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Power Play 3/4/2013

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    Obama to Tap Top Climate Crusader for EPA and midterm forecast

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If we're -- the president -- -- tax hikes on the January the first.

If we're gonna hurt get little loopholes let's lower rates and make the tax code fair for all Americans.

And that was house speaker John Boehner saying what ever -- -- an appearance on Meet the Press there with David Gregory.

And this is our flag and I -- -- Arnold Monday or not I am in fact that.

He so what about the battle for John Boehner as he tries.

To throw -- hard ball through the house representatives the senate and across president Obama's desk.

That reflects lower spending rates -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Law we'll talk about that.

Now we'll talk about the forecast for mid term elections President Obama and his allies have made very clear that the the plan is to just beat the Republicans next year in mid term elections.

And that the president can be about business of the rest of his second term agenda what's the what's the practical forecast looking like we'll talk about that.

And we will talk about what may be.

The most consequential appointment that President Obama is going to make.

-- second term and that is the woman to lead the Environmental Protection Agency will be tasked with basically children all of president Obama's ambitious climate change agenda for this term.

Doesn't that sound like a good show and that's even before -- -- -- specials -- season our points my gosh it's an embarrassment of Internet riches.

And the treasure let's begin counting our treasures.

But Jonathan strong.

He covers the House of Representatives.

Congress for roll call.

Which is an important publication that they all read because it comes their office of the read anything free.

Jonathan welcome back.

Thank you okay now note they would they would pay.

How much because there are members of congress and their tight with their own though they get sequestered.

They didn't exactly that you're you're only putting out two thirds of the newspaper you have to stop all your it is I think 350 -- But here's the thing.

So President Obama basically on Friday admitted.

That the sequestration was like a site.

That he say he went from saying like it did beat this guy double fault.

2 -- get through -- admitting that essentially this was a warm up act for the fight of the continuing resolution which expires on the 27 of march.

John Boehner.

President's that he would sign legislation that reflected.

Spending at those low levels John Boehner told David Gregory that he can do it that he can get this through the house.

Can he really.

I think so I mean if Obama standing down if Democrats are standing down.

Then they can get a vote that is a lot of Republicans and enough Democrats to push it over to eighteen.

Is he's got to keep that -- rule on this right he's got to have a majority the majority to do if he tries to do this.

Without the majority of the Republican conference -- -- out it's you I think I think it's an important enough -- that -- right that that would be a major.

Signal that you know things are gonna get.

Pretty divisive -- in the conference.

I will say that last week we had a conference meeting the GOP would.

Members came out pretty much were OK with this plan on the CR.

You see some guys on the right Club for Growth you know wanting to use this as leverage on obamacare funding.

But that isn't where -- the members are right now.

That all sounds good until the process occurs conveniently fortunately probably -- -- probably intentionally the house was not in town.

For much of the back and forth on sequestration.

-- they were do you speaker excuse them to go back to their districts right -- as we've talked about this is the prime time for fun racing this is the key.

Leg of the fund race and these guys were guys and gals were all very busy raising money and stuff like that but.

Now they're back.

We'll talk to one of them later in the show.

But now they're back.

It's one thing to say you can't do it in the abstract but when people start coming up -- attractive amendments for conservative Republicans are attractive changes for conservative Republicans like.

The president's help on other things.

Things get interesting fast.

It's true I mean and you know.

What which amendments is the rules committee -- there's this nice little convenient bottleneck for the leadership to control that.

I mean -- I'm sure you'll see some amendments.

They're they're probably will be enough moderates.

To former inverse of the vote back against the CR through -- house okay.

In other words to kill those residents that's my expectation that you could find and you could see.

Something end up winning so big quote the president says.

That he will sign.

If it if it reflects this.

But he also says that he is has an open mind.

To a bigger deal and we are hearing many.

In the press saying.

That this defeat I guess equality defeat it's that it's and it's a non victory for the president on sequestration he did not get what he wanted.

And might set the table for broader consensus six months from now to do this so called big deal on debt and deficit -- how does that strike you.

You know.

It depends on I mean people mean -- this -- like this bipartisan.

Iraq concepts like we're gonna.

-- gonna come up with a big deal that everyone hey -- this vehicle of the interest rate it I don't you know.

Why why what evidence do we have over the last 23 years that that's gonna happen I'm pretty pessimistic about it.

That -- GOP conference is.

Taking -- -- -- the -- that he's not going to -- secret negotiations with President Obama.

And everything's going to be regular order so if he follows that.

Where -- these talks gonna happen where the deal that everyone hates equally comes into being pedestals adults here.

Well and we're gonna talk about this and the next segment as long as the president.

Believes that it is operating theory.

Which is that he can use.

The sclerosis.

Of congress in the first two years Richard Meehan a democratic majority has to flip the seventeen seats that he needs.

In the house -- reverted to democratic control if he believes that that project is a pace.

There's not much motivation to do a big deal or or any of his -- although.

I mean come on let's be real that's also just tantamount to surrender because the the chance that Democrats win back the house and when he fourteen.

Historically.

Historically -- bad that this -- this is a guy who doesn't necessarily bind himself by -- -- -- precedent.

Maybe he doesn't.

Yeah Jonathan strong.

That's the truth OK so your forecast is right now CR that reflects these reductions -- About these reductions -- passes both chambers and his signed into law by the president before the current Xbox so nothing changes through the CR.

Fight if you can go to fight.

But then we're facing another clip which you didn't and that's going to be the next round.

And what.

The Republicans haven't decided what they're asking is going to be inheriting a sort of -- that put that in.

I've heard from some Republicans that say that the way to do it is to authorize the debt ceiling increase concurrent witness.

The amount of new spending that's -- CR that you say we're gonna extend everything including borrowing authority.

For the new spending -- in the CR until the end of the year do you think -- -- -- with a -- us.

The I'm expecting a separate -- because.

At the GOP retreat they kind of came up with the strategy of the short term debt ceiling increase with a modest.

-- like.

You have to do your -- -- if something like that that's a good messaging tool time and if they keep that pattern and it makes sense to do it separately by itself.

As a little.

Bite size victory.

So there you have been -- and -- told you you can you can expect certainty and predictability.

In fiscal conduct for as much as two months.

As much as two months you know -- no guarantees Jonathan we thank you very much -- -- that okay Internet.

How about this.

But we're gonna talk about -- forecast for mid terms can Democrats really -- -- can't Republicans narrow the gap in the senate very very much.

Is -- stake.

We'll talk about that when we come back.

And get -- your chance in your tweets so stick around.

Happening because a choice that Republicans in congress.

Have made.

They allow these cuts to happen.

Because they refused to budge on closing.

A single.

Wasteful loophole to help reduce the deficit.

That was President Obama in a press conference on Friday saying that while the -- was perhaps not the calamity that some.

Had said it would be eight whatever happens bad from it is the fault of Republicans because they won't let rich people's taxes go up.

And anything bad that happens with the economy with budget with anything else presidents squarely laying the blame at their feet.

This is power -- now here's the premise Internet this is significant president's premise that we saw a couple of articles one of the Washington Post.

Over the weekend -- said this president.

These -- the president and his team say that this.

Fight is evidence of the -- of their underlying theory which is to blow past Republicans heaped blame upon them.

And use those issues.

In mid term elections.

It's a tough tough.

We talk about the seven year election politics most presidents in their second term in the mid term in their second term experience -- reversals that's the historical rule of thumb.

But it isn't always the case so what are the Democrats chances.

Pinning this and other things upon the red team and winning.

Back to -- seventeen seem to be tough to the people who know because they are busy in the enterprise even as we speak.

-- game constant he is the communications director for the American action network.

Which is better supposedly the Soviet action network and who who -- picking names that was probably a good call but you're a veteran.

Of campaigns and political off of offices you work for people -- state and federal level congress all over the place.

A Republican in good standing welcome to the show.

And you know -- -- job.

He's president of solidarity strategies and director of the Latino project act which we have to say every time but we -- I'm gonna sum up I think I've found is a simpler way to sum up.

Chuck Rocha is he is a gun -- Democrat could -- here.

If you're gonna be -- if you like what does it generous is it got -- Democrat OK so.

Here's the thing guys.

Aside from whether it's right or wrong.

Or good or bad what are the chances really for Democrats retake the house -- -- Conservative is sure you're going to be in some of these campaigns -- -- with a look at these campaigns and the first thing we need to focus on is what these new districts looked like after redistricting it's a tough lift.

I hate to say that I hate to admit that but it is a tough -- there are more safe seats now than there were.

Ten years ago.

And we need every bit of ammunition that we're going to be able to get our hands over to try to win is this going to be enough pinning this on the Republicans.

Saying that this is their fault it helps but is going to be tough because there's just just not many districts -- -- you need to have more districts in -- have.

Chances of winning but you never gonna win them all.

Right you got to broaden the field now the -- for Republicans stand.

Is too broad field your group will be tried to help broaden the field and put Democrats on the defensive right you guys want to broaden it the other way.

-- that's exactly right and you've got to be your situation now where because of the leadership in the Democratic Party from Nancy Pelosi President Obama that.

They are they're becoming a regional party on house -- and they cannot play in house races in south.

Andy did the majority did they built from 1990 to want.

Woods was chock full of southern Democrats -- bikini -- keep their city gets seventeen seats.

There are only so many seats do to -- say that just a little bit -- by the red team's success in 2010.

It was a substantially to the Rust Belt and also like upstate new York and places like that that -- not that -- -- that the Republicans.

Had been told a leash on the -- -- again.

Since the -- right to US still have some vulnerable material out there if they're they're certainly there are a number of competitive seats on our side.

There are I would see an equal number of competitive seats are -- your last remaining conservative Democrats in the Rust Belt.

In -- and and now and now we're also tournament border states Kentucky Tennessee North Carolina places like that -- this fight will be big and West Virginia.

I think I was hoping somebody I was hoping somebody talk about regarding the three you -- -- -- -- all down there which brings us to the next question chart review.

-- -- Now Democrats because with the upset the it's always better to win than to lose but because Democrats head to such -- usually successful senate cycles in 2006 and 2008.

You all have a lot of fat in the fire absolutely content coming this time West Virginia looks like if the Republicans do not eat their own seed corn looks like a pretty likely flipped to go from blue to red right.

It's going to be tougher -- that I have read a lot.

A lot of money -- -- capital Ramallah comments he's made tough opposition she's -- -- so you throw in North Carolina you throw in Louisiana you go at -- out of maybe -- Alaska we -- having to compete in the a lot of states there were very -- just two years ago so it's -- -- be tough but it's good to be an incumbent it's good to have incumbents money and it's good to have a little bit of momentum your way I think that you're gonna see both sides unleash everything that they -- on each other but I would rather be an incumbent sitting in that seat and trying to be somebody not believe -- Okay now in terms of the root for the Republicans in that we've talked about this you're working at the goal.

Even if you don't we take even if Republicans don't retake the senate majority if -- get -- close if you get it down to the way the senate functions because of how is it to get it close if you get up to 4748.

It's -- -- it's functionally nobody's ball game right.

I think that's true and I think there -- They are absolutely on offense they're not just on offense but you think about some of the members that came in in 2008 there were Democrats they came in on the Obama -- North Carolina and so did she -- double down there you know now -- you're talking about like you said the six you're rich this is not the same electricity comes out.

This is a more conservative electorate that's coming out -- -- base voters from both parties but you're not gonna have the same sort of turnout from 2008 on the democratic side.

And I think I based on all of what the prisoners put forward and put -- -- what he's put for now.

Our sites can be ginned up.

-- they're ready to go.

But that didn't leave the inverse corollary to this track is that that the kind of people that Dan is talking about like.

Mark baggage check in Alaska.

And you have Mary Landry again in Louisiana.

You got Mark -- there and Arkansas these -- people who.

We are looking actually for opportunities to distance themselves from the president so there is a silver lining if the president as a liberal agenda.

As Republicans say it gives these red state Republicans and -- and I don't know.

Drill baby drill or whatever it is too -- to.

Distance between the -- -- Florida for elections like Joseph Manchin is a perfect example that he's always looking to for opportunities to do that to go look on my own person I'm not with the president I'm not what the Republicans I'm gonna do what's best for my state you'll hear that over and over and over you'll excuse them back your original point about this sequestered about who's to -- they're -- -- -- -- no matter who believes -- who don't believe they're -- a lot of immediately what my -- and about lap.

If you live long enough about having -- horse obviously somebody will buy you sat.

Internet we don't just like -- because he knows that he knows that that is true there's like -- -- he steers conversation back to West Virginia whenever possible casinos that's good Powell and and we we welcome you we're glad that you have time for us today.

OK gentlemen thank you and you Internet.

I need you to do me a favor we're gonna come back we're gonna talk about the Environmental Protection Agency -- going to ask you to put your thinking caps on because this could be in fact.

The most consequential pick the president does make.

-- to run an agency this could be the -- up.

So think about that and it had something to do with West Virginia.

So stick around.

As we move forward.

I think there is.

Nobody who can do a better job of filling -- -- permanently.

Man my nominee who's standing beside me here juvenile court.

And that is someone you know very well President Obama introducing you to someone you may have never heard.

Gina McCarthy the -- the president would like to be the next director of the Environmental Protection Agency.

And this is power play and at that ceremony earlier today the president had a slate.

-- nominee is that he's putting forward.

And I'll guarantee you this none will be so contentious.

As McCarthy the woman who currently runs the in the air regulations side of the EPA.

Miss McCarthy who is long been the champion.

A global warming regulations that's a big part of president Obama's second term agenda.

How will it work.

Well guess what.

We could we could hardly have a better person.

To tell us.

-- -- Thornburgh he is.

He Republican congressman from Texas he's from up in the panhandle.

And that congressman we welcome you to the big show.

Thanks for having -- Okay now I understand there's oil down in Texas.

And a lot of folks in your delegation had not been too happy about Lisa Jackson's tenure at the EPA.

Do you welcome -- McCarthy's nomination as a change in direction for the administration.

Oh I would expect no change as a matter of fact but I would expect there's a greater urgency.

To pursue this kind of extreme.

And -- fossil fuel agenda.

Which is also gonna hurt.

Continue to hurt the economy by the way when you add the effects of the health care bill.

And the anti energy approach to this administration it hurts job creation which you think they would want to want to support.

Now what we can expect from.

From ms.

McCarthy.

Is an effort basically do the way it's meant to this point it's that the EPA has pushed hard.

But ended up.

-- locked in court battles with energy companies with utilities and others on the implementation of these rules which companies say would essentially.

Make -- impossible in the United States as as an energy source and increase energy prices to your point.

What we are expecting for ms.

McCarthy somebody who's going to work hard on implementation.

There is talk in congress about legislation and we've seen some democratic support for this legislation to rein in the EPA.

Do you think that's plausible.

I think -- Push it whether it gets enacted into law what pres Obama in the White House something I'm somewhat doubtful.

So what are fallback position should be -- has been actually the last two years is to restrict the money that they have in order to do mischief.

And and so one of the benefits.

To this sequestration.

And restrictions on budget.

Is that EPA and some of these other organizations have less money.

To go pursue this regulatory agenda and you mentioned the lawsuits that's the other key part of this so restrict their money.

Pursued.

The lawsuit says as people or our accident doing and I think that at least reduces the amount of damage that they can do to the economy.

Okay and speaking of money.

The the house leadership is going to be presenting this week -- plan.

To memorialize to preserve.

Sequestration.

Levels of funding.

In a continuing resolution operate the government when the current one expires on the 27 of march.

How do what's your take on this do you think that something that could.

Both -- get a majority of the Republican conference but also passed the senate is going to be produced.

Yeah I'm I hope so and and I'm somewhat optimistic about it.

What what this bill will do that will vote on later this week is to continue the low or sequestration level.

Spending.

Before the discretionary budget that's defense and and non defense -- nothing touches entitlements and all this discussion.

But what it also does is it has a regular appropriation bill at the lower levels.

For defense and for veterans what that means is that the Pentagon has more flexibility to move money around.

Even though the total dollars are at a lower level it is very important I think.

There we give the Pentagon this extra flexibility.

Within the guidelines that congress acts so we can't just do whatever they want it's within these guidelines.

That it I think it's an important step it's gonna pass the house this week hopefully the senate will take it.

And and get it done so we can move on to the debt limit in the budget and the other issue.

If you remember the red river valley you would know him already but if you don't now you did an excellent -- congressman we thank you very much.

Okay Internet.

So it's Monday so that means that there's no troubles you've come to terms with this in time I suspect you have.

With Jonathan Hunt is up next I know you like that and by the way -- should tell you if you follow me at sea -- on the twitters.

You would already have my alma EPA and the significance there of further enriching.

Your -- here in the conversation with congressman collaborate.

But how about this about some PowerPoint would you like some would you like.

Some special.

Lent season our points today.

Check your led screen I know I probably shouldn't make upon about what is one of the holiest times for some 210.

Million American Christians -- -- you out there.

But I could not resist.

So here's your first PowerPoint.

Temporal and ecclesiastical.

So by coincidence this year.

The calendar of congress in Washington lines up pretty well with that of the western church.

Which is to say.

That the forty day -- in season coincides with forty days.

A vicious terrible budget.

Fighting in Washington the back and forth in Washington coincides with this go to Easter on the 31 of march and you'll have the end of the continuing resolution -- government on the point seven.

It matches up pretty well.

Now what can gather from this aside from the coincidence number two -- and -- whether it's a double -- at night.

Since you are doing chocolate or whatever it is that you are doing with out if you're a Christian during the -- -- season it may be forward.

It may be very difficult to get through that's nothing compared to what is happening.

To Washington in financial withdrawal.

There's no money.

And there's no way to get much more borrowing a -- and nobody wants to do too much more that taxes have already gone out.

And with out.

The lubricant of ready cash things have gotten very hard to do in Washington because you can't buy votes with bridges and public works projects and stuff -- -- that you used to so there's some withdrawal going on to.

Here in Washington so -- your third PowerPoint.

You term.

You -- so for Christians.

Easter is about.

Grace abundant it is about deliverance it is about those things it is about.

All of all of the good stuff all of the icing on the cup -- the less -- season is about repentance it is about making a U turn from -- behaviors.

If Washington hopes to get a way from.

The current problems they will have to do just that they will have to think anew and act anything differently for Republicans it means more than just complaining.

Complaining complaining complaining about -- -- are unfair everything is -- they don't like President Obama may have to start at.

Acting instead of just browsing.

And for President Obama it means actually talking to people instead of just talking with people instead of just talking -- that.

This would be a bold departure from both sides -- this but.

In the season of -- -- we will keep hope alive those are your power points thanks for being with us this Monday we'll see you back here tomorrow.

Same bat time same bat channel see that.

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