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Pressure mount on Senate democrats, Arkansas "heartbeat" law reshapes abortion fight and Obama labor pick makes waves
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If you impugn people's motives.
If you say these draconian cuts which by the -- were increasing spending by an average rate of 3.4 percent a year.
That does no good to get to common ground that makes it impossible for parties to come together to bridge the gaps.
That was Paul Ryan he's the chairman of the House Budget Committee he's a Republican from Wisconsin you may remember also that he ran for vice president.
And this is power play and I -- Chris our -- and congressman Ryan was appearing there with Chris Wallace on FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace talking about the president's new embrace a bipartisan outreach.
He is in danger of losing his let's move certification he's eating so much with Republicans.
And this week he's going to pay a call.
Two is sworn enemies.
The house Republicans he's gonna talk to them he's been meeting with senators he had lunch with -- where does this all go where's this all -- Is it for real we'll talk about that today and by the way the impediment to that.
The practical impediment -- that even if it's true.
We will talk about the president's nominee or soon to be nominee to lead the US Department of Labor he's Eric holder's top guy civil rights and that he is not -- he is not hey they peacemaking kind of picked.
And we'll talk about a new -- Arkansas.
That could reshape the way that the.
Abortion battle rages across the country we will do all of that and have a very special daylight savings time edition power play.
You'll like it.
But you'll like none of it any more than -- -- -- from Michael -- I promise you that because Michael is aside from the senior political analyst for the Washington examiner.
As resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
He -- follow oval act Michael Barone but for politics nerds we know that Michael is the principal author and editor of our.
The blue biblical.
Tax detour off of political nerd on the almanac of American politics Michael welcome growth -- territory.
Coauthor of the almanac of American politics -- so quite so are right now.
For the last forty years.
So that could be question Michael is this and you wrote about this in your examiner column on Sunday.
Is the president for real when he reaches out to Republicans do you think he really wants to Buick -- is this an operational pause in -- warm welcome.
Present it certainly seems to be going to some lengths starting at midweek last week to convince.
Republicans that he really wanted to deal -- -- he's suddenly.
You know cigarette -- he would like to talk to Democrats to people -- -- most of his views on issues it suddenly he's inviting twelve.
Twelve people for a dinner at the Jefferson Hotel he's -- -- the intersection of sixteenth and -- several blocks.
Surround.
And you've got that Michael noticed in his trip home from Washington examiner as anything K but the media.
From.
The end you know and he even picked up to tap the certificate which -- by the way dozen people for -- -- Jefferson Hotel thanks in five -- I think in five -- it.
I wouldn't think five grand I would think I'm 30000.
All if you can get it that you get twelve saying you know Lindsey Graham was thinking why do you think they get him out of their for a thousand bucks I think they just -- the sliders and got.
I think just -- landslides is now I wrote about today in my power by.
Which is available for those foods available at all but it's easy to get to -- -- you actually -- -- I've heard about this day that.
Part of this discussion it's interesting is that we are cheering the new detente between.
Republicans in the house and president but the truth is that everything hinges on whether senate Democrats can actually do stuff.
They haven't done anything haven't passed a major law in two years have passed a budget for.
They have to get to work right.
Well they've they've been compelled to get to work that house Republicans is -- very shrewd and that fiscal cliff legislation or just afterwards really settled by the way if the senate -- pass a budget they don't get paid now right.
And fights and it's not gonna worry too much Iraq as our society right 128 1000000 dollar house Pacific heights but the the fact is that day you know it is kind of -- -- campaign line.
Against senate Democrats that they haven't produced a budget in three years from the losses exposed to and it's one that gets better -- ago so.
Yup they're trying to do that I think.
You know is the president is serious well the president would be happy if -- if Republicans accepted his views -- acceptable attacks I think we all take right -- -- on that.
He's getting headlines for actually sitting down and talking and a civil manner with Republicans well.
Lot of presidents have done that with people of the opposite party a lot of politicians do that all the time.
It's news because Barack Obama has seldom done that in so that's another big news in the Clinton Era they were not to be reaching out to Republicans yacht.
Thought it seems to me that at this point.
The both he and mr.
Obama's plan judgments and his threats.
Are less than compelling to -- house Republicans.
Of the threats are -- all the pollution for the house and even as he's.
You know sitting down talk Jimmy's got organizing for America formally -- organize it organizing for action formally obamas for America.
It's out there saying we want a Republican could get rid of the Republican controlled house.
I mean that's fair game we have elections every two years we are expected Democrats to support -- -- probably don't want them to win.
But but he's utility as a campaign -- his problem is that with the clustering of these -- Obama democratic base blacks Hispanics gentry liberals in small geographic areas with a lots of votes but.
They don't spread out to the adjacent districts of Barack Obama carry 51% of the popular vote he only carried apparently.
207 congressional districts plus or minus two this.
Finally being tabulated that's less than a majority by way of comparison George W.
Bush -- 04151%.
Of the popular vote.
The same percentage but he carried 255.
Congressional districts.
So.
Democrats are at a disadvantage there I don't think it's impossible for them to win the seventeen.
Your -- and seventeenth C history making.
Well it would be history making but you know in the in the year six year both of Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan the incumbent president's party didn't take a big kid gained five seats under Clinton lost five -- under Reagan.
It's not inevitable that the president's party lose.
But it's going to be hard for them to win in seats that Mitt Romney carried right.
In the tooth out with that big turnout in two growth would be true in 2012.
As for that it is for the -- dismissed well.
You know we've seen mr.
Obama negotiate before with speaker John Boehner in.
He had something like Lucy and the football at the end at least in the point of view Republican.
Big -- says let's see Obama has said whatever he thought it would take to get his way for the last four years so why.
Would you think now that he really wants to meet congress halfway and I think.
To that point of any.
The president doesn't.
But right now they're two things there's two trains running concurrently in Washington -- is the continuing resolution that would set the level of funding.
For government agencies for the second half of the federal fiscal year for the last six months which run until the end of September.
So that's the fight will sequestration spending levels -- preserve the concurrent with that everybody now has to do -- budget.
And you have liberals in the senate who are.
Feeling very -- but the president would like to help these red state Democrats.
In the districts that you described Michael by not having his budget and.
Or one of the reasons senate majority leader Harry Reid has not presented much -- well Kent Conrad who you know swore I'd wanna wanna cut -- deficit that's why.
In congress he said there for 26 years.
Wasn't allowed to bring forth a budget the end the reason was that it's hard to construct a budget that's gonna get Bernie Sanders voting for from Vermont and Mark -- for Arkansas.
-- -- their cars running for reelection -- farewell to suit -- let's just say this is their convictions mark -- convictions I think it's fair to say are somewhat more moderate Bernie Sanders has campaigned as a socialist wants a bigger government keeps.
He feels that would be better for America.
The end you know he's he's unwilling to vote for a you can play team ball for.
Many budgets that might pass Muster with the blanch.
Don't know what actually -- she's gone but -- Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.
And in Mark Pryor of Arkansas -- -- with the Democrats were off this year just genuinely hard to get a majority can't count on getting any Republican votes.
And so you know instead of governing they've just decided to.
Let things slide.
And we've had when continuing resolution after another that are not the optimal way to fund government because.
You know that carries over previous budget.
Appropriations.
Provides -- which may be obsolete -- right now.
Which may not really serves the interest that.
-- -- -- Today's.
And you know with today's agencies at today's problems but every in every year the -- you know the continuing resolution becomes more and more out of sync.
With the times.
There is no obsolescence and you -- the ground we thank you for making time for us today as always Smart -- out.
All right Internet chain and -- there's -- waiting to tell you something very interest it.
But before you get before you get to the good stuff we want you to -- here's the question of the day here's a question of the day would you support a ban on nearly all abortions beginning in the twelfth week of pregnancy.
Well guess what.
That's what they're doing down in Arkansas.
Michael just mentioned prior this is a state where even Democrats.
Tend to be pro life so -- What are the consequences of this law -- -- could this be a new frontier.
Four pro life groups we'll talk to -- about that when we come back.
So stick around.
And that was the march for life this year on the 25 of January where pro life activists from around the country -- hundreds of thousands -- And Washington DC to demand federal action restricting.
Access to elective abortions and this is power but now Washington is seems to always be the focus of the discussion.
When it comes to abortion.
And restrictions there but guess what Trevor many do anything on abortion and that's not gonna happen the Supreme Court may one day revisit the -- questions of Roe vs.
Wade but the truth -- and you know this Internet.
This is a state level issue because federal government does not it either has the courage -- -- capacity it seems to address this huge issue.
So it goes on in the states federalism at work.
So down in Arkansas they have something very serious going on right now -- could change at -- sure this discussion for the rest of you so you know.
Who knows all about that chain and bring to us.
Yeah definitely tell us -- how well you know what you were kind enough to have me on yesterday in Las Vegas it was a clamor for people who they want more and I just -- -- as an excuse to bring the little power play down here love it.
And hang out well yes -- is that's accurate.
We will stipulate that -- -- actually stipulated.
But we always have a good time and by the way I would encourage everybody to watching them on Sunday since it's good.
-- in eastern and if -- -- you know it's also.
It's it's the -- thanks okay so you're reporting today.
On the -- law in Arkansas as -- first album enforce what's it.
It is -- -- on most abortions after twelve weeks the way it's written is if the woman is twelve weeks or more pregnant and goes to have an abortion in Arkansas.
They give her an ultrasound abdominal -- external.
If they detect a heart beat the standard ultrasound.
New technology and machinery she cannot have an abortion win.
You know there are exceptions for incest rape -- abnormalities those kinds of things.
But as we can see it looking across the country now be toughest stricken strictest abortion law on the books for.
OK so it is does it will it stand.
It is going to be a tough battle but there's nothing at this I -- tough she's the author of the bill Arkansas State senator -- -- was also on the show yesterday.
And -- said listen we try to strike a balance and here's what he said.
Well we had the support of women in our legislature Democrats in our legislature because in the governor.
Vito this bill when it landed on his desk he had to go back to the legislators.
Mike Beebe who -- considered a pretty conservative -- And what he said was this is gonna cost us a lot of money to fight this.
It's probably going to be losing battle I don't notice in the states money doing I don't think it's in a statement that he agreed with the sentiment that did not want to engage in the legal fight as far as I understand SS forwards -- -- but that's my he had later.
-- -- -- It was -- bipartisan.
Veto override by the Arkansas legislatures.
And out of bounds said we think it's gonna be upheld and we're gonna -- for this.
So he goes into effect later in the summer but in the meantime.
We talk to the ACLU the center for reproductive rates.
A number of pro choice groups who say we've already drafted the lawsuit that's coming -- Well but in doubt where does and the Supreme Court really on these issues that you you report all the time on incremental these fights that go back and forth.
Where is the Supreme Court now when it comes to these kinds of Richard.
Well of course -- at the bottom line is ready wait that's the standard for abortion with the Supreme Court although they -- been other.
Smaller decisions and attacks and he sees that -- -- in 1973 decision was.
Abortion is legal it should be safe and rare and legal.
Up to the point of viability will technologies -- a lot between.
1933 and now they think most people that agreed at a twelve week along pregnancy is not -- I've that I've had a well there are those who will argue 22 weeks before -- -- the -- we see these amazing exceptional cases that certainly happened.
Maybe -- 134 months premature and still -- don't make it yet that cell technologies in these medicines it means a lot.
But that's going to be the toughest point I think for the slot because if you're going to end up against Roe vs.
Wade which says by -- -- at the moment this element is at twelve weeks.
There's going to be a battle over.
Royale and SB.
Now the court -- that many conservatives have.
The dream -- a dream of one day seeing Roe vs.
Wade overturned in itself now.
Each one of these tests that comes -- does provide an opportunity for such a verdict trend -- such a judgment.
And the truth is as you so rightly mentioned off the top these battles are happening on the state level if there are a number of different ways -- pro -- groups are passing these whether it's the personhood amendment that recognizes the unborn -- person that was sent in Mississippi.
Yet at other states are trying this as well.
It -- say.
-- -- number of weeks twelve weeks when he weeks there's also that by McCain and viability.
Let's that you had and yeah I think I can feel it and me and -- are you know Tony weeks that a fetus can feel pain.
That you shouldn't be -- them so those different pieces of legislation out there there are dozens of legal battles going on about -- -- in Idaho by the way last week a federal court actually struck -- twenty week abortion and so.
You know the folks in Arkansas say we don't care what the law says -- we believe in principle this is wrong in America is getting this wrong.
You have to fight back and if we think this report got it wrong in 1973 -- -- -- stop us from.
-- on the Internet.
You're gonna see this story and stories like this covered with the fairness capacity and -- if you will anyplace but here.
On the Fox News Channel and that's because of Michigan and -- Who does such a good job and doing this.
Because the rest of the media won't cover this stuff because it's -- makes people uncomfortable you have to know the law and you do it and you do -- great job.
-- handing him he never prouder to be your -- okay Internet let's take a quick break so that you can compose yourself after that excellence for this excellence what about president Obama's as soon to be -- For the Department of Labor.
He is he is no shrinking violet will talk about him with our panel when we come back.
So stick around.
And that is Tom threats and this is power -- so why do you care who come for residents well.
You care because he is currently.
A very important deputy Eric Holder -- the Justice Department the end.
It said that if President Obama will nominate him to lead the department of Department of Labor.
That's significant because right now the National Labor Relations Board is to put.
And they're going to be anybody out that's for the Department of Labor.
Will be the center of the locus of the fight over regulations over what.
Unions are able to do to organize what they're not able to do it's going to be back and forth it's going to be a big job.
In the second Obama term.
So what about mr.
-- what about the Department of Labor what about those things you know who knows.
David -- knows he is the former deputy national finance director for the Democratic National Committee.
At the longest title in the history with the a partisan politics that makes him.
-- democratic strategist at strategist.
And he is probable act beltway the -- probable at beltway and Jim Pinkerton is also evidently follow -- -- And frequently seen.
-- -- OK guys so here's the question.
It's.
When you get to this tier of cabinet appointments is harder to suss out important things Department of Defense whatever.
It at a labor commerce and these places.
Most of this stuff coach goes -- mostly unnoticed but in -- as David the president has pick somebody that has conservatives hackles up.
Because he's the one who likes tells Alabama that they do they're not racially cool enough to have unsupervised boating and in the middle of the black -- case and all these civil rights things.
This is not an uncontroversial -- well.
Let's go back to his confirmation back in 2009 which went pretty well.
For his current post in his candidacy civil rights division at Justice Department's.
Secondly.
The two cases.
Both in Florida and in South Carolina and Texas he won those cases.
The voter ID laws were struck down.
So he's got a track record he also has a lot of experience on the state and local as well as federal level having -- disease.
Montgomery County.
Council on the council as well as the labor secretary.
Of Maryland and there are also -- well as labor secretary -- nobody -- -- Tacoma park through this is not so this is not something that the root of most of you won't get in an effort in Washington.
When he was on the Tacoma park City Council.
-- to come apart is the only nuclear free -- that I don't love it stood little -- of big east.
Here in suburban Washington DC.
Announcer -- question.
This guy's going to be confirmed right there's like -- that it's not like they're gonna block him because as Israel David what have you been confirmed that's before.
He'd probably will be however.
The Republicans and thought about this -- has all the things we just fear the most and unregulated.
Know everybody is -- vote no ID -- know anything does this -- one of the driving forces behind it.
Card -- -- -- a huge issue for -- you know -- the footwork movement of -- and and they succeeded in blocking.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Why wouldn't.
Why would you go to the mattresses to fight those things -- as they have and then simply -- somebody who's -- been almost time as labor secretary pushing exactly those things well I mean it's it's.
It's sort of easier maybe oppose an issue that is a person.
But that people.
-- now the question is this when we couldn't.
Sometimes in these confirmation hearings what happens is that -- Jim's point the person gets through but they use the confirmation hearing as an opportunity to get into.
Other issues as a side show.
Well exactly but also but also as as -- central show the percentage of it all but also as a means -- I've lever to pry information out and get testimony that they might not have been able to.
And -- told that it's that the Republicans have some ideas about not just voting rights -- -- but also fast and furious.
And other things inside the Obama Justice Department.
But they're going to try to squeeze out of mr.
for a.
It may be traded if the case for it and look I'm all four of the more information the more educated decisions you gonna make.
And it will have an educated confirmation vote for.
What should be ordered to be secretary -- And I might say that we're doing this authority is being nominated or will be nominated it's evidently in a very good.
Context and that is we just saw February's jobs report attitudes in 362 I think 246000.
Jobs.
In the last four or five months.
We've been adding private sector jobs at 200 plus thousands of clips.
That we've had 37 months of private sector jobs -- -- -- the economy so I think he's coming into a -- with a positive headwind.
In addressing.
What the labor secretary among other issues will be addressing which is our growth and the labor sector and in getting those numbers down.
From seven point 7% today so hopefully seven point five.
Maybe done the seventh -- I'm not gonna -- last word for you and it's this the new Black Panther Party case.
Is that central thing that comes prayers -- -- an approachable and was there consultation between the department of justice and the new Black Panther Party to get untangle out of some -- intimidation and edited it and make the case go away.
Do you think he is likely to face questions.
Ayers and I think is again we both agreed David and it the use -- confirmation process these attitudes -- -- with you as well.
Yeah but look at look at the front Rand Paul did with -- for the CIA program should be got the promise out of the attorney general not to do Americans on soil which is about the progress in the good give or coming from.
And if they can force -- to yield up thousands -- an adjustment overall.
That that's a great value however I just you know talk is it's in Washington is inexpensive.
And so yeah sometimes it's very expensive yeah I was in terms of the health so I can do whatever you want to what is confirmed release -- -- -- that home.
A cut valuable at that moment is something we strive for -- -- transient value is something that we -- warrior you gentlemen have provided certainly at least that for us today we thank you David and implement.
Worse listen okay Internet on the other Jonathan Hunt is up next it's Monday so that means no Charles boo -- I know it's not right but it's okay here's why because we have -- special daylight savings time edition of our points for you know.
-- -- seeing daylight.
Are you feeling sleepy today we feel -- -- this morning.
You know why it's because the government major get up an hour earlier that is a true fact that is a true fact -- the little power plays today we're having plenty of trouble getting the sleep he's out of their eyes and getting going how many kids were late for school today how -- people miss church yesterday.
And how many people are drinking extra coffee being crabby today because of this.
Millions and millions -- your second SharePoint Kaiser roll how did we get into this jackpot how did we end up with daylight savings time.
Well it was World War I it'd been a movement so people get up earlier and save energy and have more daylight hours to work and during World War I it was put in as a war measure it came back during World War II.
Mostly it there was a lot of it fell out of favor and -- reviews and much of the country but in the 1970s during the energy crisis the federal government's win in with a heavy shoulders and pushed us into a whole country.
Except for balkanized parts of Indiana which would.
Too bad for them that not to have daylight savings time so that became the reality that's why your sleepy today.
So here's your -- -- the government in your bedroom.
Whether you're a libertarian a civil libertarian whatever you think people always say that -- -- government in the bedroom so why should they be in your alarm clock.
I'm just putting it out there maybe it's because -- -- I don't know but those are some power points for today have a great day we'll see you back here tomorrow.
