Transcripts For LINKTV Democracy Now 20170109

Careandler, primary physician, lecturer at Harvard Medical School, cofounder of physicians for a National Health program. Then to kentucky, where more than 1000 people took to the streets saturday as republicans called an emergency session with their new super majority in the legislature to ram through a slew of controversial bills, including an antiunion right to work law and extreme antichoice legislation that b bans abortios after 20 weeks and requires women to have an ultrasound before having an abortrtion. We have never had in nearly 100 years, r republican n speak. We have l literally n never hady legislatioion in the history off ultimately signedd by three repupublicans. Theres never bebeen a republicn housesenate and governor at the same time. These are historic times. Amy first, a barragage of senae confirmation hearings begins tuesday for what would be the wealthiest cabinet in modern american history. This comes despite concerns that ethics clearances and background checks are incomplete for a number of president elect Donald Trumps cabinet kicks. All that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. A barrage of Senate Confirmation hearings is set to begin tuesday for what would be the wealthiest cabinet in modern american history. This comes despite concerns that ethics clearances and background checks are incomplete for a number of president elect Donald Trumps cabibinet picks. Facesr Jeff Sessions questions on tuesday for his nomination as attorney general come along with trumps pick john kelly. On wednesday, hearings are set for former exxon Ceo Rex Tillerson as secretary of state come along with education secretary pick betsy devos. Transportation secretary nominee elaine chao and cia director mark pompeo. Tillersons net worth is at least 300 million. Several other nominees have assets will do more than 1 billion, whose confirmation hearing is on thursday. As cabinet appointees, the nominees are required to submit a financial disclosurure report that is used by the agencies they are to take over, along with the office of government ethics. The New York Times reports about the nominees have so many assets that are not enough boxes on the standard form for them. The head of the office of government ethics, walter schild, wrote in a letter to senators Chuck Schumer of new york and elizabeth war and of massachusetts that this schedule has greeted undo pressure on the office of staff and Agency Ethics officials to rush through these important reviews. This comes as nbc reports requested emails between the office of government ethics and trumps Transition Team and found saying we haved lost contact with the trumppence transition since the election. We will have more on the confirmation hearinings and e es concerns after headlines. Video has emerged of the shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport on friday, which left five people dead and eight more people wounded after the gunman, esteban santiago, opened fire in the crowded baggage claim area in terminal tubing. 26yearold santiago, who was born in new jersey and grew up in puerto rico, was an iraq war veteran who deployed with the 130th engineer battalion in 2010. He was later discharged from the alaska army natitional guard for unsatisfactory performancece. Inin november, s santiago walked into the a alaska fbi office and said he was being controlled by u. S. Intelligence. He was briefly institutionalized and his gun seized. But Law Enforcement authorities returned his gun to him about a month later. Cnn is reporting santiago used that gun during fridays attack, which he had checked into his baggage legally. During his flight from alaska through minneapolis to Fort Lauderdale. This is Esteban Santiagos brother, brian. Inhe went to the offices anchorage, alaska, to explain what he was seeing, the voices he was hearing, that his government was writing to massacre go to do certain things. Because theyault are people who never go to the government who ask for help. When a barbaric act like this happened and when the invite with them, the psychologist and psychiatrist understand there might is not well. What more than a person who went ahead of time to explain the situatation, they knew it t was ining to happepen. Amy e estebanan santiagago alsa history of domestic violence. Last january, santigos then girlfriend told prosecutors he threatened her, broke down the bathroom door where she was hiding, then hit and strangled her. He was later arrested and released on the condition hed avoid all contact with the victim terms he later violated. The Fort Lauderdale shooting came as lawmakers in florida were preparing to consider legislation that would loosen prohibitions on firirearms in florida. The legislation which was proposed last month would eliminate some of flflidas gunfree zones, whwhich currenty include airport terminals. President elect donald trump is continuing to deny alleged russian hacking had an effect on the 2016 president ial election. On friday, trump was briefed for 90 minutes by director of National Intelligence james clapper, cia director john brennan, and fbi director james comey on a classified 50page classified document on how Russian Hackers meddled in novembers election. A section of this document, declassified over the weekend, concludes russian president Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the u. S. President ial election and aspired to help president elect trumps election chances when possible by discrediting secretary clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him. Following fridays briefing, trump released a statement saying while russia, china, other countries, outside groups and people are consistently trying to break through the Cyber Infrastructure of our governmental institutions, businesses and organizations, including the Democrat National committee, there was absolutely no effect on the outcome of the election, including the fact that there was no tampering whatsoever with voting machines. Trumps briefing by intelligence officials came as hundreds of u. S. Tanks and other military equipment arrived in germany, en route to Eastern Europe, where the u. S. Is continuing its military build up against russia. The u. S. Is in the process of sending 2800 weapons, including tanks and armored vehicles, and 4000 u. S. Troops to poland and Eastern Europe over the coming days. This is Major General timothy mcguire. So this is where we are starting, but this is the first of many deployments. It is a commitment by the United States continue to deploy brigade combat teams with their equipment. So while we started here at this area, we look to use other ports. So once again, we can learn, we rapidlywhat it takes to assemble this force and move it to where it is required on the continental. Amy in kentucky, hundreds of demonstrators packed into o the Capitol Building on saturday to protest the kentucky legislatures passage of a slew of controversial bills, including an antiunion righttowork law and extreme antichoice legislation that bans abortions after 20 weeks and requireses a woman to have n ultrasound before having an abortion. The surprise emergency legislative session saturday came after republicans seized a super majority in the house of representatives giving the , republicans control of the house, the senate and the governorship for the first time in kentucky state history. On saturday, the Legislature Also repealed a law that had guaranteed higher wages for workers on publicly financed construction projects. We will have more on kentucky going to louisisville later in e broadcast. Inin iraq, at least 20 people he been killed in two separate suicide bombing attacks at markets in eastern baghdhdad ovr the weekend. Isis took responsibility for the first attack, which killed 13 people. Elsewhere in iraq, hundreds of civilians are continuing to flee mosul daily amid the u. S. Led coalitions campaign to retake the city from isis. In syria dozens of people died , saturday after a fuel truck blew up in front of a courthouse in the northern rebelheld town of azaz near the bordeder with turkey. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Elsewhere in syria, airstrikes resumed sunday against a rebelheld valley near damascus, after negotiations b between the Syrian Government and antigovernment rebels collapsed. Russian warplanes began laununching airstrikes in northn syria at the behest of turkey. In israel, four idf soldiers have died after a palestinian resident of East Jerusalem drove a truck into pedestrians at a promenade in southern jerusalem on sunday afternoon. At least a dozen more people were injured in the attack. The driver was shot dead by israeli soldieiers. In brazil, two more deadly prison uprisings have left 37 people dead, bringing the total death toll from prison uprisings over the last week to more than 90 people. Brazil has the fourth largest prison population the world after the United States, russia, and china. Widespread overcrowding in brazilian prisons have led to a series of deadly uprisings in recent years. In mexico, thousands of people took to the streets across the country on saturday to protest the mexican governments decision to raise fuel prices. The price of gasoline rose by more than 20 in most mexican states on january 1, sparking widespread unrest as protesters raided gas stations and blockaded highways and train tracks throughout last week. Mexican Authorities Say over 1000 people have been arrested and at least six people have been killed during clashes between protesters and police. The price hike came despite a promise by president Enrique Pena Nieto that the cost of gasoline would decrease as mexico denationalized its oil company, pemex, and opened its market to foreign corporations. In texas, two water protectors were arrested saturday after locking themselves to heavy machinery to delay the construction of the transpecos pipeline, which is slated to carry natural gas under the Rio Grande River and across the u. S. Mexico border where it will then continue to export terminals on Mexicos Pacific coast. Local residents and members of the society of native nations have set up a protest camp, the two rivers camp, to block the transpecos pipeline, which is being built by Energy Transfer partners, the same company constructing the 3. 8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. This is mark glover r with the g bend d defense coaoalition durig saturdayays lockdownwn. We are trtrying to bring. Wareness to the people the e fact is,s, the oil a and s industry is the strongest entity in the worldld. And they control this planet. That if we dont do something soon, we are going to wish we had done something a lot sooner. Amy mark glover is lococked don as he is speaking. G. Trspepecos is one of two pipelines Energy Transfer partners is currently building in texas. Construction of the second o on, the mamanche trailil peline,e, s temporilily halted in november by federal authorities after mistakes during construction caused the collapse of a canal and concerns about the poisoning of the el paso water supply. Potential poisoning of the el paso water supply. In florida, seven volunteers of the group food not bombs were arrested saturday while feeding people in tampas lykes gaslight park. They were arrested for sharing food without a a permit, a costy procedure reququired by the city of tampa. Some were arrested still wearing the plastic gloves they were using to dish out food. Food not bombs has vowed to continue its twice weekly feeding program. In new y york state, authorities have announced that Indian Point Nuclear power will shut down by 2021 following decades of protests and lawsuits by local residents and antinuclear activists concerned that a disaster at the Nuclear Plant could wipe out new york city. Residents have been protesting for the plants closure since the including a massive 1970s, demonstration in 1979 when 200 people were arrested after tunneling under the plants gates and chaining themselves to the entrance. Earlier this year, new York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that keeping indian point open defies common sense, planning and basic sanity. , in sioux falls, south dakota, residents gathered foror a vigil to honor the life of 28yearold saturday jamie lee wounded arrow, the second transgender woman to be murdered in 2017. She was oglala lakota, originally from the Pine Ridge Reservation in s south dakota. Former iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi rafsanjani has died at the age of 82. He was one of the leaders of the 1979 iranian revolution and went on to serve as president from 1989 to 1997. Rafsanjajani has long en one off the most influential political figures in iran, and the mentor of the current president , hassan rouhani, who is up for reelelection t this year. And meryl streep won the Lifetime Achievement award at sunday nights golden globes. The Academy Awardwinning actress used her speech to call for protections for the free press and to criticize president elect donald trump, without saying his name saying , the performance that most stunned her this year was the mocking imitation of a disabled reporter during the 2016 president iial campaign. This is s meryl l streep. It was thatat m moment when e person asking to sit in the most respected seaeat in our country imitated a disabled reporter, somemeone he outranked i in privilege, p power andnd the capacity to fight back. Heartit kind of broke my when i saw it. I still cant t get it out off y head bececause it wasnt in a movie. It was real life. Humiliatenstinct to when it is modeled by someononen the public plalatform, by someoe powerful it filters down into everyones life because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing. Invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the p powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose. Amy that was Academy Awardwinning Actress Meryl Streep at last nights golden globes. Being awarded the Lifetime Achievement award. This morning, president elect donald trump slammed streep, tweeting meryl streep, one of the most overrated actresses in hollywood, doesnt know me but attacked last night at the golden globes. She is a hillary flunky who lost big. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. A barrage of Senate Confirmation hearings is set t to begin tuesy for what could be the wealthiest cabinet in modern american history. This comes despite concerns that ethics clearances and background checks are incomplete for several of president electct Donald Trumps cabinet picks. Senator Jeff Sessions faces questions tuesday for his nomination as attorney general, along with trumps pick to head homeland security, retired marine general john kelly. On wednesday, hearings are set for former exxon Ceo Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, along with education secretary betsy devos. Transportation secretary nominee elaine chao and mike pompeo. Tillersons net worth is at least 300 million, and several other nominees hold assets of more than including commerce 1 billion, secretary wilber ross, whose confirmation hearing is on thursday. As cabinet appointees, the nominees are required to submit a Financial Disclosure report that is used by the agencies they are to take over, along with the office of government ethics. The New York Times reports that some of the nominees have so many assets that there are not enough boxes on the standard form for them. He had of the office of government ethics walter s shaub wrote in a letter to senators Chuck Schumer of new york and Elizabeth Warren of massachusetts that this schedule has created undue pressure on the office of government ethicss staff and Agency Ethics officials to rush through these important reviews. Warren l later tweeted cabinet officials must put our countrys ininterests before thr own. No conference hearings should be held until were certain thats the case. Trumps Transition Team responded with a statement that in the midst of a historic election where americans voted to drain the swamp, it is disappointing some have chosen to politicize the process. This comes as nbc reports that it requested emails between the office of government ethics and trumps Transition Team, and found shaub had emailed trump aides in november to say we seem to have lost contact with the trumppence transition since the election. For more were joined by two guests. In washington, d. C. , Robert Weissman is president of Public Citizen which has Just Launched the corporatecabinet. Org website to track the corporate connections and conflicts of interest of f trump cabinet appointees. And in minneapolis, we are joined by richard painter, professor of Corporate Law at the university of minnesota. He was the chief white house ethics lawyer for president george w. Bush from 2005 to 2007. Welcome both of you to democracy now richard painter coming with the ethics adviser for president bush. How unusual is what is happening now . Having these hearings this week, confirmation hearings, where the senators question presently trumps fix without, in some cases, having forms, questionnaires, completed, submitted . Explain who hasnt cemented, what these forms are, why the senators need them at this point. Unusual. It is we have this story collections for the office of president of the united hates every four years, and a transition from one president to another, at least every eight years, so we have all been through this process before the as the office of government ethics. It has been spending at least a year preparing for the transition that is taking place right now. But it is critically important for the nominees to have to 78, whichr form is the Financial Disclosure form that lays out what their assets are and what their sources of income are. Then also to have entered into an ethics agreement with the agency that theyre going to go into. What assets will be sold order to avoid conflicts of interest and what matters the Government Matters they will have to recuse from in order to avoid financial conflicts of interest with respect to the remaining assets. This is critically important because theres a criminal conflict of interest statute that prohibits in executive branch official from participating in a matter in which that person has a financial interest. So they either need to sell assets or recuse. We cannot have people who are going to be having ldership positions with respect to National Security with a substantial invest or any investments in turkey, russia, indonesia countries that are strategically very sensitive for the United States. We cant have a secretary of education who is invested in a forprofit education business. These are investments that are going to have to be divested in order for the person to do their job. And the job of the office of government ethics is to make absolutely sure that happens. And work with the nominees and their lawyers before the Senate Confirmation hearings begin. So the senators see exactly what the assets are, what the sources of income are, and what the plan is with respect to addressing conflicts of interest. That is what theyve done with Rex Tillerson and i believe they the assets are fully disclosed. I think the senate could have that hearing. But i understand with respect to some of the others that they do not have a complete form 278 or an ethics agreement in place. And those hearings will have to wait. This is exactly the point that senator Mitch Mcconnell made in 2009 when he wrote a letter to senator harry read about it. We cant have the hearings until we have the Financial Disclosure forms and the ethics agreement. It senator mcconnell was exactly right on that. That is what they need to do now. They have this agreement and as financial forms in place before the have the hearing. TalkRobert Weissman, me specifically more about these cabinet nominees that are up for scrutiny before the senate this week . What your Major Concerns are . I think what were seeing with the failure to comply with these ethics rules is a reiteration of what we knew early on after the election, which is were going to see the most corrupt administration in the history of the United States, and were going to see two kinds of corruption. One that is extremely likely because of the failure to take ethics rules seriously, which is scandals and violation of the law. The reason you do this stuff in advance is to avoid breaking the criminal statutes that professor painter is referring to. Actually to help the cabinet officials themselves. It is also to give the senate its only opportunity to enforce these rules. The second kind of corruption, which is guaranteed 100 , is the revolving door kind of corruption. We have all kinds of people coming in from corporate america, billionaires, huge contributors, and they will rule all matters that directly relate to corporate interests, their own personal interest, whether or not they have are going to be transgression the conflict of interest rules. We have amazing spectacle of the former ceo of exxon nominated to be secretary of state. Exxon runs its own foreignpolicy and now it is effectively taking over the foreignpolicy of the United States. At the department of labor, not out this week and i think, we , about theuzder worst possible place to look for someone to enforce labor laws, the fast food market, now proposed to enforce National Labor laws. At the Environmental Protection agency, were scott pruitt, the attorney general from the houma who has sued the agency who is written letters on behalf of Oil Companies drafted by Oil Companies attacking epa regulations, never post to run the agency. You go on down the list and it is kind of in list. Each one of these people by themselves would be an outrage in any other administration. At the totality of what were seeing from m the Trump Administration has no president in american history. Amy what about price . What about the man who would be the had of the department of health and Human Services and the revelations this weekend about trading stocks . Tom price is a member of Congress Come a nominated to run the department of health and Human Services. It turns out he has been an active trader and pharmaceutical stocks. Thanks to recently passed law, members of commerce are required to disclose what they trade and when. We have seen his stock trades seem to correlate very closely with another member of congress, representative collins, representative collins who sits on the board and owns a 1 6 share in a small australian biotech company. Representative price has also traded in this penny stock from australia that very few people would have heard of, and moments i correlate closely with the trades a representative price. Representative collins. We do not know for sure something is wrong here, but it doesnt look good. It certainly merits an investigation. Public citizens called on the office of congressional ethics to undertake that investigation. We think that investigation ought to take place before mr. Price is confirmed for the department of health and Human Services. Just dont want people were transgressing ethics rules as a matter of course in charge of these vitally important agencies. Amy do you think there was a concerted effort . Last week at attack the office of congressional ethics, not to confuse it with the one were talking about now that is saying they cannot vet these candidates, these picks fast enough, not to mention even get their questionnaires in. I think there are few things happening, but i think the biggest one is President Trump president elect trump has shown his utter disregard and lack of concern for ethics rules , as regards himself. Just like meryl streep was saying in those remarks last night, or the president elect to ben the president does, that filters down. So members of Congress Figure ethics rules do not matter for him, why should we be bothered with them . Lets get rid of this pesky agency that actually enforces them. Senate republicans figure, why should we bother with having these tough ethics reviews from the office of government ethics, this kind of standard does not apply to the president elect, and may be is able to get away with it. I think that is a miscalculation. They will not be able to get away with it, as we saw last week. Even if they do momentarily, it will come back to bite them because we are guaranteed to see multiple scandals because of the casual disregard for ethics standards. Amy in 2008, senator mcconnell insisted that all obamas cabinet appointments be fully vetted before their hearings. But speaking to face the nation, this is what senatorr mcconnell had to say about democrats who have been urging similar checks on trumps cabinet t nominees. All of these little procedural complaints are related to their frustration. At having not only lost the white house, but having lost the sesenate. I understand that. We need to sort of grow up and get past that. Amy so that is Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell today. Y. Professosor painter, your respoe to his different approach in both cases, and telling democrats basically to grow up . This isnt just a procedural issue. This is critical to the integrity of our government and avoiding violation of criminal conflict of interest statute that prohibits a Government Official from participating in any matter that has a direct or protectable effect on the Government Officials financial position. Senator mcconnell was absolutely right in 2009 when he wrote that letter to senator reid. This is not just some procedural plastering. This is all about conflicts of interest. And we need to make absolutely sure we do not have them innocent administration, just like we did in the last administration and in the bush administration. There needs to be proper vetting of the nominees for financial conflict of interest before they go in. Rex tillerson has disclosed his assets and he is disclosed he is going to sell the oil company stock. As far as im concerned, from the financial conference avengers perspective, does financial perspective, that clears him. Global warming can understand he believes in, the fact that there is global warming, which anybody is an idiot would believe by 2017, but that may put them in the top class of the trump university. Theres give them a chance now that he is made his disclosures and divestment decisions. Everyone of these nominees has to do the same. The president of the United States himself should set the right example by divesting thatlf of his own assets create conflicts of interest. Were looking forward to an announcement on that this week. I will get give president elect trump credit for last week having blasted the United States house of representatives for that absurd plan to abolish the office of congressional ethics. They did not get that idea from him. They have been planning that for a long time because they do not like doing investigative. I think the voters ought to find out whether the congressman voted for that. I know mine did. Were going to hold them accountable in 2018. That is unacceptable. Amy he did not say was wrong to do, he just said the timing was wrong. Let me ask about the noncababit appointees. People like, oh, trump advisors like carl icahn. How do they get vetted . Well, carl icahn, the position, the transition is taking place right now with respect to carl icahn is that he is not going to be a Government Employee. That is just wrong. If you is what you be advising the president , be given a title, advising the president as to who the next chairman of the Security Exchange commission is going to be, who the top regulators are going to be, he needs to disclose his assets and divest from the assets that create conflicts of interest. You cant just get around a criminal statute by saying, well, he is not a government a play because you does not want to get paid. You would rather go in and influence policy with respect to billions of dollars worth of assets. That doesnt get around the criminal conflict of interest statute. Carl icahn is to either be a Government Employee, subject to the same rules as everyone else, or he needs to but out. I would ask every Single Person who has put up for position, had communications with carl icahn, including the new nominee for this acute exchange commission, the senators need to ask specifically what conversations took place with carl icahn. Yes no business helping choose performingees and United States government pensions when he is not going to be a Government Employee. The senators need to know exactly what is going on and refuse to confirm those nominees. Amy and carl icahns significance is the former head of twawa, why he is particularly concerned about him, professor painter . Is a wellknown corporate raider and skirts close to the edges of rules with respect to the securities laws that are enforced by the Security Exchange commission. I dont understand why president would put carl icahn in charge of choosing who the next sec chair is going to be. I would want to know exactly what was said between the nominee, mr. Clayton, mr. Icahn before even think about a confirmation vote on that. Same with Energy Sector and everything else. He owns a lot of Energy Companies would like to see everything get deregulated over there so he can make more money. Well, that may or may not be in the public interest. Involved in to get advising the white house, decisionmaking, he is to be united to his Government Employee and file the disclosure form like everyone else and divest with the conflict creating assets or youll end up violating the middle statute. Theyre not going to get around that by saying he is not an United States Government Employee. They can say that all he wants. Amy trump has been named as a special advisory. Overall, he is held substantial controlling positions in many corporations including nabisco, twa, Phillips Petroleum for, dan river, marshall fields, and it goes on from there. Motorola, netflix, time warner. Robert weissman, a final conflict comment on your concerns as a slew of hearings takes place. Do democrats and conservative republicans have any recourse other than Holding Hearings for some nominees who have not even handed in the questionnaires yet . A test for will be the republicans to see if theyre willing to say, look, theyre not following the rules, we will not let this thing proceed. So far looks pretty bad. Amy what you say to republican senators who say, they will have their questionnaires and by the time of the final vote . Is during the Committee Process you have a chance to hold him accountable. This carl icahn example shows why the rules are so important and why Mitch Mcconnell is so wrong. These are not just procedural technicalities. Carl icahn is not just making giving advice on matters that relate to enriching him personally. Although, he is doing that because he has huge stakes in oil and gas industry and was sick of that deregulated. As richard painter was saying, pays lace fast and loose with the sec rules. He is giving advice on broad matters of policy that will materially affect all americans, including by worsening the prospect of climate change. These are not just technical a pain, rules that are to follow. They go to broad policy questions. That is why it is so important they be enforced. That is why it is so important traditions be respected. Why it is so important committees have a chance to delve into these matters before they take votes. And while we are on course for the most scandal prone andd corrupt administration in american history. Amy what is your website going to do, robert . Folks can get a quick look at some of these were his nominees and their conflicts. Were trying with many others to mobilize opposition across the board, including too many of the worst most conflicted and corrupt fix. Amy Robert Weissman, richard painter. When we come back, we go to louisville, kentucky, where more than 1000 people took to the streets saturday to protest a slew of controversial antichoice, antilabor lawyers laws, ramped or a special session of the now super majority republican legislature. Back in a minute. [music break] amy this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. In louisville, kentucky, moree than 1000 people took to the streets to protest hundreds demonstrated inside the Capitol Building saturday to protest the legislatures passage of a slew of controversial b bills, including an antiunion right to work law and extreme antichoice legislation that bans abortions after 20 weeks and requires a woman to have an ultrasound before having an abortion. The surprise emergency legislative session that are day came after republicans got a super majority in the house of representatives, giving the republicans control of the state house, the state senate, and the governorship for the first time in kentucky state history. On saturday, the Legislature Also were killed a law that guaranteed higher wages for workers on publicly financed construction projects. By memberdeo filmed of teamsters local 89, you can hear Democratic State representative rick rand speak in the house hillary, condemning one of the measures, Senate Bill Six, which republicans call the paycheck protection bill. Asas he speaks, you can your the crowd outside the chambers chanting and booing. That a strong voice in the district i come from. I know [indiscernible] sometimes they hit a brick wall. They are being blocked in. Byir voices being diminished this very body. Amy for more were joined by two guests. Joining us in new york lisa , abbott is a Community Organizer with kentuckians for the commonwealth. In louisisville, r Richard Becks a Union Organizer with Service Employees international union. We welcome you to democracy now richard, lets start with you. The capital is not louisville, the capital is an frankfurt. But you are speaking to us from louisville. Describe what t happened in the legislaturure and outside. Thanks, amy, for having me on this morning. Whaat we saw on saturday was a respononse to what had beenn a k of legislation being passed d ot of this new house of representatives, unprecedented break next bead. On tuesday, new members were sworn in and by winsns day, the House Economic Development committee wawas passining righto work out of committee before freshman members had even had phone lines that or office space set up. The bills were passed out of both chambers o on saturdaday ad got the governors signature later in the weekend. Union members flooded in from across the state from m paducaho pikekeville to come toto frankft so they could have their voices heard. They have been shut out of the committee rooooms on w wednesday while memembers of americans for prosperity were e allowed into e Committee Roomom. Union members have been thrown out of the house gallery for daring to take photos of vote counts as they happen. You had a lot of angry people, people whose livelihoods, the wait a few their families, were on the line. They came out in droves saturday bright a and early before the sn came up to make their voices heard, as s you heard in a video of representative rand speaking. Can you explain what took place . First, you have the november election and the republicans get a super majority, lisa. You have the house, the senate, and the governorship. Yes. I think it is important understand the political eartrthquake we expressed in kentntucky in november and cecertainly a similar earthquake perhaps could be said occurred across the country. It is but a long time in coming in kentucky. Kentucky is historically a conservative critic state. There significantly more democrats register than republicans. Over the last 20 years, there hasbeen Republican Party gained strength both in the legislature and in terms of our delegation in washington, d. C. So what happened in november was a long time coming, but it also was an earthquake. 70 members of the house e of representativeves, income and, lost their seats. We had been kenentucky had bn the only state legislatuture in the south with the divided chamber. The house was controlled by the demomocrats. The senate controlled by republicans. They came to an end and the republicans now have a super majority in both the house, senate, and in 2015, kentuckians elected matt bevin, twoparter republican as g governor. Soso with that power, they are w exercising the power amy youre headed to North Carolina before going back to kentucky. I could not help but think of parallels. When you talk about is emergency session that was called. Isis that hohow it usually h has in kentucky . Well, no. I think the parallels to places like North Carolina, wisconsin, are clear. What we are seeing is not just enacting a policy agenda, but breaking down whatever norms need to be broken down to exercise power in some of the sort of crudest, rost ways possible. As democracyng itself in North Carolina and kentucky is weekend. Amy this is also very significant for the country is fromMitch Mcconnell kentucky. Can you tell us a little bit about his background as he wields more and more power in the United States now is the Senate Majority leader . Is a familiar figure to most americans watching politics now. Louisviller began in and when he was elected to local office in louisville, the time, he prided himself on being pragmatic on making sure the trains ran on time. As he moved to washington, he declared the three rules of politics were very simple money, money, and money. He has pursued those rules for the past 30 years. As a result, today he is one of the wealthiest members of a very wealthy senate post a meanwhile, the e Living Conditions in kentucky continue to be very hard. He has not provided the kind of leadership that is needed nor the kind of policy agenda that is needed to improve the welfare of People Living in either our rural areas for our urban communities. Amy richard becker, the actual laws that were p passed, the slw of laws that were passed on saturday, if you c could go through them . We had house bill 1, which was the socalled right to work legislation. There is, twice its other states passed it in this recognition. To quickly touch on that, that ina law that allows workers a unionized workplace to opt out of paying union dues, even while enjoying Union Representation in the benefit of a collective bargaining agreement. What it does is it your roads solidarity in the union. That workplace it forces unions under the law after represent everyone in the workplace whether they pay dues or not, so it sets up a scenario that really weakens unions in the state it is passed. The other bill we had was house will 3, which was repeal of the prevailing wage law, which is a law that sets a minimum wage for skilled construction work on publicly funded projects. In encourages local hiring for publicly funded projects. That bill passed repealing surveilling wage. Net Senate Bill Six bang, which is, is he referred to it, they call it the paycheck protection act or we collect sometimes paycheck deception act because lilike all of these bills, its true purpose i is shrouded in a lot of mininistry. Frankly, i just wanted to add, part of what has been such an outrage this week here in kentucky has been the means by which this legislation was passeded. Members were not able to thoroughly debate them before they were passed. Result, those of us on the ground in kentucky are still trying to wrap ouour heads aroud what exactly passed. Im told there were some amendment attached the Senate Bill Six. We will have to spend some time letting the dust settttled to fifigure out exactly whahat camt of the chambers this week and. Amy and the role of the Koch Brothers, lisa abbott . I think we have seen amy and alec. Absolutely. And the Koch Brothers and groups funded by them like americans for prosperity have been very active kentucky come as in many other places around the country, active in elections, active in providing socalled model legislation to stateawmakers who very often dont even know what is in the bills theyre putting before the legislature as sponsors. And so we are contending with a very wellfunded, multistrategy agendada from the right. Amy americans prosperity state in the room, richard becker, this weekend. Can you explain what hapappened . Actually, last wednesday, so the day after new members were sworn in, the House Economic Development Committee Held its meeting at which they were to be discussising right to work in te repeal of prevailing wage. I was with several hundred Union Members in the halls of the Capitol Annex for the hours leading up to when the meeting was supppposed to o take place. Five minutes before e the meetig was supposed to start, we were told the room was full. None of us have been able to make it in. We later found out that is because america forr prosperity had reserved the Committee Room for a breakfast that morning and come time for the committee to meet, they all remained in their seats. When the Committee Meeting started, Union Members were shut out of the Committee Room. The doors were shut and state troopers stood in front of the doors to keep Union Members from attending the committee hearing. Amy we will certainly continue to follow what happens in kentucky as we do the rest of the nation. Richard becker, thank for joining us Union Organizer with , seiu based in louisville, kentucky. And thank you so much to lisa abbott, herewith as a new york, but is head of kentuckians for the commonwealth. Back, repeal and replace . Repeal and run . What is going to happen to obamacare . Is there a road to singlepayeye something that once president elect donald trump said he supported . Stay with us. [music break] amy so called christian politician by tyler gill. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Republicans in the newly sworn in 115th congress are moving swiftly to repeal the Affordable Care act, president obamas Signature Health care law. By a vote of 51 to 48 last week, the Senate Approved a procedural method clearing a way for a budget resolution that could repeal major sections of the law. The charge was led by Vice President elect mike pence, who admitted republicans have not yet decided how to replace the Affordable Care act. The president elect and i are working with the leaders of the house and senate are determined to keep our promise to the American People, and that all begins with repealing and replacing the failed policy of obamacare. Amy president obama made a rare trip to capitol hill, where told minority democrats not to help republicans pass replacement measures that he called trumpcare. At the white house, press secretary josh earnest said the republican plan would have dedevastating consequences. 22 Million People are going to lose the health asserts insurance of the Affordable Care act is repealed. It will rip a hole in the federal budget. The budget will go up. That is not just my conclusion. You can as the cbo about that. Amy Senate Republicans are seeking to end billions of dollars in federal subsidies to states that have expanded medicaid, as well as subsidies for private Health Coverage throrough health i insurance exchanges. Well, for more, we go now to s angeles, california where were joined by dr. Steffie woolhandler, a professor at cunyhunter college and a primary care physician. She is a lecturer at Harvard Medical School and thehe cofounder of physicians for a National Health program. Dr. Steffie woolhandler, welcome to democracy now we want to talk about two things. What is happening, republicans call it repeal and replace most of democrats are calling it repeal and run. And then where you see, if you see there is any road to singlepayer. But lets start with what the republicans are proposing or not. We think what the republicans will do is they will rebrand the Affordable Care act with a new name, but keep the essential structure of the Affordable Care act is to use public money to purchase private insurance. The republicans rebranded version of the Affordable Care act will be much meaner and skimpier. It will have much more the way of copayments and adaptables, particularly for poor people who are unable to afford it. I think a lot of the structures of obamacare were in fact structures first proposed by republicans. They were first implemented in massachusetts under romney care in 2006. First proposed by thenpresident nixon and fully fleshed out by the heritage foundation. The very structure of obamacare was a republican idea. So i think the republican replacement will at least show actually look like obama structurally look like obamacare, just be a leaner, meaner, rebranded form of the obamacare legislation. Amy rebranded as trumpcare. What you mean . Kids until theyre 26, can they be on ththeir parents insurance . What happens to the 20 30 Million People who are subsidized who did not have insurance before, who are the poorest in this country . Of the issue is the republicans will be blocked granting medicaid. So turning money over to the states for medicaid to pretty much do what they want with it. We think what the states will do is create very skimpy, very restrictive medicare programs, as has happened in indiana under governor pence, Vice President elect pence, where the minute a poor person misses a payment, they get thrown off of medicaid for six months. They have to make copayments, which they cant afford. We do expect that is what medicaid will look like going skimpy, and extremely strippeddown coverage that really does not allow people to get the health care they need. We also anticipate there will be more copayments, mortar dr. Bowles for insured more deductibles for insured. Probably the will be no guarantee of reproductive coverage, as there is under obamacare. I think most of the punishment will be meted out against four people, if you will, but will still probably have the structures of obamacare. The coverage of to age 26, frankly, that is the thing that is most likely tuesday in a republican plan. Existing conditions . Preexisting conditions . That will almost certainly change. Their only going to allow you the protection for preexisting conditions if you keep your insurance continuously throughout your life. As many people know, that is something very, very difficult to do. Many people have a lapse of a day or a month in their insurance. If you have that kind of lapse, you have no protection about preexisting conditions and your Insurance Company will be allowed her new insurance cocompany will be allowed to dey you coverage. Amy donald trump has talked about single payer in the past. Yes talked about it on 60 minutes. This was in april. Mr. Trump as far as singlepayer, it works in canada and works incredibly well in scotland and could have worked in a different age, which is the age youre talking about here. What i would like to see is a private system without the artificial ive a big company with thousands and thousands of employees. If im negotiating in new york or new jersey or in california, i have like one bidder. The insurance copies are making a fortune because they have control of the politicians. Of course, with the exception of the politicians. They have total control of the politicians. Theyre making a fortune. Get rid of the artificial lines, and you will have yourself great plans. Then we have to take care of the people who cant take care of themselves. I will do that through a different system post of amy 2015,s donald trump in coming out in favor of a form of Single Payer Health insusurance. Mr. Trump obamacacare is goingo be repealed and replaceced. It is a didisaster. If you look at what is going on with premiums, of f 45 , 55 how do o you fix it . Untrump this is an republican thing for me to say. Universalal health care. Mr. Trump i dont care if it costs me votes or not. Everyone will be taking care of. The uninsured person is going to be e taking care of. How . I w would makake a deal with existing hospitals to take care people. Make a deal, who pays for it . Mr. Trump the government. We will say so much money on the other side. A the most part, it will be a private plan. People can negotiate with lots of different competitions, with lots of predators, wiwith Great Companies and they can have their doctctors, have their plp, have everything. Amy so that is present elect donald trump speaking before he was president. Dr. Steffie woolhandler, what do you think of what he is saying, albeit a while ago . I certainly agree with him that singlepayer works very well in other countries that have it. People in this country spend about half what we do on health care. They get Free Health Care from the day they are born to the day they die without copayments or to dock doubles. I dont think deductibles. I dont think President Trump is going to enact singlepayer, but i think there is tremendous possibilities for moving forward to singlepayer. It is pretty clear the American People got a good look at obamacare and said, this is not a solution, this is not working. And many of them do in fact support the idea of a single payer medicare for all. That is what we need to be pushing. Amy what is the road to that from here . Well, we need to be saying we need to go beyond the Affordable Care act to a singlepayer system. Merely trying to defend the Affordable Care act at this point is not going to work. The American People have seen it for three years and rejected it. People got insurance, and that is great, but there were 280 Million People who saw no improvement in health care. They still cannot afford health care, despite having private insurance, because of the copayments and the deductibles and those their own networks. We need to go to a system that fixes the Health Care System for everyone. That is what is politically possible right now. Defending the Affordable Care act, looks like defending the status quo in health care and that is not acceptable to most americans. Amy what youre saying is too important. Were going to continue the conversation after the broadcast and post it online at democracynow. Org. Is there a road to singlepayer under President Trump . cnwwnyw 0p if you want to see the future of china, come to a Village School in rural anwu, where every child is learning english. Giving birth to a male child or a female child is equally as good