Ms. Pelosi good morning. Good morning. Good morning, everyone. What an eventful morning it has been. Eally one that marks a transformative moment for our country. This morning, when the republicans voted to advance the budget that they put forth, they made they drew a line in the sand. Between the middle class and working families and the very wealthy and corporate america. In our country. Its really unfortunate. But it is at least an opportunity for the American People to understand more clearly what the debate is here in washington, d. C. On one side of that line in the sand, we have the republicans in congress who are, in their d. N. A. , committed to a mission of giving tax breaks to the wealthiest people in our country. Thats the budget they put forth and that budget, 82 of the tax cuts will go to the top 1 . Sadly it also, in another way that is an assault on the middle class, is an assault on a state and local Tax Deductions. I bring this up because it affects everyone. If you live in the district of columbia, for example, and you own a home, you will be negatively impacted. The district of columbia, more than 137,000 people, and i bring up this because i assume i live here, or if you live in maryland, 1,354,000 people, or if you live in virginia, same thing, 1,500,000 people are affected. In the district of columbia, the average saw a deduction is 16,000. You will no longer have that deduction. If you live in virginia, the average deduction is over 11,000. And if you live in maryland, the average deduction is 12,000. So you will lose that deduction under this plan. Not only that, it has been reported by the realtors that the value of your home you would lose 10 of the value of your home. And you can thank the republicans in congress for that. Because as they misrepresent what they are doing to the middle class, what they are doing is a lotting them. Is looting them. Looting your homes. Its just a ripoff of the middle class you but know why . Because theres so many people in the middle class. If you take some of their money, multiply it by a lot of people, you can get a big tax cut to the high end, increasing exacerbating the disparity in equity, opportunity in our country. And not only, that the same time you increase the National Debt. And i say that this was transformtific because the amount of money, the trillions of dollars that increase the debt is very hard to come back from. Under president obama we came back, under president clinton came back from the deficit that existed once he took office. His last budgets were either in balance or in surplus. When president bush left office, the deficit was 1. 4 trillion. So we are talking about an enormous amount of money. The National Debt has increased by an enormous amount. The debt was 1. 4 billion in terms of the deficit, as opposed to the debt, which increased by trillions of dollars. So then we go to president obama, who again reverses that. And now weve come to President Trump. So, again, here we are. The budget. As i said the other day, and we saw the pie chart, 80 of the damage goes to the diop 1 . Who pays . The middle class. The fact that theyre saying that its a middle class tax cut is not true. Its wrong. And when they come forth with their tax bill, youll see more clearly. But what the republicans did day was to give, was to give an open path to this assault, an assault, its a ripoff, a shakedown, a looting of the middle class. And that has a difference. Toinby wrote about history, civilizations. In one of his presentations, he talked about societies and overnments that were there for creative leadership, where people could thrive and succeed. Versus exploitive, exploitive situations where they were there for the rich and the powerful. Thats not a good thing for a country. And thats the path that these republicans are taking us down. So very calmly, we say to them, we want to do tax reform. We want to do it in a way that is fair, that is that has fairness, that has simplification, that has growth, that reduces the deficit, creates good paying jobs, and keeps america number one. Instead, we have a budget that they put forth that does not do that. But they misrepresent that it is good for the middle class. Which it is not. So, hopefully when this tax bill comes up, the public will be aware of what to look for in it. Know how they pay the price for this big transfer of wealth, where the wealth is sucked up from the middle class, to high income, the 1 , as well as the wealthy corporations in our country. Its stunning. Its really startling. And so its a con. Its a massive con. And were going to make sure that if they engage in this, American People know how it affects them. This isnt about politics. This is about the American People and how policy here affects them. Lets go to the table to create growth, create good paying jobs, reduce the deficit, to keep america number one, and to reduce taxes on the middle class. Our vets thats probably all ill have to say unless you have any questions. Californians, what theyve done to california. Im so proud of our governor. He wrote individually to each of the members to say how bad this would be. And i love in fact that in his letter he said, not only do you take away the deduction from individual firlse, but you keep it for filers, but you keep it for corporations. In this bill. Youre an individual filer, you have a home, many of you have homes that you take a deduction, state and local. Xes, you lose that youre a corporation, you keep it. Whose side are they on . Ut again, its a moment of definition. Its a moment of definition. And we will not allow them to misrepresent the facts on this tax bill. To the American People. Heartbreaking because we could have come together it to do something in a bipartisan way that would be sustainable. Ou cant do tax reform without bipartisanship and sustainability. If youre going to give certainty to the Business Community so they can act upon and individuals so they can act upon their personal as well as professional and business decisions. With that im pleased tyke any questions. Yes, sir. Reporter thank you. Given what youve said, what youve seen of the framework up to this point, if republicans stay on the current track theyre on, with their tax overhaul, is your primary goal, the goal of your caucus, to see its failure at this point . Ms. Pelosi were here for American People. We dont want that impact to be on the American People. The problem about their tax bill is not just the harm it does directly in terms of the state and local Tax Deduction being removed, thats just one example. But also because they take the us so deeply into debt, the opportunity cost for our budget to to invest in education, it will necessitate 1 trillion being cut out of medicaid. And thats part of their plan. A half a trillion dollars coming out of medicare, it will have cost toadcation and the rest to education and the rest. Thats about the health and wellbeing of our families and the future of our country. In terms of money spent on education. Nothing brings more money to the treasury than investing in education, early childhood, k12, higher education, postgrad, lifetime learning. Thats a fact. So if they undermine that opportunity for investment, theyre increasing the deficit. Not saving any money. So we would hope that i think that a part of what these members walk the plank for is something theyre going to have to answer for back home. And hopefully i think that the ability to have leverage would have been to defeat this and then go to their speaker and say, we want something different. In fact, they have enhanced, theyve given leverage to the xploiters. Reporter question on immigration and sort of your negotiating stance between now and december. The speaker was out here a highly ago denying reports that he had told some of his colleagues that the spending bill will include some solutions to daca for certain, but that conversations are continuing. What is your updated sense of where that issue stands and what your potential leverage points are going into that bill . Ms. Pelosi i didnt realize the speaker backed off that statement. Because people were taking some comfort in the fact that something would happen before the end of the year. Let me just say about our dreamers. They are really a blessing to our country. Ive said to them the last two days, ive had six meetings relating to dreamers, and i said to them, do me a favor, thank your parents for bringing you here. Because youre such an inspiration to our country. They are so great. And the American People recognize that. Over 80 want them to stay. High numbers want them to stay on a path to citizenship. I think President Trump is inclined to be supportive. He said he is. I take him at his word. Because the American People support the dreamers. Not because we were so persuasive, but because the American People support the dreamers. So im optimistic that well celebrate hopefully thanksgiving, but more likely christmas with a dream act passed. Reporter you still see daca Holding Together on that and potentially withholding support for a spending bill if ms. Pelosi i didnt say. That i just said were going to pass i said were going to pass the dream act. Our caucus overwhelmingly supports dreamers. I believe that the speaker brought a bill to the floor, it would pass overwhelmingly, with republican votes, many of our republican colleagues support the dreamers. Its getting the vote. And so i would hope that the speaker would give us a vote one way or another. But were just working to get the votes. And we think we have them. Reporter can you comment on the president s decision to declare emergency on the Opioid Crisis . Ms. Pelosi what i would say to the president on that is, show me money. What is the point weve passed a bill about opioids and this or that. Instead the president has sent budget here that cuts medicaid, which is the major funder of how we address opioids, as the governor of ohio has pointed out so clearly, thank god for medicaid in terms of fighting the Opioid Epidemic. And he has also, in his budget, cut the funding for samhsa, a Substance Abuse and Mental Health agency that is there to address these needs. Declaring an emergency means he can have access to some funds but the funds in that account are like 57,000, 58,000. So show me the money. Ok, we all agree, we passed the 21st century cures act last year, we all agree that this is a place we have to go. I had the speaker write me a letter that we would continue to have the funding in the appropriations bill. But the president s statement or words without the money, so wed like to see because this is and the thing about the Opioid Epidemic is in every district in the country, its not like you can say, well, its people in a certain area where its warmer or colder or wherever. Its all over the country. So hopefully the concerns of our colleagues will be manifested in the allocation of the resources. Ou have to have the resources. Reporter on the kennedy documents, were still awaiting the National Archives release of those. But you read the warn commission years ago. Did you have some nagging questions and what do you think the significance of this release will be . Ms. Pelosi i have no idea. Until we see what will be released. It was a sad, terrible tragedy in our country. I did read the warren commission, because obviously as many people at that time, we were so stricken by the president s assassination. Our at was a moment in history. It made change because he was such an inspiration to so many of us. But i cant speak to something i havent seen. So i look forward to seeing the reporter does anything still matter 50 years later . Will it put it to rest or generate more ms. Pelosi depends on what it says. Ive heard different accounts where people have said, its only going to contribute to conspiracy theories. I dont know. When is it, today . Reporter we arent sure. They havent told us a hard schedule. Ms. Pelosi im sure many people will be very interested to see. What a tragedy. Reporter on the budget, what is the status of talks with republicans in the white house on a deal to raise discretionary caps . And when will appropriators have real defense and nondefense discretionary levels in law for fiscal ms. Pelosi hopefully soon. We have some discussions that are going on, the house and senate, democrats, republicans and the white house. That will when happen and it has to happen soon. We are insisting on parity. If theyre going to lift the caps on the events side, we need the caps on the domestic discretionary side as well. Reporter what does the white house say to that . Really, ms. Pelosi really, im not going to go into those conversations. Were on a path and im optimistic it. Has to happen soon so that we of ave it done by the end the continuing resolution. Which is what the first or second weekend of december. They changed the date. I dont know if its the first or second. Porter in the wake of the wildfires in california, congress has been hung up for years, sort of a permanent wildfire funding fix, a lot of debate about what kind of forest policy is tied to that. Are you seeing any outlines of an agreement that could maybe get a solution to providing permanent funding for the Forest Service or prevention programs, stepping those up . Ms. Pelosi i hope so. I certainly hope so. Because for those of you not familiar with the issue, one of the problems is that funds will be used in ed of having mitigation to begin with in terms of how we can prevent this some of the money is spent on putting out fires, which is what we have to do. But wed rather not have them in the first place. So just to have an overall i think it would be bipartisan. I dont see that as a partan issue at all. Because, well, weve seen the tragedy in our area. My colleague, mike thompson, his district was like an inferno. And he had some ideas about this. My colleague, jim costa, from southern from fresno area, has been on this case for a long time. So i think we can come to a place that has more ticipation, as well as resources to keep the American People safe. Reporter theres been a couple hangups. One has been the at the bait over what sort of forest policy things the debate over what sort of forest policy things you attach to it. Do you allow too much logging and overriding environmental rules for those. And also as i understand the speakers been resistance to allowing some of these large wildfire disasters to go into the fema emergency budget. Ms. Pelosi they should certainly go into the fema budget. They are a National DisasterNatural Disaster and theres no question that they should go into the fema budget. That will be did you see say the speaker was reluctant to do that . Reporter thats supposedly ms. Pelosi as i said, this is deadly serious. In terms of our country, the value we plates on place on our natural resources, for sure, but again, the impact it has on human life, first and foremost. So i think that we should be able to come to some terms on that. I see that little but separate than money coming out of fema. Thats a different fight. But on management of forest, hopefully we can find common ground. Reporter just to get back to previous topic, in terms of the discretionary cap negotiation. Is your hope or expectation that by december by the december 8 c. R. N. That there will be an omnibus able to be voted on . Or would you expect there to be me more time to work out either another c. R. , to allow for an omnibus to be done, or ms. Pelosi i dont see why we would have to have another c. R. Because we know as soons we get the caps, we know what how the allocation will be on the appropriations committee. Hopefully that would be made known to us. Sometimes they dont let us know. But hopefully that will be made known. Youll insist upon it. [ upon it. And then well go from there. But we all know that we want to measure we have to keep our country strong. Part of that is our military might and what we do in the defense side of it. And the other part of it is the health, education and wellbeing of the American People. What we do on the discretionary side of it. So i dont know, dragging it out at the end, how much what were going to know that we dont already know now. So lets just get on with it and remove all doubt. If it requires if we Reach Agreement at, and sometimes theres another week tacked on just to do the legislation, thats another story. But not to just drag out the conversation because the debate is a clear one. Everybody knows what it is. Reporter if youre going to have an omnibus by december 8, dont you have to have those caps agreed to and locked in a little bit earlier . Ms. Pelosi pretty soon, yeah. Hopefully we will. Reporter on j. F. K. Ms. Pelosi why dont we do somebody else and then we can come back and then thats it. Reporter on opioids you said show me the money when it came to the president s decision to declare a National Health emergency but Administration Officials said this morning that they were talking to congress about allocating more money by the end of the year for that. So where would you stand on that . Where would the caucus be on that . Ms. Pelosi i dont know what they mean by talking to congress. I dont know who theyre did they say who they were talking to . Our appropriators and our authorizers, really a bipartisan way. I dont see this as a partisan issue, the Opioid Epidemic. Its in every district. And we came together on the cures act, a big piece of opioid authorization. But still not so much money. To deal with it. So i dont i cant speak to what the conversations are. Let me just say, id be last person to be able toll you what the white house conversations are to tell what you the white house conversations are, assuming its the republicans in congress on this. But again, if we have the caps listed, theres more opportunity for the National Institutes of health, for samhsa, for opioids. These are some of the things that could benefit from that. But i have no idea what theyre talking about. I dont know if they do. Reporter would the caucus support the notion of them coming to congress to ask for money for this . For more money for this . Ms. Pelosi would the congress support them asking for more money . Sure, of course. But they havent. I didnt see that in the announcement. You may have had a followup question with them, but i didnt see that in the announcement. Again, it has to be additional. You cant say, were going to take as theyre trying to do on schip, on the chip. On schip. Theyre saying, were going to have schip, schip is state Childrens Health insurance program. We want to pass chip, we want to authorize chip. We want to pay for it by taking the money out of the prevention fund, which is Childrens Health, childrens inoculation, childrens test for lead. Things that benefit Childrens Health, they want to take the money from that to pay for schip. Why while theyre giving tax breaks to the wealthiest people in our country on offset. So tax cuts for the rich, dont have to be offset, they can increase the deficit. Childrens health, which is has its own benefit to our economy, has to be paid for by other Childrens Health. Nd not only that, by undermining medicare and the health of americas families. So where would this money come from . Thats really the point. Are we talking dining roomality, are we talking cannibalizing additional ality, are we talking about cannibalizing our areas . Reporter in all your years on the Intelligence Committee or in the briefings you get nowadays, you have ever had a c. I. A. Director or f. B. I. Director come to you and say they were concerned about what may be released . Ms. Pelosi no. We never even talk about it. Reporter they never brought it up . Ms. Pelosi we were talking about, in the golf swing we were talking about force protection. Use we were talking about force protection, using force protection. Overarching issues, money laundering, related to drug trade, things like that that have an impact on supporting some certain groups and the rest. We were concerned about fighting terrorism. Here and now and into the future. Ive never heard anybody come in and say, everything you would just never talk about it. We shall see. In any event, stay tuned on this because this is a moment of truth for america. Were either going down a path that says the only thing thats going come your way is what might trickle down from tax breaks for the wealthy. You are going to fund those and not only that, were going to borrow from the future, our childrens future in may case, my children and grandchildrens future, in order to go deeply into debt, to fund more tax breaks at the high end. Its really a tragedy actually. But it is a differentiation. Lets hope the American People weigh in with the republicans to pull them back to a position of fairness, simplification, growth, good paying jobs and reduction of the deficit. Thank you. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2017] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] the house today approved the 2018 budget resolution, the measure instructed the relevant committees to work on tax reform efforts. Pren