GOOD WILL IS OVER. [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
[ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> WELL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> WELL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> JOINING ME NOW REPUBLICAN
>> JOINING ME NOW REPUBLICAN
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS OF MAINE.
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS OF MAINE.
SHE SITS ON THE THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.N THE THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE. SENATOR COLLINS, WELCOME BACK TO
SENATOR COLLINS, WELCOME BACK TO
"MEET THE PRESS."
"MEET THE PRESS."
>> THANK YOU, CHUCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHUCK.
>> I WANT TO GET TO STORIES, IM GOING TO START WITH RUSSIA., IM
GOING TO START WITH RUSSIA. TAKEN AT FACE VALUE, THERE ARE
TAKEN AT FACE VALUE, THERE ARE TWO SORT OF ALARMS QUOTES.
TWO SORT OF ALARMS QUOTES. ONE COMES FROM THE PRESIDENTS
ONE COMES FROM THE PRESIDENTS TWITTER FEED.
TWITTER FEED.
WE REFERENCED IT EARLIER ON THE LEAD IN THAT HE SAYS THE REASON
LEAD IN THAT HE SAYS THE REASON HE FIRED FLYNN IS HE LIED TO THE
HE FIRED FLYNN IS HE LIED TO THE
VICE PRESIDENT AND THE FBI,
VICE PRESIDENT AND THE FBI,
APPARENTLY INVOKING THE IDEA THAT HE KNOWINGLY OBSTRUCTED
THAT HE KNOWINGLY OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE, PERHAPS.
JUSTICE, PERHAPS.
AND THEN LET ME SHOW YOU THIS KT McFARLAND QUOTE.SHOW YOU THIS KT
McFARLAND QUOTE. SHE WAS THE DEPUTY NATIONAL
SHE WAS THE DEPUTY NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISER FOR A SHORT
SECURITY ADVISER FOR A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME.
PERIOD OF TIME.
THERE IS AN E-MAIL THAT SHE SENT AROUND DURING THE TRANSITIONSENT
AROUND DURING THE TRANSITION SAID -- TRUMP WILL HAVE
SAID -- TRUMP WILL HAVE
DIFFICULTY IMPROVING RELATION WITH RUSSIA WHICH HAS JUSTION
WITH RUSSIA WHICH HAS JUST THROWN USA ELECTION TO HIM.
THROWN USA ELECTION TO HIM.
NOW WE HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE TRYING TO BACKTRACK, CLARIFY ALL
TRYING TO BACKTRACK, CLARIFY ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
OF THOSE THINGS. HOW ALARMING ARE THOSE TWO
HOW ALARMING ARE THOSE TWO QUOTES TO YOU?
QUOTES TO YOU?
>> WELL, THEYRE THE REASON WHY WE HAVE TWO INVESTIGATIONS WHY
WE HAVE TWO INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.
UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW. SPECIAL COUNSELS INVESTIGATION
SPECIAL COUNSELS INVESTIGATION CLEARLY IS BEARING FRUIT, AS
CLEARLY IS BEARING FRUIT, AS WEVE SEEN WITH THE GUILTY PLEA
WEVE SEEN WITH THE GUILTY PLEA
WITH GENERAL FLYNN. AND WE HAVE THE SENATE
AND WE HAVE THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION, WHICH IS A
INVESTIGATION, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF INVESTIGATION,
DIFFERENT KIND OF INVESTIGATION, A COUNTERINTELLIGENCE
A COUNTERINTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATION, AND WERE ALSO
INVESTIGATION, AND WERE ALSO MAKING PROGRESS.
MAKING PROGRESS. >> ITS INTERESTING YOU SAID
>> ITS INTERESTING YOU SAID BEARING FRUIT.
BEARING FRUIT. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS COLLUSION?
COLLUSION?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHERE THIS IS HEADED, THATS
WHERE THIS IS HEADED, THAT MUELLER IS SLOWLY BY SURELY
MUELLER IS SLOWLY BY SURELY PROVING HIS CASE THERE WAS
PROVING HIS CASE THERE WAS COLLUSION BETWEEN THE TRUMP
COLLUSION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND THE RUSSIANS?
CAMPAIGN AND THE RUSSIANS? >> WE DONT KNOW THAT YET, BUT
>> WE DONT KNOW THAT YET, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THERE
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS DURING THE
WERE CONVERSATIONS DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD.
TRANSITION PERIOD.
DURING THE TRAININGS PERIOD THERE IS STILL ONLY ONERIOD
THERE IS STILL ONLY ONE PRESIDENT AND THAT WAS PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT AND THAT WAS PRESIDENT OBAMA, SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS
OBAMA, SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE CONFIRMED --
SHOULD NOT HAVE CONFIRMED -- BEEN MAKING PLACE.
BEEN MAKING PLACE. BUT THAT DOES NOT CONFIRM
BUT THAT DOES NOT CONFIRM COLLUSION.
COLLUSION. >> THIS DEAL FOR FLYNN TO WORK
>> THIS DEAL FOR FLYNN TO WORK WITH MUELLER NOW, HOW MUCH DOES
WITH MUELLER NOW, HOW MUCH DOES THAT SLOW DOWN THE INTELLIGENCE
THAT SLOW DOWN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION?
COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION? >> WELL, THATS A GREAT QUESTION
>> WELL, THATS A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE HAD ALREADY ASKED
BECAUSE WE HAD ALREADY ASKED GENERAL FLYNN TO COME BEFORE US
GENERAL FLYNN TO COME BEFORE US AND TO ALSO PRODUCE HIS PERSONAL
AND TO ALSO PRODUCE HIS PERSONAL PAPERS AND HIS ATTORNEY ASSERTED
PAPERS AND HIS ATTORNEY ASSERTED HIS FIFTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
HIS FIFTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION. SO NOW, REALLY, THE SPECIAL
SO NOW, REALLY, THE SPECIAL COUNSEL IS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT
COUNSEL IS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AS FAR AS GENERAL FLYNN IS.
AS FAR AS GENERAL FLYNN IS. I STILL WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM
I STILL WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT HE COULD
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT HE COULD CONTRIBUTE A GREAT DEAL TO OUR
CONTRIBUTE A GREAT DEAL TO OUR INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. >> DO YOU THINK AT THIS POINT --
>> DO YOU THINK AT THIS POINT -- YOU GUYS HAVE SOME COOPERATION
YOU GUYS HAVE SOME COOPERATION BETWEEN THE SPECIAL PROSECUTORS
BETWEEN THE SPECIAL PROSECUTORS OFFICE AND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE
OFFICE AND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
DOING.
DOES THAT INCLUDE YOUR ABILITY TO GET -- READ ALL THE INTERVIEW
TO GET -- READ ALL THE INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS FOR INSTANCE OF
TRANSCRIPTS FOR INSTANCE OF MICHAEL FLYNN?
MICHAEL FLYNN?
>> WELL, IVE BEEN READING THE INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS THAT OUR
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS THAT OUR STAFF IS DOING --
STAFF IS DOING -- >> DO YOU GET ACCESS TO
>> DO YOU GET ACCESS TO MUELLERS?
MUELLERS?
>> WE DO NOT GET ACCESS TO MUELLERS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT
MUELLERS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE ONLY HE CAN PURSUE
BECAUSE ONLY HE CAN PURSUE CRIMINAL WRONGDOING.
CRIMINAL WRONGDOING. OURS HAS A DIFFERENT MISSION BUT
OURS HAS A DIFFERENT MISSION BUT ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT ONE.
ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT ONE. >> IM CURIOUS THE SCOPE, DOES
>> IM CURIOUS THE SCOPE, DOES IT INCLUDE THE TRANSITION?
IT INCLUDE THE TRANSITION? I KNOW THE SCOPE IS ABOUT THE
I KNOW THE SCOPE IS ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE
CAMPAIGN, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE TRANSITION?
TRANSITION?
>> YES.
>> YES.
>> YOU BELIEVE THE SCOPE OF
>> YOU BELIEVE THE SCOPE OF
INTEL COMMITTEE DOES INCLUDE THE TRANSPORTATION. DOES INCLUDE THE
TRANSPORTATION.
EVERYTHING UP TO JANUARY 20th OR
EVERYTHING UP TO JANUARY 20th OR
EVEN MORE?
EVEN MORE?
>> IT NOT ONLY INCLUDES THE TRANSITION PERIOD, IT INCLUDES
TRANSITION PERIOD, IT INCLUDES THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD, AND THATS
THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD, AND THATS WHY WERE LOOKING AT THE
WHY WERE LOOKING AT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT OCCURRED
CONVERSATIONS THAT OCCURRED DURING THAT PERIOD AS WELL.
DURING THAT PERIOD AS WELL. >> DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHERE
>> DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHERE MUELLER IS IN HIS PROBE?
MUELLER IS IN HIS PROBE? DO YOU FEEL AS IF THIS IS THE
DO YOU FEEL AS IF THIS IS THE END OF THE BEGINNING, BEGINNING
END OF THE BEGINNING, BEGINNING OF THE END?
OF THE END?
DO YOU GUYS HAVE A SENSE OF THE LENGTH OF THIS PROBE RIGHT NOW?
LENGTH OF THIS PROBE RIGHT NOW? >> ALTHOUGH WERE IN TOUCH OR
>> ALTHOUGH WERE IN TOUCH OR THE CHAIRMAN IS IN TOUCH WITH
THE CHAIRMAN IS IN TOUCH WITH THE SPECIAL COUNSEL, ITS VERY
THE SPECIAL COUNSEL, ITS VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY, BUT CLEARLY HE
DIFFICULT TO SAY, BUT CLEARLY HE IS MAKING PROGRESS.
IS MAKING PROGRESS. HES HAD GUILTY PLEAS FROM TWO
HES HAD GUILTY PLEAS FROM TWO INDIVIDUALS.
INDIVIDUALS.
HES HAD TWO OTHER INDICTMENTS.
HES HAD TWO OTHER INDICTMENTS.
SO THE HE IS MAKING PROGRESS. >> THE CHAIRMAN OF THEOGRESS.
>> THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, FELLOW
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, FELLOW REPUBLICAN RICHARD BURR,
REPUBLICAN RICHARD BURR, ACKNOWLEDGED IN AN INTERVIEW TO
ACKNOWLEDGED IN AN INTERVIEW TO "THE NEW YORK TIMES" THAT THE
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS TALKED TO VARIOUS
PRESIDENT HAS TALKED TO VARIOUS REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE INTEL
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE INTEL COMMITTEE, ENCOURAGING THEM TO
COMMITTEE, ENCOURAGING THEM TO MOVE THE PROBE ALONG, END THIS
MOVE THE PROBE ALONG, END THIS PROBE.
PROBE. SENATOR BURR WROTE IT OFF TO
SENATOR BURR WROTE IT OFF TO INEXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT.
INEXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT. HE DIDNT VIEW IT AS AN ATTEMPT
HE DIDNT VIEW IT AS AN ATTEMPT TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE.
TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE. TWO QUESTIONS.
TWO QUESTIONS. ONE
ONE ONE, HAS THE PRESIDENT CALLED
ONE, HAS THE PRESIDENT CALLED YOU?
YOU?
>> NO, HE HAS NOT.
>> NO, HE HAS NOT.
>> THAT DOESNT SURPRISE ME,
>> THAT DOESNT SURPRISE ME,
FRANKLY.
FRANKLY.
BUT SECOND, DO YOU THINK RICHARD
BUT SECOND, DO YOU THINK RICHARD
BURR -- DO YOU AGREE WITH HIS
BURR -- DO YOU AGREE WITH HIS
TAKE, OH, THIS IS JUST INEXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT BY
INEXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT BY THE PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDENT? HE DOESNT REALIZE HES
HE DOESNT REALIZE HES VIOLATING SOME PROTOCOL HERE.
VIOLATING SOME PROTOCOL HERE. >> WELL, EVEN IF ITS
>> WELL, EVEN IF ITS INEXPERIENCE, THAT DOESNT MAKE
INEXPERIENCE, THAT DOESNT MAKE IT RIGHT.
IT RIGHT.
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE NO
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE NO
COMMENT WHATSOEVER ON EITHER OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE OF
THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE ONLY THING HE SHOULD BE DOING IS
ONLY THING HE SHOULD BE DOING IS DIRECTING ALL OF HIS STAFF AND
DIRECTING ALL OF HIS STAFF AND ASSOCIATES TO FULLY COOPERATE.
ASSOCIATES TO FULLY COOPERATE. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET ME MOVE TO THE TAX BILL.
LET ME MOVE TO THE TAX BILL.
I WANT TO MOVE TO THE DEBT PART FIRST. TO MOVE TO THE DEBT PART
FIRST.
LET ME PLAY A LITTLE MASH-UP OF WHAT YOUVE SAID ABOUT THE DEBTF
WHAT YOUVE SAID ABOUT THE DEBT IN THE PAST.
IN THE PAST. TAKE A LISTEN.
TAKE A LISTEN. >> AND SENATOR COLLINS, YOU
>> AND SENATOR COLLINS, YOU SUPPORTED PRESIDENT OBAMA ON THE
SUPPORTED PRESIDENT OBAMA ON THE STIMULUS PACKAGE.
STIMULUS PACKAGE.
CAN YOU SUPPORT HIS BUDGET? >> NO.U SUPPORT HIS BUDGET?
>> NO. >> WHY NOT?
>> WHY NOT? >> BECAUSE IT BRINGS OUR DEBT
>> BECAUSE IT BRINGS OUR DEBT LEVELS TO AN UNPRECEDENTED
LEVELS TO AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL.
LEVEL.
>> OUR CURRENT DEBT IS UNSUSTAINABLE. DEBT IS
UNSUSTAINABLE. ITS $14.3 TRILLION.
ITS $14.3 TRILLION. AND IT IS A THREAT TO THE FUTURE
AND IT IS A THREAT TO THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF THIS NATION.
PROSPERITY OF THIS NATION. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
IF THE DEBT IS UNSUSTAINABLE AT
IF THE DEBT IS UNSUSTAINABLE AT
$14 TRILLION, HOW DO YOU -- HOW
$14 TRILLION, HOW DO YOU -- HOW
DID YOU MAKE YOURSELF
DID YOU MAKE YOURSELF
COMFORTABLE VOTING FOR SOMETHING
COMFORTABLE VOTING FOR SOMETHING
THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE THE
THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE THE
DEFICIT, THIS TAX BILL?
DEFICIT, THIS TAX BILL?
WERE AT $20.6 TRILLION NOW AND THE BEST ESTIMATES SAY ITS AND
THE BEST ESTIMATES SAY ITS GOING TO, EVEN THE BEST
GOING TO, EVEN THE BEST ESTIMATES OF DYNAMIC SCORING
ESTIMATES OF DYNAMIC SCORING THAT WE COULD FIND STILL HAD
THAT WE COULD FIND STILL HAD HALF A TRILLION TO THE DEFICIT.
HALF A TRILLION TO THE DEFICIT. >> ECONOMIC GROWTH PRODUCES MORE
>> ECONOMIC GROWTH PRODUCES MORE REVENUE AND THAT WILL HELP TO
REVENUE AND THAT WILL HELP TO OFFSET THIS TAX CUT AND ACTUALLY
OFFSET THIS TAX CUT AND ACTUALLY LOWER THE DEBT.
LOWER THE DEBT. I --
I --
>> WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE? CAN I -- EXPLAIN TO ME -- FIND
CAN I -- EXPLAIN TO ME -- FIND A -- FIND A STUDY THAT ACTUALLY
A -- FIND A STUDY THAT ACTUALLY SAYS WHAT YOURE CLAIMING.
SAYS WHAT YOURE CLAIMING.
IT DOESNT EXIST.
IT DOESNT EXIST.
>> LET ME DO THAT. FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU TAKE THE
FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU TAKE THE CBOS FORMULA AND APPLY IT, JUST
CBOS FORMULA AND APPLY IT, JUST 0.04% INCREASE IN THE GDP
0.04% INCREASE IN THE GDP RENOVATES A TRILLION DOLLARS.
RENOVATES A TRILLION DOLLARS. A TRILLION DOLLARS.
A TRILLION DOLLARS. EVEN THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON
EVEN THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION HAS PROJECTED THAT THE
TAXATION HAS PROJECTED THAT THE TAX BILL WOULD STIMULATE THE
TAX BILL WOULD STIMULATE THE ECONOMY TO PRODUCE HUNDREDS OF
ECONOMY TO PRODUCE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
BILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE. IVE TALKED TO FOUR ECONOMISTS,
IVE TALKED TO FOUR ECONOMISTS, INCLUDING THE DEAN OF THE
INCLUDING THE DEAN OF THE COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND
COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND FORMER CHAIRS OF THE COUNCILS OF
FORMER CHAIRS OF THE COUNCILS OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS, AND THEY
ECONOMIC ADVISERS, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT IT WILL HAVE THIS
BELIEVE THAT IT WILL HAVE THIS IMPACT.
IMPACT. SO I THINK IF WE CAN STIMULATE
SO I THINK IF WE CAN STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, CREATE MORE JOBS,
THE ECONOMY, CREATE MORE JOBS, THAT THAT DOES GENERATE MORE
THAT THAT DOES GENERATE MORE REVENUE.
REVENUE.
>> BUT WHY ISNT THERE A SINGLE STUD -- IM GOINGTHERE A SINGLE
STUD -- IM GOING STUD
STUD STUDY -- IM GOING TO THROW YOU
STUDY -- IM GOING TO THROW YOU THEE STUDIES WE HAVE.
THEE STUDIES WE HAVE. THE MOST KURDISH ONE, THE MOST
THE MOST KURDISH ONE, THE MOST PRO ECONOMIC GROWTH ARGUMENT AS
PRO ECONOMIC GROWTH ARGUMENT AS $516 BILLION TO THE DEFICIT OVER
$516 BILLION TO THE DEFICIT OVER TEN YEARS.
TEN YEARS.
>> WELL, TALK TO ECONOMISTS LIKE GLENN HUBBARD AND LARRY LINDSEYE
GLENN HUBBARD AND LARRY LINDSEY AND DOUGLAS EATON WHO USED TO BE
AND DOUGLAS EATON WHO USED TO BE HEAD OF THE CBO.
HEAD OF THE CBO. THEY WILL TELL YOU OTHERWISE.
THEY WILL TELL YOU OTHERWISE. YOU WILL FIND ECONOMISTS DONT
YOU WILL FIND ECONOMISTS DONT AGREE ON THIS.
AGREE ON THIS. >> YOURE CRITICAL WITH YOUROMFO
>> YOURE CRITICAL WITH YOUROMFO VOTE ON THIS?
VOTE ON THIS?
>> I WANT TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT.
>> I WANT TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT.
I BELIEVE THE AMENDMENTS I ADDED ON MEDICAL EXPENSE DEDUCTIONS,ED
ON MEDICAL EXPENSE DEDUCTIONS, PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTIONS, HELPING
PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTIONS, HELPING RETIREMENT SECURITY FOR PUBLIC
RETIREMENT SECURITY FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IMPROVE THE BILL, I
EMPLOYEES IMPROVE THE BILL, I GOT A COMMITMENT THAT WERE
GOT A COMMITMENT THAT WERE GOING TO PASS TWO BILLS,
GOING TO PASS TWO BILLS, INCLUDING THE ALEXANDER/MURRAY
INCLUDING THE ALEXANDER/MURRAY BILL AND ONE IVE AUTHORIZED
BILL AND ONE IVE AUTHORIZED THAT WILL HELP OFFSET THE
THAT WILL HELP OFFSET THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE REPEAL BY
INDIVIDUAL MANDATE REPEAL BY LOWING PREMIUMS.
LOWING PREMIUMS. AND I ALSO GOT AN IRON CLAD
AND I ALSO GOT AN IRON CLAD COMMITMENT WERE NOT GOING TO
COMMITMENT WERE NOT GOING TO SEE CUTS IN THE
SEE CUTS IN THE MEDICAID/MEDICARE PROGRAM.
MEDICAID/MEDICARE PROGRAM. >> WELL BE WATCHING THAT
>> WELL BE WATCHING THAT COMMITMENT MADE TO YOU.
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