Break the dysfunction, at least to an extent. Flood insurance. Infrastructure. You know, everybody in that congress has railroads and roads and airports and schools. Theyre all decaying. Metro north. And the amtrak line that im willing to bet a lot of folks here rode today is a 20th century track. 50, 70 years old in some places. And your train going home is going to break down, is going to stop just like last thursday night in the new haven line, people were stranded out on the tracks in one of the coldest days of the year. Soverb has a stake in infrastructure. And there are ways to do an Infrastructure Bank a railroad trust fund, this is an idea that in the absence of earmarks, i came to congress in the postearmark era, the senate had abandoned earmarks to the over the protests of many of my more seasoned colleagues would you like them to come back . Do you think that would help . I think whats needed is maybe not specific earmarks for specific congressional districts or even states,
That people who have a job arent living in poverty. The overwhelming majority of americans support a minimum wage. We should make sure that we create manufacturing opportunities so we can make things in america again. President obamas established two manufacturing hubs already and proposed four more last night. But acknowledged that we can actually kick that into even higher gear if republicans are willing to work with him on actually passing legislation to do that. But at the end of the day, we have to make sure that were focused on working together and, kevin, i actually we have a good working relationship. I think there are things that we can sit down and come together on. Week of talked about that privately many times. But look at what the republicans agenda was this week. With all due respect, to suggest that your Top Priorities have been focusing on helping more americans join the middle class when yesterday the top priority for republicans, on your agenda, was to restrict a woma
Senator, thank you for joining us. Senator rob portman of ohio. Well get right to it. You have been in washington for some time since the 1990s and worked in the two bush white housees and former house member and been a senator since 2010, how would you say this beats ranks to other state of the unions over the years . Where does this rank . The president as he always does, but there were no big proposals and it was kind of the me an ambivolent speech. The state of the union is going great and he said its not going so well and therefore we need to make some changes in terms of takehome pay and longterm unemployed and he said i want to work with congress and then he said, by the way, im going to go around congress. As compared to other states of the union that i have listened to, the message was muddled and hard for me to really know what he was trying to communicate. I believe he is uncertain about what kind of second term president he wants to be and there are a couple of models and b
Fulfilling the Human Capital needs, the language requirements and other critical element to make sure that our embassies abroad, which are particularly high threat, highrisk positions, have the staff necessary to be able to meet those challenges. Isnt that something that youre committed to as we move forward . I certainly am, and weve taken those recommendations to heart, integrated 150 new security positions. We have created Language Proficiency programs for security personnel, particular in arabic. We are looking at using all of our hiring authorities, for qualified personnel that are retired or family members or other experts that can immediately begin contributing to this. Its our highest priority and one my top goals of course is ensuring that we have staff necessary for the 720 positions in the areas which include iraq, afghanistan, pakistan, yemen and libya. So yes, you do have my commitment there, and weve gone a long way but we certainly can do a much better job. Mr. Smith, do
Eastern for more special Convention Coverage. Msnbcs special Convention Coverage begins in just a moment. Stick around. It seemed impossible. Donald trump. Real is state mogul. Reality tv star. A candidate who has never held Office Seeking the highest office in the land. Critics dismissed him. Rivals underestimated him. The more they fought to stop him, the stronger his movement became. Now with his running mate at his side, republicans gather in cleveland. Can donald trump unite the party and continue his march to the white house . Its day one of the Republican National convention. In boisterous darned near democratic fashion, the Republican National convention under way in cleveland tonight. The quicken loans arena, home of the World Champion cleveland cavaliers. For the next four days, home to the Republican Party of donald j. Trump. Good evening. Welcome to our new home for Convention Coverage, msnbc election headquarters here in new york. Affording us a stunning view of the procee