Pat toomey. Two senators from pennsylvania. First, the headlines. Georgia is heating up. Have announced a hand recount in the state. Biden is up to 14,000 votes in the latest Washington Post count. That is going to be a state that everybody in this country involved in politics will have their eyes on between now and the general area five runoff and the january 5 runoff. Speaker pelosi remains in charge. Challengended off no despite democrats losing seats in the house of representatives. It is a testament to her power. Its also a sign democrats were ambitious in the house and the probably going to waited out untils pelosi until pellucid the sets to retire at one point. There is a leadership challenge. Not this time. And primeiden minister Boris Johnson had a phone call that was productive. Boris johnson spoke to the house andommons in recent hours said it was a productive call. He also notably referred to President Trump as the former president. An acknowledgment from one of our top allies, the u. K. , that they have moved on even President Trump even though President Trump has not. Lets bring in a democrat, a longtime leader in the state of pennsylvania. He has been in the senate now for quite some time, senator casey, from the scranton area of pennsylvania. Good to have you here. I remember being with you and scranton in 2017 right after President Trump was elected. Even then, we were talking about 2020. Pennsylvania was going to be a key state in the campaign. As you look at the results and reflect on the past campaign, where is pennsylvania right now politically speaking . Bob, it is very much a close estate as we can tell by the election results. 7 . D trump won in 2016 by but now joe biden is winning by a similar margin, as we speak, on the unofficial count. It is a close state. What we have to recognize is that Going Forward. We have to learn a lot on our if we are going to get ready for the 2022 election coming up, where we have the governors race for an open seat, as and opens it for the u. S. Senate, with senator to me saying he is not going to run toomey saying he is not going to run. I am grateful the people of pennsylvania elected joe biden, because you can see in his campaign, he followed the strategy, which i and others felt was necessary to win the state. We are happy about that. Host you mentioned 2022. Political observers have said casey might want to be governor himself. Are you in any way thinking about a run for governor in 2022 . Im not. Im very happy with the work i am doing in the senateplus, i have a chance to serve. In the senate. Plus, i have a chance to serve. I want to concentrate my work not just on the work i do on behalf of the people of pennsylvania, but also to help joe biden succeed, because if he succeeds, then i think the nation and our commonwealth will be better off. Host could you ever see yourself running for governor down the line leader in your career . I just turned 60 years old this year. Was about 68e years old when he got elected governor. Theres always inspiration out there. Elect biden ist from scranton. Are you pushing for the president ial library to the in scranton, pennsylvania rather than delaware . We have not gotten that far down the road. We are still at 47000 and the margin and still climbing. Is still climbing. I would say, when you consider the issues that joe biden talked about, it set forth a real detailed plan. The jobs, the economic dips we are in, you can see those challenges right here in pennsylvania. Number one, we still have a very high unemployment rate. 518,000 people out of work. That is low from where it was in april through august. Secondly, we have a raging virus. The numbers going we up in pennsylvania. 243,000 cases roughly and more than 9,000 deaths. Just in pennsylvania, you can see the new challenges that confront the new administration. Host is a stimulus package going to be the First Priority for President Biden . I hope it does not have to be his First Priority upon taking office. I hope we can get something done this month or in december. I think that is what we should try to do. When i say something, i mean something robust. Something substantial. Not just a limited scaled down proposal that leader mcconnell and his that leader mcconnell has set forth. We need more robust relief strategies, i more a more robust stimulus package. We need a strategy to get the nursing home case numbers and death numbers down. Over 91,000 people have died in nursing homes. That is an abomination. It is a failure of the greatest country in the world. Resident deaths as well as worker deaths, we have to get that down. Secondly, communities of color need help. Their disproportionately affected by case numbers and death numbers. We have to make sure we have coverage for those americans. And certainly, people with disabilities are vulnerable, as well as with a have suffered disproportionately. We need to make sure there are options for seniors and people with disabilities. Not leaving off would assistance and state and local government help. You can see how big this has to be to provide the relief that we need. I hope we can get it done this month or next. Host President Trump and his campaign are mounting legal challenges in pennsylvania. You are as plugged in as anybody with the state legislature, republicans. Do you think there is any movement afoot to change how itssylvania sends electors to the Electoral College . There is no doubt that is a strategy of the trump team. I think they will try to solicit support from republican elected officials and others in our state. I think it is a pretty steep hill to climb. That some state republican legislative leaders have already said that they are going to follow the law and the Electoral College. But i put nothing past the trump campaign, because they are both desperate and if fetid. They will try anything to try to change the rule. And defeated. They will try anything to try to change the rule and break the law, even. Host how would they do that . Somehow, to try to undermine the existing laws in the Electoral College and try to get people to vote at different way than a different way their electoral standing would require them to vote. But of course, they are already lying over and over again. The president has lied about voter fraud and all the rest. We know there is no widespread voter fraud across the country. Certainly none of that in pennsylvania. They will keep trying. So far, and their legal lawsuit, they have not won a single one. I think they will continue to those of joe biden is elected. It is just a matter of time before the election is validated by way of the Electoral College. Host when youre talking with your colleagues in the senate, and they see the secretary of defense terminated, they see different intelligence officials being put in were trump who are trump loyalists, into key positions. What do you think is actually going on with this president and this administration in the lameduck period . On the democratic side, there is great concern. Surprised by that. I think there is probably also significant concern on the republican side. I have not had a chance to engage with republican senators yet. We only got back just on monday. But i wish republican senators would stand up and tell the truth about what happened here. Joe biden was elected president. He is the president elect. The faster that the transition is able to kick into gear fully, especially as it relates to our National Security, his team, he and his team should be Getting National security briefings at the rate and at the depth that every other former president elect has been getting. That has not happened yet. It puts us at risk. It just shows you the length of with donald trump will go lengths that donald trump will go to. I wish house members would say to the white house, you have got to do a bare minimum to provide the National Security briefing. Gapdo not have a Going Forward. Our adversaries are looking for those kinds of gaps. We cannot afford that. Host what happens of the president refuses to concede and they do not formalize a transition until after the election is certified in congress . Is there anything you could do in the senate, or are your hands tied . Im not aware of anything except leader mcconnell got his caucus to unify and come together on may be passing a statute or an amendment that would mandate that kind of action being taken by the administration. Im not sure there is anything in the near term the senate would do. I think the lies and the court of the Senate Majority on that. The law is in the court of the Senate Majority on that. But i am hoping more rational voices in the administration will allow that part of the process to go forward. It does not make any sense. It does not benefit anyone if this process is dragged out. Host what is your view of the georgia runoff races on january 5 . The democrats actually have a shot. I think they do. My analysis here is pretty limited. Very limited than dont think i can offer any more than anyone else would. But the fact that joe biden looks like he is going to win georgia, or come close, i think is a good harbinger of the two senate races, the runoff. But i cant go below that. I was so immersed in pennsylvania. I think it is pretty remarkable whats happened in the president ial race in georgia. I think that provides a really Good Foundation for the senate races. Stacey abrams and so many others who work here for so many years, especially the loss couple of years, i think their work is born a lot of truth hasborne a lot of truth has borne a lot of truth. What is the reality for the senate in 2021 . A leader mcconnell . Do you actually have a real believe that something, a big ticket item, could be achieved . We would be better off if we win the two seats in georgia. We effectively have the majority. We want to get things then. We want to tackle the virus. We want to jump start the economy. We want to expand health care. Confront climate change. So much weve got to do. If we are in the minority, even will be narrow, that difficult for the country, because leader mcconnell seems to believe by virtue of the last couple of years that the senate is a nomination machine and little else. I think the moment we are in, the actions by the senate should make the moment we are in. Which means we have to tackle some related problems. That because joe biden will engage with Senate Republicans and we will try every day to work with leader if he is a majority leader, we dont know that yet, we can make some progress. Our country faces the kind of challenges that i dont think any new administration has faced since march of 1933, when fdr took field of office. Took the oath of office. Host who are the kind of people you would like to see on the cabinet . Any names you would like to see as part of the Biden Cabinet . I dont want to try to make any news on this, because it would be speculation. Host you are more centrist on different issues. Do you have a feel of what should get done . President elect biden is going to have a great team around him. Part of that is years in the senate. Talent, he knows the confirmation process. His years as Vice President obviously offer another layer of experience about what has to get done early, Lessons Learned from the early days of 2009, so i think hes im not going to give him advice on the people he should have in his cabinet, but obviously, the confirmation process will be more difficult, if republicans maintain the republicansif maintain the majority. One thing about president elect biden is, he is not going to be afraid to surround himself with the kind of strength and substantial figures that some president s dont like around. Some president s have insecurity about them. They dont like people in the cabinet that might outshine them on particular days. I think joe biden is going to get the best talent available, whether or not that means [indiscernible] host but hes got decisions to make. Do you goof state, with susan rice or senator combs . You can nominate elizabeth warren. The choices have to be made. For republicans, it could be a r ipe fight if a liberalism unaided. Liberal is nominated. There is no question. The predicates to those kinds of comparisons will be, who has control of the senate. We still have two races to settle in georgia. We can still be at a 5050 tie, then we have Kamala Harris breaking the tie. We will wait to see what happens. Names. Going to name that will get everyone in trouble, including me. Host lets be clear, senator casey, are you open to being in the cabinet, or not . I am very happy with the work i have to do in the senate. Host you mentioned the lessons of 2009. I think back to that period, covering the aca. Elect think President Biden should put off pursuing a public option for health care for a year or two . I dont think so. I think we should do everything we can to expand health care. Get another decision from the supreme court. I am hoping the Affordable Care act will be upheld. In remains. Hope it is upheld. I think we should pursue any strategy, any option to expand coverage. Ado think we are learned couple of things i do think we learned a couple of things in the obama administration. The recovery act was a little too small. We were trying to get republican votes. I think you have to make any new Jobs Initiative victim bold. Number two, i think you have to, at some point, if the majority is not republican, joe and Mitch Mcconnell at one point move on and have to either schedule a vote and spend some time on the road and drum up support in pressure and make it more painful when republicans block things. All of those lessons i think are difficult to implement, but i think we learned a lot in the first couple of years of the obama administration. Is your concern, if any, about what is happening in philadelphia . The president has been relentless in his attacks on election officials, local officials in philadelphia, about the election. Do you believe it could cause unrest or even Something Else . I dont think that is going to happen. I would be surprised if that happened. Because he has tried it before. And there was not that kind of at the polls put her intimidation voter intimidation. With the president is doing in philadelphia is not about votes or anything having to do about the election. Its racism. He is engaged in a racist continuation of what hes done over and over again. The bad news for the president the republican, hasmmissioner, is reported now that there is nothing wrong with the votes, there is no voter fraud. That is consistent with all the reporting. Try as the president might, hes not going to be successful and either convincing people that there is water fraud or in overturning the results of the election. Joe biden won pennsylvania and the vote margin keeps growing. Host where is the catholic vote in pennsylvania . As a catholic yourself, president elect biden a catholic from scranton, pennsylvania, like you, are they voting on issues beyond abortion rights . And if so, what are those issues, in your mind . Morere in touch with catholic voters in pennsylvania then most people. Than most people. State, theive of the catholic vote is often referred to as probably not in any election really a mile foot. There is a diversity a monolithic vote. To that a diversity vote, every category. I think in this election, President Trump won that vote in pennsylvania, as he did in 16. But those of us who are catholic, we have work to do. Because often, we allow the other side of the republican , the catholic elected catholic vote, to dominate the conversation. We have to do a better job of talking about issues that relate to peoples lives. For example, when i talk about medicaid, it is pretty hard to say you are following the gospel, when you are out to cut medicaid, the women and infants program, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, you are out to destroy the Affordable Care act. It is pretty hard to say were being consistent with the gospel. But we have got some work to do. That is work that i continue to undertake. That is work that i continue to undertake. Very often, we have allowed loud, extreme voices to speak for our catholics, when they dont. Frankly, they dont speak for the pope, let alone the catholics in pennsylvania. Done on myrk to be side of the debate. Host when you look at 2022, you say you are not ready for governor. Should democrats move toward someone who is more like a bob casey democrat . To make sure that seat moves democratic in 2022 . It will depend upon a lot. A think we will nominate someone. There will be a number of contenders for that. It is still pretty early. I think it is going to be wide open. Im not sure that i want to impose a predicate for a label on that nominee. Our state has changed enormously. Just in your lifetime, even more dramatically, in my much older lifetime, the votes the democrats are getting in suburban communities are extraordinary. Even from 16 to 20, the vote went up in Montgomery County by five percentage points. Biden one Montgomery County by 26 points. It was 21 last time. Delaware county went up, as well. Democratsan vote for is really rising and has the potential to grow even more. We have got some work to do in rural pennsylvania. But joe biden is able to ship some of those margins a little bit and do better in northeastern pennsylvania. I think a democrat be nominated in 2022 without an incumbent senator on the republican side is a really good chance. Host senator casey, look forward to seeing you in pennsylvania again for an assignment in coverage. Until then, all the best. Thanks for stopping by this afternoon to talk about her home state, pennsylvania our home state, pennsylvania. We are now joined by pennsylvanias other senator, pat toomey. Senator toomey, great to have you here. Im not sure how much you have heard of my conversation with senator casey. You might even talk to him from time to time about this. But how do you see pennsylvania right now, politically . Has it changed since you first came into office back in 2011 . Sure, its changed in a lot of ways, but if you look at the election from last week, theres a question that most republicans are disappointed that the president does not appear to have won this election, but every other place on the ballot, republican, did remarkably well republicans did remarkably well. We picked up seats in the state house, the state senate, we won offices instatewide pennsylvania. We have incumbents running in very difficult races. They all won. I think republicans are disappointed with the way things appear to be going at the top of the ticket, but everywhere else it is true across the country. More than a handful of republicans in the house. We have an excellent chance of holding the senate. We did not lose a single state legislature. For all of the predictions of a blue wave, it is not even a ripple. Are ono if republicans the upswing in pennsylvania and perhaps elsewhere, why are you retired in 2022 . Maybe you are going to rethink that decision now . That would beer speculation. That is not going to happen, because my decision is based on a personal decision. I have long been sympathetic to term limits. Have served only the three terms that i said i would. And i always thought and openly that i served two terms in the senate. I will serve two terms in the senate. When i finish this term, i will have been in elected office for 18 years. Me, that is enough. Im glad republican prospects have been Getting Better and look really good at this point. But that does not even begin to change my thinking. Host there are a couple of reports in the Washington Post raising alarm about the lack of a formal transition process for president elect work, for the gsa to not with the biden transition team. Are you concerned about that lack of a formal process for the transition for the president elect . T viceould note tha President Biden has indicated he does not see a problem. He thinks the transition is going to go smoothly. I have also said, it does appear as though joe biden is likely to be certified as the president elect relatively soon. I think it is better if they did begin a transition process that we have had in the past. My guess is that will probably begin relatively soon. Host what gives you that confidence . I just think thats where its probably heading. Host are republicans beyond yourself ready to take the position . Is that made it where this is heading . Its not my fault. I just think that is where its likely to go. Host do you consider joe biden to be president elect . Bob, as i have said, there is a process we go through. It is perfectly fine for the media to make the projections. And after a certain point, the media has a certain amount of evidence to make those projections. That being said, elections are not determined by media projections. They are determined by counting votes. And we are almost finished with the vote count in pennsylvania for instance, we are finished in many states, we are finishing and others. But even that is not the end of the process. If it is close enough, theres an automatic recount whether candidates want it or not. It looks like the margin probably will be slightly outside what would automatically require a recount. Candidatehe losing cancel seeking recounts. So that is probably going to happen. Then there is litigation. Our elections have litigation pretty much pretty frequently. I think we are going to adjudicate several disputes. That is all part of this process. It will be done soon enough. I think the outcome will be clear. Host President Trump continues his legal challenges, including in pennsylvania. He is also attacking the integrity of the election in tweets, urging his supporters to share that view. Any advice for the president when it comes to his rhetoric about the election . I am not the editor of the president s twitter feed. He is not shy about saying what is on his mind. Host how do you think pennsylvania will handle the Electoral College . Do you see any effort inside the gop to put an infosys on may be making some changes an emphasis on may be making some changes as the process unfolds . You may or may not be aware of, but the republicans have a majority in the statehouse and state senate. That is heavy electorates are going to be selected. The electorate is not going to do on in round around this vote. And try to put forth some alternative. That is just not going to happen. Host when you look at the termination of secretary asper, other personnel changes inside the Intelligence Community in recent days, by President Trump, what do you see happening . What do you think is happening inside this white house . Or do you know is happening . President s get to make that decision about their cabinet members. It is not shocking the president would make a change. That is what i think. Host looking ahead to 2021, do you see any possibility of gun control legislation . Us to believe background checks are completely compatible with a very robust second amendment. I still advocate for the expansion to background checks. We expected to get it done some time ago. I dont know whether that is something that joe biden will make a priority of. If i will be up to say it enough for colleagues in the senate. Thatll hold the view expanded background checks is the policy. Host have there been discussions recently about it . The truth is, the discussion has been all about election. Look what about when you ahead to 2021 spending . In the fiscal situation . In first came on my radar 2004, when you challenged then senator specter in the republican primary. Were a spending hawk back then, a fiscal conservative. Do you believe your party has lost that value as a core principle . Will it ever return . Think it is fair to say we have lost that value is a core principle. I think you have to look at the recent history suggesting the contrary. As the hundred years since we have had a pandemic like this. Never in history did the government respond to any certain circumstances by shutting down the economy. Make it illegal to go to work, legal to open a business. And so, in the absence of an , which is a difficult thing to even grasp, we felt we needed to come in and replace who income for the people would be completely in desperate circumstances and keep the so we can have strong growth. So we did that. I think it was the right call. There were a lot of provisions i would not have put in if i had to write the builder myself, but i swallowed those because i thought the circumstances required it. We are in the midst of a of a remarkable, really terrific recovery. The economy is recovering much more rapidly than almost anyone thought. It was 6. 9 at the end of october with an expanding workforce. And wages are gaining. , so this is a gdp remarkably successful recovery. It is going on all cylinders. Senator and casey and others want to spend trillions more dollars. We are not in the same place. What pelosi and others want to do was not a good idea at all. Republicans have advocated something that is still quite ambitious, several hundred billion dollars. Maybe 500 billion, but something that would be targeted time. Mited periods of dollarshundred billion targeted, questioning if even that is necessary, versus several trillion dollars, i think it is pretty clear which party cares more about fiscal policy. Host do you think joe biden will move on a stimulus, do you think that will be the first bigticket item he pursues . There will be an effort to do something in this lameduck session. She didnt want any stimulus bill done prior to the election. Now that is behind us, the election is behind us, you might have a different view, joe biden might have a different view of what democrats should do in this regard, but i dont know what that will be. I think there will be a consensus in the senate that a narrow targeted bill could still. Ake sense to be ahis is going bailout for insolvent states and cities, that is not going to happen. Host what is President Trumps role Going Forward . That is going to be for him to decide. Host how do you believe he has influenced the Republican Party. The Republican Party . A lot of ways. There is no question he has brought a lot of people to the Republican Party. I think it is fair to say the Republican Party is now the party of the working class. A very large part of our political base. The Democratic Party has really abandoned the kind of policies that are good for jobs and. Ncome growth workingclass people figured that out. That process was underway, that evolution, that movement, but donald trump accelerated it pretty dramatically. He also expanded Republican Party of deal to ethnic minorities. The truth is, he improved his vote totals among africanamericans in hispanic americans. The challenge for republicans is going to be, can we hold people that donald trump brought to the party and went back the people drove away trump from the party . Politically, the effects have been very significant. Preliminary look at the election should be encouraging for republicans. This administration is remarkably successful in many ways. It is just an objective fact we have the strongest economy of my lifetime right up until the pandemic hit earlier this year. We had record low unemployment. We had wages growing at an excel a rating based. Accelerating pace. Emissions. Ucing co2 there was a tremendous amount of really good news, much of which i think came from the pursuit of republican policies like rolling back regulations. And we had areas where there was tension within the republican coalition, such as on trade policy. I for one disagreed with much of what the president did and advocated. If you look at it with some very uniqueexceptions and a case, china, we are in [indiscernible] in 100 years. It is that free global trade environment that we achieve the strong is the economy of our lifetime and record low unemployment. It is very clear that even with the Trump Administration and a republican congress, we continue to have very robust by the way, the trap of ministration has been pursuing discussions about freetrade agreement with japan, so the message even from the Trump Administration on trade has been mixed. Its not been explicitly protectionist. Host when you look ahead to are familiar with banking from the republican side, are you prepared to go to the barricades, politically speaking, if biden nominates someone like senator warren or another progressive to be the secretary of the treasury . How do you see that playing out . What are you prepared to do inside the senate . I doubt very much secretary war and will be on the meeting table, because the governor secretary war and will be on the because ofle, senator schumer. The population of a cabinet position responsibility. The president should get significant deference in putting together his team, even though most immigrants were not able to do that for President Trump, i was willing to do that for president obama. And i think that is important. Having said that, especially when you have divided government, when the American People speak as they have, expanding the number of republicans in the house, probably giving us a majority still in the senate, growing republican majority and state legislatures across the country, we have got to recognize we have a responsibility to advise and consent. Host rim might make senator, did you will pose any obama nominee for his cabinet . Is certainly oppose some obama nominees. I dont remember whether i opposed specific people who were cabinet nominees. Far below theple rank of cabinet secretary. Have that in front of me. But i think i probably voted to confirm over 70 of the obama nominees that were made while i was in the senate. Host that is kind of an oldschool view of being a senator. I think it is a should responsibility. We should provide advice and consent. If the circumstances require it. Host lets finish with a little bit of toomey talk. 2022, are you going to stay out on theprimary or keep table the idea you could endorse a successor . Thathave not made decision. I have not thought about it much. I have no idea what the deal will look like. And so, it would be premature for me to decide whether or not im going to play a role. Host any advice the Pennsylvania Republicans as a look to the Gubernatorial Race in pennsylvania . That is up to the denominat who to nominate. Pennsylvania in this context is going to be competitive, expensive, and we need a good candidate to run a good race if we have those things. Our prospects are quite good. Youve got to earn it. A big, diverse population and Neither Party can take it for granted. Youve got to go out and earn it. Reallyenator toomey, appreciate your time this afternoon. Have you and nice to have you and senator casey. I appreciate you having fun with the questions. Thank you so much, senator toomey. I hope you all enjoyed those conversations with senator casey and senator toomey, pennsylvanias two senators, not always that easy them together backtoback not always that you see them back to back. It is important how senator toomey has measured and is not overly enthusiastic, but is calling for an orderly transition of some sort. Lets also remind you this is our last election daily. Postelection daily. The Washington Post has been doing this for more than a week. I hope you have enjoyed our conversations at 1 00. We are wrapping it up with the two senators for pennsylvania come up with does not mean Washington Post live is shattering. I will be hosting programs from time to time. Make sure to watch tomorrow 10 00 a. M. Eastern. We will speak with dr. Carl june discussing Cancer Research and David Ignatius on friday at 1 00. A conversation with alexander hardy. You can always head to Washington Post live online to find out information about upcoming programs, washingtonpostlive. Com. For now, i appreciate you coming all theseternoon for election daily conversations. We made it through the election. Lets carry him. Lets carry on. Im bob costa. All the best. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] announcer watch American History tv in primetime on veterans day starting at 8 00 p. M. Eastern. Patrick odonnell, on his book, unknowns, about the decorated heroes who brought him home. At 11 20 p. M. Eastern, the 1945 film, the army nurse. Watch American History tv tonight starting at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan3. President elect joe biden and his wife marked veterans day by attending a ceremony at the Korean War Memorial in philadelphia