Senators Tim Kaine And Michael Bennet Make Case For A Public Option For ACA | Morning Joe

>>> JOINING US NOW, MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH EDUCATION AND LABOR
AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE, TIM KAINE AND MICHAEL BENNETT.
THIS WEEK THEY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE A
PUBLIC HEALTH CARE OPTION TO GO ALONG WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN A
SECOND. SENATOR KAINE, LET ME START WITH
YOU ON THE QUESTION WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS MORNING.
THAT'S THE QUESTION OF WHAT
EXACTLY HAPPENED IN NIGER. CAN YOU BRING US UP TO SPEED ON
WHAT THEY WERE DOING THERE, WHY SERGEANT JOHNSON WAS LEFT THERE
FOR ALMOST TWO DAYS AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE, AND WHY YOU
BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE IN OFFERING AT LEAST CONDOLENCES
TOOK SO LONG? >> WELL, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF
QUESTIONS WE HAVE TO ANSWER ABOUT THIS.
I'M ON THE ARPED SERVICES COMMITTEE AS WELL.
WE'RE DIGGING INTO TRYING TO GET ANSWERS ABOUT IT.
THE REASON WE ARE IN NIGER IS BECAUSE OF THIS ESCALATING WAR
AGAINST ISIS. ISIS HAS CLAIMED CREDIT FOR THIS
PARTICULAR ATTACK. AND THAT 2001 AUTHORIZATION
WHICH SAID WE COULD GO AFTER THE PERPETRATORS OF THE 9/11 ATTACK
TWO YEARS BEFORE THERE WAS AN ISIS IS BEING USED TO JUSTIFY
MILITARY ACTION ALL OVER THE WORLD.
I'VE BEEN CALLING ON MY COLLEAGUES TO TRY TO REFINE THAT
AUTHORIZATION, AND LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THERE'S SORT OF A COVERT ELEMENT TO THIS.
THE WHITE HOUSE DRAFTED A CON DO LENS STATEMENT AND CHOSE NOT TO
PUT IT OUT. THEY WERE SORT OF TRYING, I
THINK TO LOWBALL THAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN NIGER, AND THAT'S
PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE
NEED TO BRING THIS TO LIGHT TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ABOUT HOW
MANY COUNTRIES THE U.S. IS ENGAGING MANY MILITARY ACTIVITY
NOW ON THE BASIS OF THE TWUN AUTHORIZATION.
>> OKAY. LET'S PICK UP ON THAT SENATOR
KAINE. WE'RE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
PHILIPPINES, SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA.
HOW MANY COUNTRIES ARE WE INVOLVED WITH?
>> WELL, IT WOULD BE SCORES AND SCORES OF COUNTRIES IF YOU'RE
JUST TALKING ABOUT TRAINING OR SPECIAL FORCES FOLKS ON THE
TRAIN, TRAINING MILITARIES ON VIRTUALLY CONTINENT.
THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY COUNTRIES IN COMBAT ACTIVITY?
PROBABLY A DOZEN WHERE WE'RE INVOLVED IN MILITARY ACTIVITY OF
SOME KIND USING THE TWUN AUTHORIZATION
AUTHORIZATION. 75% OF PEOPLE NEVER VOTED ON IT.
OWN THOSE WHO DID DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE APPLYING TO MILITARY
ACTIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD. >> SENATOR BENNETT, LET ME CAN
ASK YOU ABOUT CALLING FOR A PUBLIC OPTION, A TERM FAMILIAR
AROUND THE OBAMACARE DEBATE SEVERAL YEARS BACK.
WHY DO YOU THINK NOW IS THE TIME AND WILL YOU HAVE THE VOTES TO
GET IT THROUGH? >> WELL, I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED A
PUBLIC OPTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT. TIM AND I BOTH HEARD FROM OUR
CONSTITUENTS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COLORADO AND RURAL
VIRGINIA THAT IT'S JUST UNREASONABLE TO FORCE PEOPLE TO
BUY INSURANCE WHEN THERE IS NO COMPETITION, PRICE IS HIGH, THE
DEDUCTIBLE IS HIGH, AND THE PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE AN OPTION,
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS VERY STRONG PUBLIC OPTION MEDICARE X
IS ALL ABOUT. WE'RE GOING TO START ROLLING IT
OUT IN RURAL PARTS OF OUR STATES, OR THE PROPOSITION IS
ROLL IT OUT IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATES, AND HAVE EVERYBODY
HAVE ACCESS IN ABOUT THREE YEARS.
WHETHER IT WILL PAST IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
VIRTUALLY NOTHING CAN PASS THESE DAYS IN THE CONGRESS.
I THINK AS PART OF AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE
HAVING NOT SO MUCH WITH OBAMACARE BUT WITH THE AMERICAN
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, THIS OUGHT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO
THAT, AND I AM OPTIMISTIC WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT PASSED.
I'M PLEASED TO HAVE TIM AS OUR CO-KO SPONSOR HERE, BECAUSE I
THINK THAT BRINGS A LOT OF CREDIBILITY TO THE BILL.
>> AND SENATOR -- >> PHIL?
>> SENATOR KAINE, YOUR COLLEAGUE IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS THERE
SENATOR PATTY MURRAY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH LAMAR ALEXANDER
THAT STABILIZES SHORT TERM THE INSURANCE MARKETS.
WE'VE SEEN WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
DO YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN TRUST THIS PRESIDENT AS A DEAL MAKER,
AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT HIS INCONSISTENCIES?
>> THERE'S GREAT INCONSISTENCY, BUT HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO. MICHAEL HAS BEEN PART OF THIS
DEAL-MAKING EFFORT. WE ALL HAVE BEEN, WHEN THE
SKINNY REPEAL VOTE FAILED IN JULY, THAT EFFORT TO TAKE
INSURANCE AWAY FROM 20 MILLION PEOPLE, WE STARTED TO WORK ON A
BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL TO STABILIZE THE INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE MARKET.
WE OWE IT TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO SHOW THEM AFTER SEVEN YEARS
THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING IN HEALTH CARE IN A BIPARTISAN
BASIS. AND I'M REALLY GRATIFIED THAT
LAMAR AND PATTY HAVE PUT THE DEAL ON THE TABLE GIVING STATES
FLEXIBILITY, SIX REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY COME OUT AND SAID
THEY SUPPORT THIS DEAL. MANY DEMOCRATS ARE SUPPORTING
IT. AND I THINK WE CAN GET THIS
PASSED AS PART OF SOME LARGER LEGISLATION THIS YEAR.
AND THEN WE MOVE ON TO THE BIGGER QUESTION OF WHAT DO WE DO
TO FIX HEALTH CARE GOING FORWARD?
I THINK OUR BILL IS A SOLUTION. THE PRESIDENT IS BACKING AND
FORTHING ON THIS AS ON SO MANY OTHER THINGS AS PART OF MAKING
HIM A LITTLE IRRELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE SENATE.
WE'RE MOVING AHEAD ON TRYING TO FIND BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS AND
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET TWEETS GET IN THE WAY.
>> IF I COULD ADD, THERE IS NOBODY IN THE SENATE THAT I HAVE
MORE CONFIDENCE IN THAN LAMAR ALEXANDER.
HE AND PATTY MURRAY ARE RESPONDING TO THE TESTIMONY WE
HEARD ON OUR COMMITTEE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY THAT UNIVERSALLY
CALLED FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS BILL THAT THEY'VE
WRITTEN. SO IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF WE
DIDN'T USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THIS BILL, STABILIZE THE
MARKETS, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTEMPTS TO SABOTAGE THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HAVE BEEN USELESS TO PEOPLE LIVING IN
COLORADO. THIS BILL WOULD HELP US.
>> LET'S HOPE. IMCURIOUS, SENATOR TIM KAINE,
FOR THE SECOND MORNING IN A ROW THE PRESIDENT IS STARTING HIS
DAY WITH TWEETS ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON.
YOUR RUNNING MATE. HE FIRED OFF ANOTHER TWEET
WRITING THE URANIUM DEAL TO RUSSIA WITH CLINTON HELP AND
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION KNOWLEDGE IS THE BIGGEST STORY THAT FAKE
MEDIA DOESN'T WANT TO FOLLOW. WHAT DO YOU THINK -- WHAT DO YOU
MAKE OF THE YEARNING OBSESSION WITH HILLARY CLINTON?
IT'S SAD, BUT ALSO A LITTLE FRIGHTENING AT THIS POINT.
>> LOOK, THERE'S A MORAL VACUUM IN THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW,
AND WHEN THE PRESIDENT FEELS UNDER PRESSURE ON OTHER ISSUES,
HE'LL REVERT BACK TO ATTACKING HILLARY OR BRAGGING ABOUT THE
SIZE OF THE INAUGURATION CROWD. THE THING THAT'S SAD ABOUT ALL
THE INSTANCES, WHETHER IT'S THIS OR THE DUST UP YESTERDAY WITH
THE FAMILY OF THIS POOR SOLDIER KILLED IN NIGER IS WHAT WE'RE
SEEING IS THAT AMERICANS ELECTED SOMEBODY PROMISING GREATNESS
WHEN THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF GOODNESS.
THERE CAN'T BE GREATNESS WITHOUT GOODNESS.
THAT'S WHAT'S LACKING RIGHT NOW. >> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
IT'S OLD SAYING, AMERICA IS GREAT BECAUSE AMERICA IS GOOD.
AND THEN IT CEASES BEING GOOD, IT WILL CEASE TO BE GREAT.
I AM CURIOUS, SENATOR KAINE, DO YOU EVER WAKE UP MORNINGS WITH
AN INSTINCT OR URGE TO TWEET ABOUT MIKE PENCE?
BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, YOU RAN AGAINST HIM 11 MONTHS AGO, I'M
JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAVE -- >> MY SUPPORT GROUP HERE.
>> IF YOU HAVE THE SAME URGES THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS?
>> YOU KNOW, NO. I MEAN, I HAVE MY VICES, BUT THE
DESIRE TO TWEET EARLY IN THE MORNING IS CERTAINLY ON MY VICE
LIST. >> WELL --
>> I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, THAT THIS ATTACK, THIS DAILY ATTACK
ON EDITED CONTENT, ON CURATED CONTENT BY THE AMERICAN
PRESIDENT IS SOMETHING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CANNOT STAND
FOR. THE DEMOCRACY CANNOT WORK WITH
PEOPLE LOSE FAITH IN JOURNALISM, AND THE PRESIDENT KNOWS THAT
WHICH IS WHY HE STARTS EVERY DAY ATTACKING LEADING JOURNALISTS IN
THIS COUNTRY. WE CAN'T STAND FOR IT.
>> BEFORE WE LET YOU GUYS -- >> HE, OF COURSE, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, AND MIKA, HE TWEETED, OF COURSE,
ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, BECAUSE IT WAS COVERED ON "FOX AND
FRIENDS" WHICH, OF COURSE, HE WATCHES AS WELL AS THIS SHOW,
APPARENTLY, IF YOU JUDGE HIS TWEETS, BUT HE DOES NOT GET
BRIEFINGS -- HE DOES NOT GET REGULAR BRIEFINGS, HIS BRIEFINGS
COME FROM WATCHING CABLE NEWS. AND THAT IS -- AS SOMEBODY THAT
WORKS IN THAT PROFESSION, THAT IS TRULY FRIGHTENING.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN CABLE NEWS, AND, YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T WANT TO GET YOUR WHITE HOUSE BRIEFINGS FROM MIKE
BARNICLE OR ME. BUT THINK ABOUT THIS FACT,
THOUGH, THAT HERE WE ARE 11 MONTHS AFTER THE ELECTION.
ELECTION IS OVER. HE'S STILL ATTACKING THE
OPPONENT THAT HE WON WITH THE ELECTORAL VOTES.
I GUESS HE'S STILL ANGRY THAT HE LOST THE POPULAR VOTE BY OVER 3
MILLION VOTES BUT WE HAVE OVER 70% OF AMERICANS AFRAID OF A WAR
OF POSSIBLE NUCLEAR WAR. WE HAVE ONE SIXTH OF THE ECONOMY
HANGING BY A THREAD. WE HAVE HEALTH CARE REFORM GOING
DOWN THE DRAIN. WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT TRYING TO
PASS A BUDGET. WE HAVE THE SENATORS AND THE
CONGRESSMEN TRYING TO GET A FIX ON TAX REFORM.
WE HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS GOING ON.
WE'VE GOT AN IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, AGAIN, HANGING IN THE BALANCE.
WE'VE GOT A DREAMERS DEAL HANGING IN THE BALANCE.
WE HAVE ALL THESE THINGS AHEAD OF US, AND THE PRESIDENT IS
TWEETING ABOUT A POLITICAL OPPONENT FROM A YEAR AGO.
IT IS -- >> THIS GUY WORK FOR THE A SMALL
COMPANY IN THE MIDWEST, HE'S BE DRAGGED OUT.
THERE WOULD BE AN INTERVENTION. >> HE WOULD BE FIRED.
>> BECAUSE HE'D BE THREATENING THE COMPANY.
>> YEAH. IF THE GUY WAS ANYTHING.
IF HE WORKED IN A CHURCH. IF HE WORKED IN A SYNAGOGUE OR
SMALL BUSINESS OR MID SIZE BUSINESS OR A LARGE CORPORATION,
IF HE WERE THE COACH OF A FOOTBALL TEAM, A HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL TEAM, HE WOULD BE FIRED.
AND YET, HERE HE IS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND PEOPLE IN MY FORMER PARTY WON'T EVEN STAND UP TO HIM OTHER
THAN JEFF FLAKE AND ONE OR TWO OTHERS.
>> COMING UP, BRAND NEW VIDEO FROM FLORIDA WHERE OFFICIALS ARE
BRACING FOR POTENTIAL CLASHES
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Senators Tim Kaine And Michael Bennet Make Case For A Public Option For ACA | Morning Joe | MSNBC

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