processed. we will talk about redundant programs. thank you so much for joining us. we will see you back here at 7:00 a.m. eastern. ♪ >> coming up on c-span, newsmakers with wyoming senator and republican policy committee chair john barrasso. gina mccarthy announcing the new proposals to cut carbon emissions. on later, a senate hearing the impact climate change on wildlife in our culture.

this week on newsmakers, joining us from capitol hill, john barrasso. thank you for being with us. in studio with us we have bob sack of the hill, and the national journal. >> the big news this week this morning -- this week of course for bowerisoner swap bergdahl. dave administration first said that that's helped was a concern, but now there are reports that there is a different reason, and a death threat in thralvolved. is that a credible excuse? >> i think that the senate that therebriefing, was a stonewalling of the seventh aired i have heard from

both sides of the aisle that they were skeptical of the stories that were being told. the white house continues to seem to change its story. it is interesting that today the headlight -- headline came out that there were more kidnappings to come. least five hardened terrorists and lots of concern expressed about that. it may just put more americans at risk. these five go back to afghanistan, they go back into the fight as rock stars. so many of us on both sides of the aisle think this is a terrible idea. that if the president had gone to the intelligence committee they would heard the sound of know, do not do this. >> senator graham has a mention -- mentioned the possibility of impeachment should this happen

again. some senators are indicating that others could be released. if we see a similar type of swap, should impeachment be on the table? i will not go into that, but the administration needs to follow the law. the administration needs to follow the law. i think what the administration did here with these five s, that willrorist go back into the fight, i think they made a mistake. past presidents have used signing statements, this president said that he was was irving this authority to do what he did. >> what the president is now he had aing is that rose garden ceremony with the

parents. the national security adviser telling the country that this was such a wonderful day, there should be a celebration. i think the white house is shocked at the response that their actions has had. there are others currently held in captivity. should it have been 542545 -- f ive for two, five for five? through,not think this and now they are in the position of trying to justify their actions. the confirmation of sylvia mathews burwell wher as secreta. voted no on a procedural motion earlier this week and you proposed kathleen sibelius as her predecessor.

how would you explain your vote this week to confirm ms. matthews? i think sheh her, is competent, capable, and the best person that we can have in that position. i am continuing to vote in opposition to what he has done their will where he has taken away the rights of the minority party on nominations. was thee at hand specifics of the health care law as it continues on a daily basis to hurt many americans. i hear the stories every weekend in wyoming from my folks at home. i practice medicine there for 25 years. people know me as a friend and a

tor as well as a senator. for people of that helped by the law, i would say that there are many more that have been hurt as a result of the health care law. in all of these exchanges around the country that are failing, there are hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars wasted. she will try to go after that to the full extent of the law. i do not think it is strong aough, and i have introduced piece of legislation. that the health care law as written, where many members who voted for it never read it in the first place, it is not really providing americans the kind of care they wanted. keeps focusing on

coverage, but coverage does not equal care. . ? where is the republican replacement? the house republicans are working on such a bill, and they have indicated they're going to vote on such legislation this year. where is the senate gop leaders on a replacement bill? >> there have been a number of different replacement proposals offered. you support that? >> i support what they have proposed, but there are other proposals out there as well. ing it patient centered care. there are things we can do to actually lower the cost of care. the president said that families per year less in

premiums, and he said by the end of his first term. and said we are seeing the premiums, last week in ohio and in virginia. you're talking about double-digit increases in premiums again this year. businesses are saying we are not going to offer insurance tomorrow -- offer insurance, but co-pays,her deductibles of 5000 dollars or $10,000. there's significant pain felt all across the country. i think we'll hear more about that all the way up through the election. and the republican ideas of actually along people to purchase what is best for them and their families rather than what the president says they have to buy, those are things that will lower the cost for families. iton the election, i think is indisputable that obamacare will be an issue for republicans in the election this fall. big -- discuss how

obamacare will play in a republican congressional agenda if they do win the senate this fall? is the congressional republican agenda, because it seems unlikely that you would get the 60 votes. the president is still the president. what is the agenda? >> the agenda would be to focus on jobs and the economy and getting people back to work. ist you have to work on things were your republicans and democrats joining together. we see those opportunities with energy. those opportunities with repealing some of the obamacare taxes. on energy you have republicans and democrats working together with the issue of the keystone xl pipeline. see them working

together on x porting liquefied natural gas. we worked together on our economy, as well as a geopolitical weapon and terms of what putin is doing with russia and holding countries hostila ge, using energy is that stick to make countries do what he wants. we have huge opportunities with energy. americans want to go to work . can either create opportunities or crush opportunities. and regulations and taxes and big role iny a that. what we saw this week when the president came out with his carbon regulations, we see that as a way that is actually hurting the company -- economy. with a bipartisan op-ed ,eidi heidi camp of wyoming

specifically focused on how these regulations from the administration are going to make energy cost higher, how hundreds of thousands of people lose their jobs, and her the economy. >> let me put the question another way. what is the number one issue that congressional republicans would take up if republicans take control of the senate this fall? is there legislation that already exist that encapsulates that? >> the number one thing we want to do is get the economy going again. six years of the obama economy and obama regulations and obama taxes have not helped the economy. this yearquarter of of 2014, there was actually a shrinkage of the u.s. economy. that has not happened for a number of years. the administration says it is supposed to grow by and the

economy actually shrank and it is because of the policies of this administration. cost ofbecause of the the health care law and the cost of these regulations affecting energy, it is a one-two punch for an economy that is already on the ropes. ofwe're within six months the election. what are the chances that the republicans when the senate -- win the senate? >> too much to tell. there are many more forces in might have thought six months ago. the opportunities are therefore a very good here year, but you're talking six-month out. we would have to pick up a net of extended the -- of six senate seats. we have real opportunities, and there are a number of states where the candidates that we

have been able to recruit have gone through the primaries and are doing very well. do winhe republicans back the senate would republican leaders pass an immigration bill? >> with so much of legislation -- personally i do not believe that the government does become free and the things really well. i like to go in a step-by-step rosses -- process. we need to reform and modernize laws in thison country. the senate did pass a bill that is now in the house. i would recommend that they do this in a piece by piece, step-by-step way. >> you mentioned that you voted no on a procedural motion on sylvia mathews burwell, and the reason you cited was because id changed the rules

on the nuclear option. senator mcconnell has said if he wins back the seat he will change the nuclear option. is that the plan at this point? that the nuclear option would go away if the republicans win back the chamber? >> the top priority is to win back the senate, to try to take the majority in the senate so we can go with a positive agenda of growing jobs focused on the economy, getting americans back to work. that is what we need to focus on. helping the american people with more opportunities, and the way to do that is we continue to visit with people all around the way, a, in an inclusive respectful way, a positive way about the agenda to get americans back to work. going to be any

legislative response from republican leaders and those talking about legislation that would prevent this from happening again? is that something you're going to push? is there a way to make sure that this does not happen again? >> you raise the interesting question about any kind of legislation. congresshole last year , you watch this very closely, not one single appropriations bill was passed in 2013. not one. july, republicans have offered hundreds of amendments to bills and we have had a chance to vote on only nine of those amendments. democrats, his own party, members of the democrat party have offered over 650 amendments since last july. we are talking over 10 months of amended, and they've

only had votes on seven of those amendments as democrats. what we have is a big rhetorical -- dictatorial majority leader. he is not only a not allowing republicans to vote, he is not even allowing members of his own party to vote on their own amendments. hearing concerns by democrats about the fact that there is a gag order not just on republicans but also on democrats. >> as far as the house, do you think they should move some type of bill? be some type of message to this white house that this cannot happen again? people have said this is a separation of power issue that they were not modified -- notified. >> dozens of bills have passed the house already this year with bipartisan votes. sitting, dead on

arrival in the senate, even though they have a partisan support. bipartisan support in the senate, but harry reid fuses to bring them to the floor. i believe he is controlled by the president and will not bring things to the floor of the president does not want to have to deal with but does not want to have to make a choice or a decision between the towing or signing. signing.g or >> the administration's ravenous for that rule was that carbon emissions, human activity causes climate change. can you agree with that premise? the claimant is constantly changes. the role that human activity plays is not known. what i do know is what kind of response you want to make, there are huge economic costs of that. when the president was running

for president 2008, he said that under his plan lecture city rates would necessarily hen nancy pelosioul had 60 democrats in the united states and that he could not get it passed because there was so much opposition to what he has done with regulations. there was so much legislative opposition from his own party that he was not able to get it passed even when he had these overwhelming numbers on his side. there is great opposition because people know how it continues to hurt the economy. emissions have been going down over the last 15 years, but they have been going up everywhere else around the world. you could shut off the united states, turn it off tomorrow, and emissions worldwide would continue to increase. look at what is happening in russia, you think putin is going

to follow the president's leadership on this? he will not follow him on anything else, he won't sure not do it on carbon emissions. not just accept it if f -- is what they provo what the proof of science is? your economic argument was still stand. >> the economic argument is the strong one to make. it was interesting when the president and the president of the epa made their announcement on monday, and both said that it would motricity rates will drop -- both said that electricity rates would drop. i have not seen any signs would fromhat, i believe that 2008, what he said that they would skyrocket.

they are just saying it is going to be so, even though it does not pass a test of what is credible. i have a lot of concerns about the impact of these regulations on the u.s. economy. there is a cost to our international competitiveness of doing the sorts of ink when you look at what germany did. jobs of now a warning manufacturing because they cannot afford the energy. quit>> what made you move to wyoming? ,> i have been there hiking camping, and when i was in medical school i loved it. i said the day i finish my training, this is where he is moving and i did. i cracked is as an orthopedic surgeon for 25 years. i was involved with low-cost blood screening for patients through the health fairs, all around the state, which is why i feel so passionate about the health care law because there are so many things we needed to do with health care reform.

i think the president missed a huge opportunity. they high our irs agents to inspect you to make sure you n insurance, but they do not do anything effectively to deal with the shortage of doctors, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, paramedics. i think why i am so passionate and continue to go to the senate floor to bring a doctor second opinion about the health care law as well as what i'm am doing now, talking about the dangerous , expensive, and sometimes irreversible side effects of the law. republicansink that , that if they win back the and the senate, that there has been such an erosion of trust between republicans and the president, can there be

deals struck? we can actually get some things accomplished because if we have both sides of the aisle and work on the sort of things that i talked about in terms of areas where there is agreement , and with these things on the president's desk betweenain popular republicans and democrats to get our economy going, then he will have to decide to sign or not to sign. but what happened with bill clinton and well for reform -- welfare reform. laid times that bill was on his desk before he signed on it. of agreementas between the parties in the senate to get to the 60 votes, and the president is going to have to decide if you think arrested in dealing and making life better for america people in terms of jobs in the economy.

year, liz cheney mounted a senate campaign against your calling. -- colleague. i wonder if she has burned any political bridges in riling -- wyoming? what is your reaction to her run? the firstsed mike day, he is my friend and colleague. he does a great job, i have great respect for the entire cheney family. they continue to be an incredible family, well respected, and loved in the state of wyoming. >> you serve on the foreign relations committee, the president is on a four-day trip to europe, and he said he would like a billion dollars for

european security. some of that has to be approved by congress. can he count on your support? >> the president is going to need to be fairly specific. ihave been in the region, have been very focused on what is happening in that part of the world. ukrainet giving arms to that they want to use to defend themselves. in terms of aid, he offered $5 million. the washington post said it would have been less of an insult if he offered them nothing. president has not done the job that we would like to have seen from a foreign-policy standpoint. syriae the red line in that continued to be crossed, that the chemical weapons continue to be used. i agree concerns about how iran

is headed. and there's not a blockade or an effort to push back against putin,that -- against there is an invitation for him to take more and have additional aggression. those of you things where the president has really failed in his recent foreign-policy speech . what you want to do is a sure your friends and scare the heck out of your enemies. but we are at a point where our friends do not trust us, our itmies do not fear us, and just seems to me that the president has one of the rockets relationships of the last 25 or 30 years in terms of the relationship between israel and the united states. >> which republican senator can beat hillary clinton in 2016? >> there are about a dozen of

them, and whoever we nominate we have a number of senators, a number of governors, a number of activist. andave a lot of opportunity we now in 2016, and foreign-policy will be a part of that discussion, and election if hillary is the nominee. there's obviously more to come on that command appreciate come on that,o and we appreciate your time. we covered a lot with the senator. the healtheader on care issues, no serve on multiple committees, and is out front on environmental issues as well. this situation with bowe bergdahl, it continues to unravel every day.

what do we face for this summer leading into the november elections? this, the benghazi investigation, and other situations where you indicated there is this rift between the two pennsylvania avenues. >> i think it will do one for a while. go on for a wild. hillary clinton publicly has said we should not guess, but privately saidas she disagreed with this deal. ,here is a division on the left were benghazi not as much, there is an ongoing investigation, but i think this one is interesting because it was going to be the first person to interview him and what will he say? post, anday from his what were those e-mails that he sent to his father? this is a bit of a problem for congressional democrats who are dofor reelection, and they

not like the sizing the president, but in the situation they have to distance themselves because the more we learn the more controversial it gets. reported onuse, we this, they did not see this kind of backlash happening. i think this goes on for a while, and this will be discussed in the 2016 debate. about the vote that he took earlier this week to confirm sylvia mathews burwell to be the next secretary. there did not seem to be a lot of critics of her. >> i was surprised to hear the senator say he was as supportive as he was of her. it is a stark contrast with how republicans were talking about kathleen sebelius, and health and human services in general.

the number one issue, and health and human d a giant target on its back. what popped out to me was that he said they would be focusing on jobs in the economy, but it is in the context of obamacare, obamacare being the number one issue. it is a departure from what republicans were saying two months ago. >> are they backing off of going after the health care law? >> i think they are. republicans always pushed the repeal. what part of the problem is you cannotand then repeal obamacare right now without replacing it because if then you'reeal it, going to be taking away benefits from people. that is not popular with the voters. e republican leaders are

pushing their people to say we want to repeal this but we have to replace it or else we are going to face a huge backlash because we have taken these benefits. >> the epa ruled recently on the clean air act. does congress get to weigh in on this? i know the republicans are upset with what the administration did , but did they get to do something on this? >> there's going to be legislation and amendments that -- these rules and there was one rule in the waning days of the clinton administration that was a workplace safety rule. role andinalized the then left office and republicans overturned it. that is the only role that congress has been able to overturn. could it happen again? potentially yes. it is