Dick Durbin: Let's Put The Republican Plan On The Table | Morning Joe

>>> WOULD YOU A PROPONENT OF TRYING TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE
TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE FIXES? >> ABSOLUTELY.
THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, WHETHER YOU'RE A
REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE OR SENATE, SHOULDN'T WE
ALL BE WORKING TOGETHER ON THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE PART AND PAR
SET OF WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS? THIS IS -- THIS IS NOT FOR
REPUBLICANS TO FIX OR DEMOCRATS TO FIX, THIS IS FOR US AS
AMERICANS TO FIX. >>> AMEN.
>>> JOINING US FROM CAPITOL HILL MEMBER OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE DICK DURBIN. WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET
SOME COLLABORATION ON THIS ISSUE?
>> THE BEST STARTING PLACE IS TO USE THE PROCESS OF THE SENATE.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE MAJORITY, WHY DOESN'T LAMAR
ALEXANDER SCHEDULE A HEARING THE FIRST DAY WE'RE BACK AFTER THE
4th OF JULY RECESS. LET'S SUBJECT IT TO SCRUTINY TO
CRITICISM TO AMENDMENT. LET'S HAVE A REAL NATIONAL
DEBATE ABOUT A NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE THEN LET'S BRING IT
TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE. THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE
MAJORITY WHY ARE THEY AFRAID TO DO IT.
THAT'S THE WAY TO BRING ABOUT A BIPARTISAN APPROACH TO THIS
WHOLE CONVERSATION. >> LET'S -- LET'S NOT HAVE AN
EITHER/OR APPROACH. HOW DO WE GET DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS TALKING TOGETHER SAYING REPUBLICANS SAYING, HEY,
LISTEN, THIS PROGRAM IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AT ITS CURRENT
GROWTH RATE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, EVE GOT A PROBLEM.
DEMOCRATS, CAN SAY WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
LEAVE MILLIONS OF POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS BEHIND.
IS THERE MIDDLE GROUND THERE? CAN YOU GUYS FIGURE OUT HOW TO
SIT DOWN AND COME UP WITH A HEALTH CARE BILL THAT'S NOT
GOING TO BE THROWN OUT WITH THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION COMES IN?
>> JOE, THE KEY TO IT IS THE STARTING POINT, YOU KNOW THAT.
IF THE STARTING POINT IS TO HAVE A TAX BREAK FOR THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN AMERICA THEN YOU'LL TAKE MORE MONEY OUT OF THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT MEANS FEWER PEOPLE WILL HAVE
PROTECTION OR HELP IN PAYING THEIR PREMIUMS SO IF YOU TAKE
TAX CUTS OFF THE TABLE. >> REALLY QUICKLY, YOU BROUGHT
UP TAX CUTS. SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU TO WAY IN ON SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS
MORNING, IT'S BECOME OBVIOUS THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T
FOCUSED ON WRITING A BILL BECAUSE THIS HEALTH CARE BILL
ONLY SEEMS TO BE A PRECURSOR TO A HUGE TAX CUT BILL LATER ON?
>> SOMEONE HAS SAID AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON YOUR SHOW, WHEN IT
COMES TO SPECIALTY WORK, THE REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY
SPECIALIST ON TAX CUTS. WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH CARE,
TURN TO THE DEMOCRATS. SO THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE
CAN CREATE A POLITICAL MARRIAGE HERE THAT SAYS WE CAN'T TAKE A
TRILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT
TEN YEARS PRIMARILY FOR TAX CUTS AND EXPECT TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE
WITH HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. THAT'S WITH CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE TOLD US. THE STARTING POINT IF IT'S GOING
TO BE BIPARTISAN HAS TO BE WITH AN AGREEMENT ON STARTING
PRINCIPALS. >> IT'S BRIAN SULLIVAN.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE FIGHT WE'RE HAVING IS ODD.
HEALTH CARE COSTS HAVE BEEN GROWING FOR 50 YEARS,
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS ARE UP 12,000% SINCE 1960, PER CAPITA
SPENDING WAS $150 IN 1960, IT'S $9,000 NOW.
YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 1997.
HEALTH CARE'S BEEN A CRISIS FOR 50 YEARS.
WHEN DO YOU GUYS SIT DOWN AND ADDRESS COSTS?
WHY DOES HEALTH CARE COST SO MUCH IN AMERICA AND WHY DO
AMERICANS CONSUME SO MUCH HEALTH CARE RATHER THAN US JUST
FIGHTING CONSTANTLY ABOUT HOW TO PAY FOR A BILL WE SHOULD
PROBABLY NEVER HAVE? >> YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON ONE OF
THE MAJOR DRIVERS IN TERMS OF INCREASED COST IN HEALTH CARE,
THE COST OF PHARMACEUTICALS, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS NOT DEAL
WITH CONSTRAINING OR REDUCING THE COST OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND
IT SHOULD. I WISH IT HAD FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING. THAT NEEDS TO BE ON THE TABLE.
IF YOU ASK THE AMERICAN FAMILIES AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY
EXECUTIVES THEY'LL TELL YOU THIS IS A BIG DRIVER.
NOW LET ME ALSO SAY TO TELEVISION NETWORKS LIKE YOU'RE
OWN, MSNBC, THIS DIRECTED CONSUMER ADVERTISING BY
PHARMACEUTICALS COMPANIES IS ONLY ALLOWED IN TWO COUNTRIES,
MAYBE THREE NOW. >> YOU SEE SOME DRUG FOR GOUT,
WE SHOULD STOP THAT? IT'S A HUGE INDUSTRY.
>> I CAN TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE THE CONSUMERS WHO DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE SOPHISTICATED ISSUES ABOUT THESE DRUGS TAKE
THE NAME OF THE DRUG INTO THE DOCTOR AND SAY WILL YOU WRITE ME
THIS PRESCRIPTION, TOO MANY OF THEM JUST DO AND THAT DRIVES UP
THE COST OF HEALTH CARE FOR DRUGS THAT ARE NOT EFFECTIVE OR
NECESSARY. SO WE HAVE TO BRING IT ALL
TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO PHARMACEUTICALS AND SIGN ME UP
FOR THAT EFFORT. SHOULD MEDICARE BE ABLE TO
NEGOTIATED PHARMACEUTICAL PRICES, YOU BET IT SHOULD.
LET'S BRING DOWN THE PRICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND FOR THE
GOVERNMENT. >> THIS IS SORT OF A HEALTH CARE
QUESTION. YOU REPRESENT A CITY, CHICAGO,
WHERE IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS PARENT AFTER PARENT AFTER PARENT
IS AFRAID TO LET THEIR CHILD OUTDOORS BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID
THEY MIGHT GET KILLED. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT
THAT HEALTH CARE ASPECT? WE'VE BEEN AT IT AGAIN FOR YEARS
AND DECADES. HANDGUN VIOLENCE, MURDERS.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? >> THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS TO
THIS. LET ME TELL YOU ONE THAT CAME AS
A SHOCK ME. I WENT TO THE COOK COUNTY
JUVENILE FACILITY, I SAT DOWN WITH THESE ADOLESCENCE BEING
CHARGED WITH MURDERS USING GUNS AND I SAT DOWN WITH THE
COUNSELLORS WORKING WITH THEM FOR MONTHS, WHO ARE THESE KIDS,
HOW DID THEY REACH THIS POINT THAT THEY'RE SPRAYING BULLETS
INTO HOMES KILLING GRANDMOTHERS AND BABIES?
92% OF THESE KIDS HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENT TRAUMA OR
HAVE WITNESSED VIOLENT TRAUMA. THINK ABOUT A RETURNING SOLDIERS
WHO GONE THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE WHO NEED A HELPING HAND TO PUT
THEIR LIVES ON A RIGHT PATH, IT'S ONLY ONE ELEMENT BUT A
CRITICAL STARTING ELEMENT TO TRY TO STOP THESE GANG BANGERS FROM
REACHING A POINT IS KILLING A PART OF THE NORMAL ROUTINE OF
THEIR LIVES. SUMMER JOBS.
SO MANY ASPECTS HERE THAT NEED TO BE PART OF IT BUT I HOPE THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL HELP US.
WE NEED THEIR HELPING HAND. >>> WHY IS THE PROBLEM IN YOUR
JUDGMENT SO ACUTE IN CHICAGO? YOU'VE GOT A POLICE FORCE
WORKING HARD AND OVERTIME AS YOU KNOW BUT IN PLACES LIKE NEW YORK
AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE IS A
PROBLEM WITH HANDGUN VIOLENCE AND DEATH BUT NOT NEARLY ON THE
SCALE OF CHICAGO. WHAT IS SPECIFIC TO CHICAGO
THAT'S CAUSING THIS EPIDEMIC IN THAT CITY?
>> THE FLOOD OF GUNS, 40% OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN KIDS ARE
UNEMPLOYED. 20% OF THOSE IN THE HISPANIC
COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR
HANDS. THIS EXPOSURE TO VIOLENT TRAUMA
EARLY IN THEIR LIVES. THEY DON'T HAVE THE CONSTRUCTIVE
EXPERIENCES THAT MANY OF US HAD IN LIFE, A MENTOR IN SCHOOL.
SOMEONE THAT WOULD GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE THEMSELVES
WITH SUMMER JOB. >> WHY CHICAGO, THOUGH?
WHY IS IT SO MUCH MORE ACUTE IN CHICAGO?
WE HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> NO MONEY. >> IN CHICAGO THE NUMBERS ARE SO
MUCH HIGHER. >> I CAN'T EXPLAIN THE VOLUME,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHEN YOU GET TO THE ROUTE CAUSES, I CAN PUT
MY FINGER ON A LOT OF THEM. WE NEED TO SAY TO THE PRESIDENT,
WHEN YOU SAY IN YOUR TWEET WE'RE GOING TO SEND IN THE FEDS,
PLEASE DO. SEND IN THE FEDERAL MONEY.
WE CAN USE IT. >> WHICH PRESIDENT?
PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS FROM CHICAGO.
>> HE DID A LOT FOR THE CITY. LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT IT.
THIS SITUATION IS GRAVE. IT'S SERIOUS.
INNOCENT PEOPLE AND KIDS ARE DYING EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND,
EVERY SINGLE WEEK. WE'VE GOT TO PUT THE RESOURCES
INTO IT. IT ISN'T JUST A MATTER OF
GETTING TOUGH. >> WE APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.
BRIAN, THANK YOU DICK DURBIN. THERE'S NO MONEY.
THEIR CREDIT RATING MAY BE

Dick Durbin: Let's Put The Republican Plan On The Table | Morning Joe | MSNBC

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