Holds a hearing this afternoon on possible rule changes for the 117th congress. Live coverage begins at 1 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan3. Joining us once again via zoom Texas Democrat al green and congressman thanks for joining us during another busy week on capitol hill. A big issue first and starting with the latest on negotiations on a new Coronavirus Relief package. Where do you understand those negotiations to be in your conversations with leadership . Well, based upon what ive read in the news as well as some of the things that have been said during meetings, it appears that negotiations are still ongoing. We have, as you know, been in sort of a stalemate for some time. At one point we had a package of 3. 4 trillion, and our friends across the aisle had a package of about 300 billion. We have come down to 2. 4 trillion. And were trying to get our friends to come up. There is a, another package for 1. 5 trillion thats . . 5 trillion thats being offered from a problem solvers caucus. That is something that appears to have gained a little bit of traction. But its all being negotiated, and until we can get a final word from negotiators, its hard to say where we will end. You. As those negotiations continue, we are not in a Government Shutdown that was averted. The president signed it late last night, the continuing resolution to fund the government goes through december 11th. Thats right. How confident are you that youll be able to come to some sort of an agreement, a deal, by december 11th, after the election . Obviously, the election will have a lot to do with it. But we hope and pray that there will be an opportunity to compromise. But as you know, many thing, happening. We have a Supreme Court position that is being considered, and that has an impact on politics. As well as just the notion that funding government requires appropriations. And theres some who want to do it in an austere way. And others understand, at a time like this, when we have a pandemic, we have to do things to help the people in this country who cannot go to work. Because there is no job to be had, because of things that have happened in various industries. And others are going to find themselves without the ability to pay rent. And as a result of this, they may be evicted. So there are many things that are happening, and its really going to depend on how the election ultimately turns out. And the hope is, well be able to compromise once we get beyond the election. Stepping away from capitol hill. I know you were off capitol hill earlier this week. You were out in kentucky, in louisville, amid the latest on the Breonna Taylor case. Were now expecting audio from the grand jury, not to be released until tomorrow. Can you just give us your thoughts from being on the ground out there . Oh, well, thank you very much. Let me thank some of the persons who were there to assist me. Pastor tim finley was there with me, kingdom formership life center. Just a wonderful person. Very knowledgeable, very much involved in the community. Very much respected. And he gave me the necessary tour that i needed. I also had the opportunity to speak to the head of the urban league there, an attorney. Attorney bells. And she is president and ceo, and provided me a lot of insight from a legal perspective. I did go down to the memorial. I did go out to where she actually lived. And had an opportunity to see the apartment that she lived in, not from the inside, but from the outside. And talked to some of the people who are protesting. The protesters that i talked to were peaceful. And they really are concerned about what has happened to breonna, to say that she was treated unfairly is a gross understatement, if youre talking to the protesters. They believe that she was treated not only unfairly, but unjustly. That injustice has been perpetrated upon her and in fact, her society and all of society. So, it was an opportunity for me to gain a lot of intelligence from the people who were there and to see that apartment helped me to understand why one officer was charged with the recklessness that he exhibited when he was shooting through those sliding glass doors. Because, if you see the apartment, you can see how that area was somewhat perpendicular to the area where the other officers were. And they were shooting at different angles into the building. And so, it was very revealing. And if i may, one of the things that became very clear to me, after talking to the pastor, pastor finley, is this. The system isnt broken. I think that we say this, and i think we all have the best of intentions when we say the system is broken. But its not. To say that the system is broken, broken is to imply, indicate that at some point, the system worked fairly. And treated africanamericans fairly. And you and i know that in 1619, when this venture started here in the americas to some extent, there are other Dates Available to us as well, but at that time, when we had slavery, africanamericans that werent killed were just trying to seek freedom. And versus the european ancestry that we commonly call white, they could chase and hunt an africanamerican and they could impose punishment of their choice just because a person was seeking freedom. After we got the 13th amendment, thanks to radical republicans, we finally got the 13th amendment, we still had black codes that were designed for black people. Allowed people to be charged with punishment and another form of slavery. In houston, texas, we had 95 people who found in a raid that had been identified as being associated with convict leasing. And there was a common way and of course, we had the discrimination, segregation, and we still have the systemic institutionized racism that exists. So, we cant say that its broken because its functioni functioning it never has functioned fairly for africanamericans. Given that premise that it has not functioned fairly, the system is, as the pastor said and i concur, doesnt doiits dt appears to do. The best way without insulting people, i dont choose to do this, but i speak strutruthfulld i love my country and i want to do things to make it better. Breonna taylor was in her home at the midnight hour. She was there with her companion. She was an innocent person. She was not armed. Breonna taylor, she and her companion at least decided to investigate at some distance, im not sure what it was. But her companion was armed and persons came into her home, members of the constabary, they were not dressed in plain clothes, officers, she lost her life. She didnt shoot at anyone. She was there in her home. And they were assuming that they were being invaded, and she lost her life. Three officers intruded, and she lost her life. Well, the best way to understand it is to say this, assume that this is a 26yearold, innocent white female. Assume that shes in her home. All of the facts are the same. Shes innocent. Shes done nothing wrong. And three africanamerican officers in plain clothes come into her home and then shoot and kill her. Would this be a tragedy . Of course, it would be a tragedy. Its a tragedy under any circumstances. But would is it be a tragedy and also a crime if this were a white female. All of the evidence seems to indicate to me that it would be a crime of some sort. I wont dare get into what the crime would be. But it appears it would be a crime. I have done my investigation. And i cannot find a circumstance where a white female was killed by an africanamerican officer who was not charged. And in houston, texas, we had a similar circumstance, not the same, lots of differences, but africanamerican officers went to a meeting where there were white persons and white persons were killed, those officers were charged. And across the country, when you find a black officer shoving a white female or white person there is a charge, or theres some suspension. Something happens. Well, congressman, if i may close with this my point is, if we turn the table if we kindly look at it from what i called your attention it may cause us to open our eyes and see that our system is it functioning because black people get punished and white people still go free. Congressman, i know we have you until 8 30, and plenty of viewers calling in to chat. The phone lines. 202 2027488000. 80001 for democrats, 8002 for independents. Youre up fires. Caller okay, id like to say, the first person to own slaves was a black man. And as far as racism, in the civil war, it was the confederate that were made up of democrats. And they feel they won it, even after everything was over. Some states did not want to have slaves. But the confederates wanted slaves and they still want slaves. People that talk against i lost that train of thought. Let me go this. Defund police means to me to take away their money. Now, i agree that the Police Department needs to be reformed as far as certain they need to be trained and everything until order to, you know, to bring the temperature down. And any policeman that does just like with george floyd. Thats fine. Congressman, ill let you jump in. Well, thank you, the caller covered a lot of turf. Let me start with the black person who owned slaves. It is true that there were some blacks who owned slaves and i condemn them to the same extent that i would condemn anyone else who took a person as chattel and held that person in bondage. Theres no reason to try to make that an excuse because of a persons color. And in reference to the democrats and republicans, in 1868, when lincoln was assassinated, it was a radical republican who pushed for some sort of reform for africanamericans. Africans in america at that time. And were fighting for the 13th amendment which freed actually freed the slaves. Emancipation proclamation was a help. But these were not the same people in terms of mindsets. The philosophies of the Political Parties has changed over the years. And you cant associate that the republicans at that time are the republicans of today, and the democrats of that time are the democrats of today. So, i still contend and really want people to understand that this systemic discrimination that exists is something that black people have to cope with and contend with. There is a mindset in this country, and it very prevalent among many in the const stastab. Black people cant talk back to the police. You cant say give me your badge number, im going to turn you in. That kind of behavior from a black person to a white officer many times will cause that officer to engage you in a very violent way. It happens. Officers believe that black people must show them a level of respect that they dont always require of others. Ive seen it happen myself. So, i want people to understand that theres something going on that the system isnt broken. That prosecutor in louisville, what else the judge, the jury and the prosecutor. He decided what facts the jury would see. This is usually something that a judge can do. But, in a grand jury, the prosecutor does it. And he decides what to present to you. He presented the case as he saw it. His color does not mean that he does not have a bias. It is unfortunate. But many times, these Police Officers are much more likely to engage in a very vociferous way with africanamericans, than white Police Officers, that happens quite often. Not all the time, but it happens with some officers. So you cant let color become the question. Theres a mentality to black people in general, and they are not respected to the same extent as white people are, when they have these encounters with police too often. Not always, but too often, these encounters because of a lack of respect will cause a black person to be harmed. And a white person simply have had an opportunity to have his or her statement. From mississippi to pennsylvania, this is mark in carlisle, independent. Good morning. Caller good morning. A couple points i have two points. Number one, the Breonna Taylor case, lets get to the facts. First of all, she was on the search warrant. Second of all, it was a noknock it wasnt a noknock search warrant. They knocked, they announced. Number three, her boyfriend, husband, whatever he was, he shot first. When you shoot, i mean, these cops, what do you want them to do we take you live to a remote hearing of a house rules