEALED THESE PROMISE AND PROFITED FROM THEM IS OBVIOUSLY
NOT GOING TELL THIS STORY. THAT IS WHY WE'RE TAKING OUR
MESSAGE DIRECTLY TO AMERICA. WE'RE PROVING THAT BY AND HIRE
AMERICAN ISN'T THE SLOGAN BUT THE POLICY OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. IT, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER THINGS
WE'RE DOING, WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
NO LONGER WILL WE LISTEN TO THE SAME FAILED VOICES OF THE PAST.
THE WHITE HOUSE IS ONCE AGAIN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO BE THE PEOPLE'S
PRESIDENT. ALSO IN "THE WASHINGTON POST,"
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE DENT AND DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN
JIM HYMES WROTE ABOUT WHAT LAWMAKERS WANT TO GET DONE.
THEY WRITE NEARLY EVERY SUBSTANTIAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION
PASSED SINCE 2011 HAS BEEN THE PRODUCT OF COALITIONS BETWEEN
PRAGMATIC REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WILLING TO PUT
PARTISANSHIP ASIDE. NOW QUESTIONS ARE RIPE FOR THIS
TO BECOME THE NORM RATHER THAN THE LAST RESORT.
THE UNFOLDING DRAMA OF THE LONG PROMISE REPEAL OF THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT GAVE THE ADMINISTRATION IN CONGRESS A BRACING LESSON IN
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAMPAIGNING AND GOVERNING.
IDEOLOGICAL PURITY IS A RECIPE FOR CONTINUED BITTERNESS, A
DIVIDED NATION AND STALEMATE. FAIL TO SEEK COMMONALTY WILL
THREATEN MORE THAN OUR CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND
REPUTATIONS, IT PUTS OUR GOVERNMENT AT RISK.
WE OWE IT TO OUR COUNTRY TO DO BETTER.
CONGRESSMAN DENT JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON
THE PROGRAM. >> LET'S HAVE YOU ELABORATE A
LITTLE BIT ON THAT IF YOU WOULD. SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
NOT JUST TO PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT MEMBERS OF YOUR OWN CAUCUS BUT
BROADER CONGRESS ABOUT THE WAY FORWARD HERE.
>> YES, WE ARE. IN FACT, I GUESS THE BIG ISSUE
IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF JUST WHAT WE TALKEDED
ABOUT IN THAT OP-ED THIS WEEK. WE'RE GOING TO PASS A BILL THAT
WILL REQUIRE A BIPARTISAN COALITION.
THERE WON'T BE 218 VOTES FOR THIS.
WE KNOW THAT. THAT'S THE CASE FOR THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS WHETHER IT WAS ON HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF, DEBT
CEILINGS, CONTINUED RESOLUTIONS, BUDGET ISSUES.
WE PUT TOGETHER BIPARTISAN COALITIONS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS. I SUSPECT THAT'S THE CASE GOING
FORWARD. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CAN
HAPPEN WITH HEALTH CARE? WE'VE SEEN ON THE FIRST
GO-AROUND LAST MONTH IT WAS HELD UP BY THE FREEDOM CAUCUS AND NOW
SECOND GO-AROUND APPEARS TO BE HELD UP BY THE MORE MODERATES IN
THE CAUCUS. DO YOU SEE THESE NOT JUST
BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BUT WITHIN YOUR OWN
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS THESE FACTIONS COMING TOGETHER TO GET HEALTH
CARE PASSED? >> WELL, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
THE HEALTH CARE BILL IN ITS CURRENT FORM ALONG WITH THE
AMENDMENT THAT'S OFFERED. I ARGUED WE NEED TO DO HEALTH
CARE FROM THE CENTER OUT AND WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY TO TRY TO DO A SUSTAINABLE REFORM.
I SUSPECT WE SHOULD WORK ON FIXING THE INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE
MARKET. I KNOW DEMOCRATS KNOW THAT
THAT'S BROKEN UNDER OBAMACARE AND WORK TO REPEAL SOME OF THE
TAXES IF HEALTH CARE LAW. WE CAN DO IT FROM THE CENTER
OUT. RIGHT NOW I BELIEVE WE AS
REPUBLICANS MIGHT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES DEMOCRATS DID WHERE
DEMOCRATS MUSCLED OBAMACARE THROUGH.
WE SHOULDN'T MAKE THAT SAME MISTAKE IN 2017.
>> HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT ABOUT YOUR
POSITION AND THINKING ON THIS GOVERNING FROM THE MIDDLE OUT?
>> I NEVER HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT.
I HAVE MET WITH HIM TWICE ON HEALTH CARE.
I'VE NEVER HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH HIM ON GOVERNING FROM THE
CENTER OUT. I THINK WE HAVE TO GET REAL
ABOUT THIS. WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD TO DO
IT ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS. WHAT PART OF THE LAST SIX YEARS
HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE MISSED IN CONGRESS?
EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD TO DO AGAIN INCLUDING THIS WEEK ON THE
OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL BIPARTISAN COALITION.
SAME THING ON THE DEBT CEILING. >> CHARLIE, WHAT'S HIS POSITION
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR POSITION ON HEALTH CARE INSTEAD
OF WE KEEP HEARING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FROM THE FREEDOM CAUCUS
TALKING ABOUT OPTS OUT INCLUDING BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, LIFE GIVING
ELEMENTS OF HEALTH CARE. WHAT DOES HE SAY WHEN YOU TALK
TO HIM ABOUT YOUR POSITION? >> WELL, THE ISSUES I RAISED
WITH THE PRESIDENT AND WITH OUR HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP ARE
THESE. THE MEDICAID PROVISIONS IN THE
BILL DO NOT PROVIDE A SOFT ENOUGH LANDING.
WE SHOULD BE CONSULTING WITH REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS WHO GAVE US
A THOUGHTFUL PROPOSAL TO MAKE SURE STATES HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY
AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO CARE FOR PEOPLE.
THERE WOULD NOT BE A COST SHIFT IF WE ADOPT THEIR PROPOSAL.
MY SUGGESTIONS ON MEDICAID HAVE NOT BEEN PARTICULARLY WELL
RECEIVED. THE OTHER ISSUE, TOO, IS ONCE
PEOPLE ARE MOVED OFF MEDICAID, THEY'LL BE FORCED INTO THE
EXCHANGES. UNDER THE CURRENT BILL, THE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF A TAX CREDIT IS ABOUT $4,000.
I SUSPECT A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD INSURANCE ON
THE EXCHANGES SO THEY'LL GO BARE OR NAKED AND THEY'LL BE
UNINSURED. THOSE ARE SOME OF MY CONCERNED.
TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE LOSING COVERAGE.
THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS.
I VOTED AGAINST OBAMACARE IN 2010.
I'VE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE LAW. >> IT LOOKS LIKE THE WAY THE
LEADERSHIP AND WHITE HOUSE WANT TO PROCEED IS NOT FOLLOWING YOUR
ADVICE ON HEALTH CARE BUT TO HAVE A PARTISAN ONLY VOTE THIS
WEEK ON THE BILL. DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A
VOTE? DO YOU THINK IT WILL PASS AND DO
YOU THINK ANYONE THAT VOTES FOR IT COULD LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE
THEY VOTE FOR IT? >> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE
WILL BE A VOTE THIS WEEK OR NOT. LIKE WITH ANYTHING ELSE, THERE
WILL NOT BE A VOTE UNLESS THERE ARE 216 VOTES FOR IT.
THE WORST THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS PUT UP A BILL AND THEN WATCH
IT BE DEFEATED. THAT'S THE WORST THING FOR THE
PEOPLE TO BE VOTING FOR IT. SO I REALLY CAN'T TELL YOU TODAY
IF THE VOTES ARE GOING TO BE THERE IT ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS
AMENDMENT THAT'S OFFERED DOES WEAKEN PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE
WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR MANY OF
THE CENTER RIGHT MEMBERS WITH WHOM I'M AFFILIATED WITH.
>> CONGRESSMAN, YOUR OP-ED WAS ABOUT THE NEXT 100 DAYS.
WHAT WAS MOST SURPRISING ABOUT THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S TIME IN OFFICE FOR YOU? >> WELL, IT WAS INTERESTING.
HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOME THINGS PARTICULARLY ON THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER FRONT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD ON THE KEYSTONE
PIPELINE AS AN EXAMPLE WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR MANY OF US.
THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES ON THE REGULATORY SIDE THAT I THOUGHT
HE MADE SOME GOOD PROGRESS. I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
WERE VARIOUS DISTRACTIONS ON CROWD SIZE AND PRESIDENT OBAMA
SPYING AND THOSE ISSUES. TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS THAT WERE
FRANKLY UNNECESSARY AND SELF-INFLICTED.
I'M HOPING GOING FORWARD WE'LL SEE LESS TWEETING.
A LITTLE BIT MORE SUBSTANTIVE DIALOGUE ON THESE BIG ISSUES
WHETHER IT'S TAX REFORM OR HEALTH CARE OR DEBT CEILING,
WHATEVER IT IS. THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE
FOCUSED AND TRY TO AVOID THESE DISTRACTIONS.
THE PRESIDENT PUT TOGETHER A STRONG FOREIGN POLICY TEAM IN MY
VIEW AND HE'S SEEN SUCCESSES IN THAT REALM.
I JUST RETURNED FROM SOUTH KOREA LAST WEEK.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WE HAD BEEN
PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO CHINA BEING MORE HELPFUL.
>> CONGRESSMAN, DAVID IGNATIUS HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU.
>> CONGRESSMAN, LET ME ASK YOU TO LOOK INSIDE THIS WHITE HOUSE
AND THE POLITICAL BALANCE. IT SEEMED TO MANY OF US THREE
WEEKS AGO THAT STEVE BANNON HARD RIGHT ECONOMIC NATIONALIST WAS
ON HIS WAY OUT AND A CHANCE AFTER THE FAILURE OF THE HEALTH
CARE BILL FOR THE KINDS OF MODERATE VOICES THAT YOU
REPRESENT TO HAVE MORE SAY. NOW IT LOOKS AS IF MAYBE BANNON
IS BACK ON TOP. IS THAT YOUR IMPRESSION?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW. I DO KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY THIS WEEK -- OUR TUESDAY GROUP WILL HAVE A CHANCE
TO MEET WITH SECRETARY MNUCHIN TO DISCUSS TAX REFORM.
ON THESE BIG ISSUES, TAX REFORM, IT LOOKS LIKE MNUCHIN IS DRIVING
THE TRAIN ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE DYNAMICS INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE.
THERE'S A LOT OF MANEUVERING GOING ON.
I'M GETTING THE SENSE THAT THEY HAVE GREAT DEAL OF INFLUENCE.
>> CONGRESSMAN, THE PRESIDENT IN AN INTERVIEW OVER THE WEEKEND
TALKED ABOUT THE UNITED STATES SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.
HE SAID IT'S A ROUGH SYSTEM. HE CALLED IT AN ARCHAIC SYSTEM
AND THINKS SOME THINGS HAVE TO BE CHANGED AND HE'S FRUSTRATED
BY HIS INABILITY TO GET A LEGISLATIVE WIN.
DO YOU THINK CONGRESS WHERE YOU SIT IS ARCHAIC AND NUMBER TWO,
WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE PRESIDENT TRUMP IN DEALING WITH YOU ALL
WHERE HE COULD MAYBE GET SOME VICTORIES?
>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS SYSTEM.
I'LL TELL YOU, A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.
IT'S A WONDERFUL SYSTEM. IT'S THE BEST SYSTEM ANYBODY HAS
YET DEVISED. ALL OF THE OTHERS ARE WORSE AS
FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. IF I WERE THE PRESIDENT, I WOULD
MOVE FORWARD ON INFRASTRUCTURE RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT APPEALS NOT ONLY TO REPUBLICANS BUT
CERTAINLY TO A LOT OF DEMOCRATS. I ALWAYS FELT FROM A STRATEGIC
STANDPOINT I WOULD HAVE STARTED OFF WITH INFRASTRUCTURE TO TRY
TO ATTEMPT TO GET SOME DEMOCRATS ONBOARD.
IT WOULD BE HARD FOR DEMOCRATS TO VOTE AGAINST THAT KIND OF
FUNDING. SO THOSE ARE TYPES OF ISSUES I
WOULD BE PUSHING IF I WERE THE PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU THINK THAT'S STILL ON THE TABLE GIVEN THE BACK AND FORTH
THEY'VE HAD NOW FOR THREE MONTHS AND WE'RE STARTING WITH HEALTH
CARE AND TALKING ABOUT TAX REFORM?
CAN HE STILL GET THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE WITH DEMOCRATS
HELP? >> SURE WE CAN.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAD OVER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS IS TOO
MUCH DIALOGUE ON HEALTH CARE HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY ARTIFICIAL TIME
LINES, ARBITRARY DEADLINES, ALL TO IMPROVE THE BASELINE FOR TAX
REFORM. NOW WE HAVE A TAX REFORM
PROPOSAL, ONE PAGE ANY WAY, THAT DOESN'T APPEAR IT WILL BE PAID
FOR AT THE MOMENT. THAT'S ANOTHER DEBATE.
BUT I THINK THERE'S BEEN TOO MUCH FOCUS ON THESE TIME LINES,
DEADLINES AND BASELINES AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO CHANGE
OUR APPROACH. LET'S HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ON
TAX REFORM. THEY PUT FORWARD A STARTING
POINT. A LOT OF THINGS I DO LIKE.
I THINK WE CAN HAVE A PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE ON TAX REFORM AS WELL
AS INFRASTRUCTURE AND MARRY THE TWO ISSUES TOGETHER AT SOME
POINT. NO LABELS GROUP, PROBLEM

Charting The Next 100 Days Of Donald Trump's Presidency | Morning Joe | MSNBC

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