eastern, 4:00 for you on the west coast. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] host: a complete complement of coverage including booktv and american history tv. we want to wish you a happy hanukkah, a merry christmas, and we want to take you to the floor of the house of representatives for what will be a very brief pro forma session in today for just a couple of minutes, and then we will continue with our other ongoing coverage. you can check out all of our programming online anytime at c-span.org. thanks for joining us on this friday. have a wonderful weekend. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the speaker's rooms, washington, d.c. december 23, 2016. i hereby appoint the honorable

jeff denham to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed, paul d. ryan. speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: the prayer will be offered by the chaplain reverend elisa lassiter, capitol hill united methodist church, washington, d.c. the chaplain: let us pray. gracious god, thank you for this day. this week your children will celebrate han can, christmas, or kwanzaa. but no matter if we light the menorah, cries candle. open us to see new truths about you and your love. as we work today, reveal to us the beauty and gifts inside each person we encounter and represent. enlighten us to the greatest needs in our world and where you want us to focus. enlighten us to the buy yasts

and bigotries within us that hinder healing in our nation. enlighten us from real dange earns save us from false fears. and bless, bless each member their tireless staffers and all house employees, grant them safe travels and a week of rest -- restoration and revel revelation. i pray this in the name of the baby jesus born without shelter to ced by herod to flee egypt as a refugee who not in spite of but through his circumstances became the light of salvation. amen. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 2-a house resolution 944rk the journal of the last day's proceedings is approved. the chair will lead the house in the pledge of allegiance. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which

it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 2-b of house resolution 944, the house stands adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on t live coverage on c-span. as the new congress conven for a second term. the political profiles start with the career of mike pence and a look at his new role as vice president. at 11:15, new senate democratic

leader chuck schumer. we also interviewed more than a dozen house members over the past year or so and at 12:15, we will hear from these same members after one term and running for reelection for the 115th congress. our political profiles begin now with mike pence. here on c-span we will take a look at the career of a vice president-elect mike pence. the indiana lawmaker's leading transition efforts and is likely to play a major part in the trump administration. he was first elected to congress in 2000 after unsuccessful attempts in 1988 and 1990, and after working as a conservative radio and tv talkshow host. coming up next, we will show you a brief interview we did with ingressman-elect mike pence 2000. >> mike pence is the representative-elect from indiana's second district. what have you learned about setting up a new congressional office?

mr. pence: it is, as we expected, a massive undertaking. we are trying to build on a solid foundation of people with experience you can focus first on meeting and addressing the ongoing needs of the people of the second congressional district. >> tell us about your home district. mr. pence: the second congressional district of indiana is heartland america. by a couple of industrial centers, but for the most part, a lot of farmland, a lot of small communities, and really going to be a delightful place to represent in washington, d.c., as a conservative. >> what issues from home are you bringing here that you would like to focus on? i would really like to focus on tax relief. i believe once we have kept our promises to senior citizens, it is imperative we seize this time of extraordinary budget surpluses to bring about tax relief for working families, small businesses, and family farms. also, i'm hearing from the

people of my district a real concern about military readiness i'ma national security, and very much hoping to be a part of the discussion of rebuilding the military. >> tell us a little bit about your background, which includes broadcasting. mr. pence: it does. although i'm trained as an attorney, i spent the last seven years of my life working in radio, kindall-in of c-span without the cameras. and enjoy very much being a daily syndicated talkshow host exclusively in indiana, and also did a little bit of television work. hopefully that has prepared me well and taught me how to be a listener. >> from those calls, what have you learned from your listeners about what their concerns are as the new congress starts? i have learned that people are genuinely concerned with of which most closely touches their lives. the security of their families, the strength of their jobs in local economy. the education of their children.

when i was a talkshow host i found that when we were talking about issues that came close to home, we would strike a responsive chord. sigh, into -- as i come into congress, i focus on those kinds of issues. >> you have three children? mr. pence: yes, all under the age of eight. hardest working campaigners in indiana. >> with such small children will you be moving the family here, how do you decide what to do? mr. pence: it is a difficult decision to make. we are going to make some plans in the short term to homeschool. my wife is a 15-year public school teacher, she will take on those duties and permit us to live in both places. when congress is in session i want my wife and children here with me. but when we are out for any length of time we want to be at home in indiana. >> we talk about the bipartisanship coming in. how will you reach across the political aisle? mr. pence: i always used to say on my radio program, i am a

conservative, but i am not in a bad mood about it. i believe stability is essential -- i believe that civility is essential to the survival of the republic. we have to develop in this congress and the national government and national debate a new civility that brings a sense of humility, humor, and the ability to argue issues vigorously but walk out the door and understand that we are all americans, we are all working hard to make america a better place. >> joining us to talk about the vice president-elect is tony cook of "the indianapolis star." how much of that mike pence that we saw in interview 16 years ago is still with us today? how much has he changed in 16 years? tony: in terms of conservative principles, you cannot get much further to the right of mike pence. those are principles that he has stood on and built his brand with over the years.

so you really have not seen too much in the way of him varying from those conservative positions that he has espoused since his early days in congress. host: you said to build his brand on conservative issues. issues like abortion, gay marriage, perhaps religious freedom -- how did those views expand? tony: here in indiana as governor he advocated for measures that tipped the scale in favor of religious freedom over gay rights. he also proposed -- i am sorry, signed an abortion law that was one of the most restrictive in the country. so he has certainly stood by those principles here as governor in indiana. those have been the more controversial aspects of his time here in indiana.

host: during his time in congress he spoke annually at the march for life event every january. he spoke in january 2003 in the 30th annual march for life. we will show you now. [applause] rep. pence: thank you so much, it is a beautiful day in america to see so many shining faces. i am congressman mike pence, i am from indiana, and i am pro-life. [applause] rep. pence: i rise as my colleagues have done. we heard from missouri to say yes to life. i rise to say it is time for the president of the united states of america to send in the principled pro-life judges and we will move them into the

courts and end roe v wade forever. [applause] rep. pence: it is time to end partial-birth abortions in this country. it has no place. [applause] rep. pence: it is time for all of the reforms. adoption reform, and the president's initiative for faith-based initiatives that will speed resources to crisis pregnancy centers and ministries across the country that are there for women. with real answers meeting their real needs. i am mostly here today as a father and american to say thank you to you from my heart. because of all of you and the millions of americans you represent, abortion is in steep decline in america today. [applause] rep. pence: abortion is less available, less legal, and most importantly, less morally acceptable than any time since 1973.

you alone have exposed the empty promises of the left who offer a choice, but deliver only heartache and disappointment. the media will depict some of us as strange for standing in the cold. "usa today" said we should get on with it. that the extremist speeches that would be heard today were a little bit crazy. to be honest with you, i think about the song by billy joel that says, "you may be right, i may be crazy, but it just may be a lunatic america is looking for." [cheering and applause] rep. pence: it just may be time, as has ever been the case, on the steps of the lincoln

memorial in 1963, on this very soil in 1776, where every time throughout american history where we have achieved moral, social change, it has been crazy americans who believed in inalienable rights like the right to life. i am mike pence, i am pro-life. [applause] host: during his time in congress he was often critical of the president and his use of executive powers. what did mike pence learn as governor, in terms of executive power? what sort of guidance do you see giving him the trump administration? tony: as an administrator and executive, those were new rules for him when he became governor in indiana after spending 12 years in congress. the relationship with the legislature started off on a

little bit of a rocky footing. you had situations throughout his time as governor where he tended to set guardrails rather than specific policy proposals. in a lot of ways lawmakers like that. but other times they preferred he would have showed stronger leadership and firmer proposals. it was a bit of a mixed bag. i think even he would tell you there was a pretty steep learning curve in that sense. ultimately, lawmakers knew he respected the legislative process because of his time in congress. that is something he will bring to the trump administration. he will be an advocate and a liaison between trump and the congress. he still has many friends and close allies.

host: as you said, he has close allies on capitol hill and a close working relationship once he becomes vice president. did he have a close working relationship with the indiana legislators? tony: i think he did. the thing in indiana, the legislature was controlled by republicans. they had super majorities in both chambers throughout his time as governor. the relationship was cordial, not that they did not have disagreements at times. ultimately, party unity swept over that during his time. host: two years after the 2008 democratic win, republicans gained back control of the u.s. house. shortly after the 2010 midterms, mike pence spoke in washington about that. in particular about the role of the presidency. here is what he had to say.

rep. pence: the presidency is the most visible thread that runs through the tapestry of the american government. more often than not, it sets the tone for the other branches. it spurs the expectations of the people. its powers are vast and consequential. its requirements from the outset and by definition, impossible for mortals to fulfill without humility and insistent attention to its purposes as set forth in the constitution of the united states. isn't it amazing? given the great and momentous office, that those who seek it seldom pause to question what they are seeking? rather, unconstrained by reflection or principle, there is a mad rush toward something that once its powers are seized, the new president can wield it as an instrument to transform the nation and people according to his highest aspirations. but other than in a crisis of a house divided, the presidency is

neither fit nor intended to be such an instrument. when it is made that, the country sustains a wound. it cries out justly and indignantly, and what the country says, the theme of this address, what it says, impelled by its long history, but quite naturally and rightly, it may well have said on november 2, is that we as a people are not to be ruled and not to be commanded. [applause] rep. pence: it says that the president should never forget this. that he has not risen above us, but is merely one of us. chosen by ballot, dismissed after his term. tasked not to transform but work his will upon us,

but to bear the weight of decision and carry out faithfully the design laid down in the constitution and passed by the declaration of independence. the presidency must adhere to its definition is expressed in the constitution. while the powers of the office have been large, along with the judiciary, the framework of the government was intended to restrict -- echoing back to the -- 18th century. without proper appearance to the -- adherence to the role contemplated for the role of the presidency, the checks and balances become weakened. this has been most obvious in recent years when the three branches of government have been subject to the tutelage of a single party. under either party it seems, presidents have forgotten they were intended to restrain the congress at times. and that congress is independent of their desires.

thus fused in some kind of unholy unity, political class has raged forward in an expansion of power and prerogatives, mistakenly assuming that to exercise power is by default doing good. even the simplest among us knows this is not so. power is an instrument of fatal consequence. it is confined no more readily than quicksilver and escapes good intentions as easily as air flows through mesh. those were entrusted with it must educate themselves and -- in self-restraint. a republic, if you can keep it, is about limitation. and for good reason. because we are mortal, and our actions are imperfect. the tragedy of presidential decision is that even with the best of choice, some, perhaps many, will be left behind. and some, perhaps many, may die.

because of this, a true statesman lives in what churchill called a continual stress of soul. he may give to paul, but only because he robs peter. that's why you must be wary of a president who seems to float on his own greatness. all greatness is tempered by a mortality and every soul is equal. it is a tragedy indeed the new generation attributes failures of governance to insufficient power, and invariably, seek more of it. in the judiciary, this has seldom been better expressed by -- than by justice thurgood marshall's dictum that you do what you think is right and let the law catch up. in the congress it presents itself in massive legislation, so complicated no human being could read through them in a lifetime, much less understand them, much less apply them

justly to a people that increasingly feel they are no longer being asked. they feel like they are being told. our nation finds itself, too often of late, in the position of a dog whose duty it is not to ask why, because the why is too elevated for his nature. just simply obey. but america is not a dog. it does not require a "because i said so" jurisprudence. or legislators who knit laws of such insulting complexity that they are heavier than chains. or a president who acts like, speaks like, and is received as a king. [applause] rep. pence: the presidency has run off the rails. it begs a new clarity, a new discipline, a new president.

[applause] rep. pence: the president is not our teacher, our tutor, our guide, or our ruler. he does not command us, we command him. we serve neither him nor his vision. it is not his job or his prerogative to redefine custom, laws, or beliefs. two appropriate industries. to see the country by the shoulders or the throat as if to impose by theatrical charisma his judgment on 300 million people. it is not his job to shift power of decision away from the people to him and to the acolytes of his choosing. is my characterization of unprecedented corruption

incorrect? i will defer to the judgment of the people. but listen to the exact words of president obama's transition team. who said at the point of his election "it is important that president-elect obama is prepared to really take power and begin to rule day one." or more recently, the new head of the financial consumer bureau, "president obama understands the importance of leveling the playing field." take power, rule, leveling. though it is now, this has never been and should never again be the model of the presidency or the character of the american president. [applause]

rep. pence: no one can say this too strongly. no one can say it enough until it is remedied. we are not subjects, we are citizens. [applause] rep. pence: we fought wars so we do not have to treat kings like kings. if i may remind you, we won that one. [laughter] [applause] rep. pence: the powers of the presidency are extraordinary and necessarily great. and great presidents treat them sparingly. no finer, more moving or profound understanding of the presidency and the command of humility placed upon has ever been expressed in my judgment, then by president coolidge. he, like lincoln, lost a child while he was president. a son of 16.

"the day i became president," coolidge wrote, "he had just started to work in a tobacco field when a fellow laborer said to him, if my father was president, i would not be working in a tobacco field. to which young calvin replied, if my father were your father, you would." [laughter] rep. pence: his affection for the boy was obvious. and his admiration. while in the white house, president coolidge's son contracted blood poisoning. coolidge wrote words that resonate with any parent in the room. he wrote, "what might have happened to him under other circumstances, we do not know. but if i had not been president," and then he continued. "in his suffering he was asking me to make him well, and i could not.

when he went, the power and the glory of the presidency went with him." a sensibility like this, not power, is the source of presidential dignity. and it must be restored. it depends entirely upon character, self-discipline, and an understanding of the principles that underlie the republic, and life itself. it communicates that the president feels the gravity of his office and is willing to sacrifice himself. that his eye is not upon his own prospects, but the storm of history through which it is his responsibility to navigate with the specific powers accorded to him, and the limitations placed upon them. not merely by man, but by god.

in the capitol rotunda are heroic paintings of the signing of the declaration, and something seldom seen in history. a painting that depicts a general, the leader of an armed rebellion, resigning his commission and surrendering his army to a new democracy. upon hearing from benjamin west that george washington had won the war would instead return to hi his farm, george iii said, if he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world. he did. and he was. [applause]

rep. pence: to aspire to such virtue and self-restraint would in a sense be difficult. but in another sense, it should be easy. difficult because it would be demanding an ideal. and easy because it is the right thing to do. and the rewards are immediate and self-evident. a president who slights the constitution is like a rider that hates his horse. he will be thrown. [applause] rep. pence: and the nation along with him. the president solemnly swears to protect and defend the constitution. he does not overlook or reinterpret it. [laughter] rep. pence: other than in a crisis of morality, decency, and existence, like the civil war. he you should want to hurry along the constitution to fit his designs he should do so by amendment rather than adjustment.

if he joins the powers of his office to his own willful interpretation, we step away from a government of laws toward a government of man. the president should regard the constitution and the declaration like an obsessed lover. they should be on his mind all the time. though we have sometimes the throughn -- which the light of governance passed. though we have gradually moved away from this, we can move back to it. who better than the president to restore this wholesome devotion? whereas at home the president must be cautious, dutiful, and deferential, abroad, his character must change. were he would ask how to act in relation to other states, which no holder of the office has needed up to this point, and

were that to be written in 1776 or 2010, you can be confident it would contain at least the following instructions. first, you do not bow to kings. [applause] rep. pence: outside our borders, the president of the united states bows to no man. when in foreign lands, you do not criticize your own country. [applause] rep. pence: you do not argue the case against the united states, but rather, the case for it. [applause] rep. pence: you do not apologize to the enemies of the united states of america. [applause]

rep. pence: should you be confused, let me help. a country, people, or region that harbors, shelters, supports, or encourages attacks upon our country are enemies of the united states of america. and you do not apologize to them. [applause] rep. pence: closely related to this and perhaps the least ambiguous of the president's complex responsibilities is his duty as commander in chief. in this regard there is a very simple rule. unknown to some presidents, regardless of party. if, and it is the biggest if any president can face, for it will follow not just him, but hundreds of thousands or millions of others. not just the rest of their lives, but beyond life itself.

if, and it is an if that requires long and deep thought, tremendously hard labor in determining the truth of things, lifetime of education, the knowledge of a general, the wisdom of a statesman, and the heart of an infantry man. if after careful deliberation, the deepest prayer, if then you go to war, then having gone to war, by god, you go to war to win. [applause] rep. pence: you do not cast away american lives for those of the innocent noncombatant upon a theory, gambit, or notion. if the politics of your own

election or own party intrude upon your decision for even an instant, there are no words for this. more commonplace are other expectations for the president in this regard. he must not stint on the provisioning of our armed forces. it should not be on the side of the scarcity but on the side of surplus. he must be the guardian of his troops, taking every step to avoid the loss of every single american life. the american soldier is as precious as the closest of your kin because he is your kin. for this sake, the president must say to the congress and the people, i am the commander in chief. it is my sacred duty to defend the united states of america and to give our soldiers what they need to complete their mission and come home safe. [applause]

rep. pence: in fulfilling his duty, if the president wavers, he would have betrayed his office. this is not policy. it is probity. it is not an expedient artifact of imagination, it is written on the bloodsoaked ground of saratoga, yorktown, antietam, iraq, and afghanistan. 1000 other places in our history in lessons repeated over and over again. host: at the height of the conflict between congress and the president in early 2011, mike pence seemed to endorse the idea of a government shutdown. we are joined by tony cook of "the indianapolis star," who has covered mike pence. what can we expect from vice president-elect pence if the situation arises as he is vice president? what sort of guidance will he

give president trump? tony: i think you have already seen to some extent how he is going to handle these situations. he is going to be trump's liaison to congress. he has a very good relationship with paul ryan and many others in the house from his time there and i think that he will probably be the person in the administration who seeks to smooth over any hurt feelings for harsh disagreement. of course, a lot of this is going to depend on who is in control of congress. we know with the case will be for the next two years but after that, if democrats were to take back one of the chambers, i think that could be a very different scenario and i think you could see pence bringing out some of the more hardlined tactics in that case. host: in march of 2011 at the

height of the shutdown crisis, tea party activists rallied in washington, demanding government shutdown if indeed significant budget cuts were not made. congressman mike pence spoke to that group and supported some of their goals. rep. pence: i am mike pence, from indiana. to tea party, patriots, americans, welcome back to your nation's capital. [applause] rep. pence: with the deficit of $1.65 trillion and a national debt of $14 trillion and a defiant, liberal majority in the senate, it is time to pick a fight. [cheers] back, mike!ur

: in 2010, the american people sent a deafening message to both political parties in washington, dc. they said it is time to end the borrowing and the spending and the bailouts and it is time to end the congress of nancy pelosi once and for all, and you did it. and you did it. rep. pence: house republicans have gone to work, awarded the majority again. we cut our budget, we repealed obamacare lock, stock, and barrel on the floor of the house of representatives and we voted to cut spending. to pre-stimulus levels, prepare about levels, defunding obamacare and all funding for planned parenthood of america. that is what we did. the house republicans have run headlong into harry reid. [boos]

: harry reid actually took to the floor of the senate and said that our modest down payment on fiscal discipline was reckless, irresponsible, mean-spirited. he even defended federal funding for the cowboy poetry institute in nevada. the truth is, they just do not get it. they do not understand the party is over for liberals in washington, dc. the american people are demanding that we change the fiscal direction of our national government but i have to tell you, i learned a long time ago things do not change here in washington, dc, until they have to. we have to say to harry reid and liberals in the senate, this far and no farther. we have to borrow a line from another harry and say the debt stops here. [applause] rep. pence: if liberals in the

senate would rather play political games and shut down the government instead of making a small down payment on fiscal discipline and reform, i say, shut it down. [applause] [chanting "cut it or shut it"] : nobody wants the government shutdown, but if we do not take a stand we will shut down the future for our children and grandchildren. make no mistake about it, this is a defining moment for the majority in congress. cuts is $61 billion in anything to write home about. it is actually just a down payment, maybe just earnest money on restoring fiscal discipline, but it is a start and it is a first step and it will be a first win for taxpayers that could set the stage for larger victories on

battling against the debt ceiling increase without fundamental reform, battling for a budget and a long-term vision for fiscal discipline, and setting our nation back toward a pathway towards constitutional limited government. you know, sometimes even small steps boldly taken can change history. like it did on christmas night 1776. a harsh winter storm in the delaware river valley, public support for the war was waning, troops were weary and demoralized. a general conceived of a bold and daring plan. he would pick a fight in the dead of night, take it directly to the enemy. so they boarded the boats, crossed the great river, and they won the day.

now, by historical standards, washington's crossing was a small event. 2400 americans fought 1500 hessians that lasted a couple hours. by contrast 115,000 men fought a battle that continued for a day, battle of the bulge involves more than one million men. while the victory in trenton was not a great battle, it was a battle of great consequence. history records it was a defining moment in our still young nation. that small victory wrought by the continental army showed victory was within our reach. the americans were still willing to fight. it rekindled the fire of independence and set the stage for larger victories to follow. today, our struggle is not against an implacable enemy and we will not compare military

conquest with political debates, but the principle is the same. by picking a fight and we need -- and winning this one small step toward fiscal discipline in washington, dc, the american people will see that victory over deficits and debt is within our reach, that we can fight and we can win and we can restore limited government at the national level. and so we must fight. [applause] rep. pence: republicans must show we are worthy of this moment, equal to the crisis, willing to stop, turn, and squarely face of the mountain range of debt that threatens our children's future, squarely face all of those who defend the status quo. if harry reid wants a fight, let's give it to him. [applause] rep. pence: democrats in the senate may think they have the

advantage, but let me assure you, it only seems that way. a minority in the senate plus the american people equals a majority. [applause] rep. pence: and know this, know this, men and women. whenever you take a stand for freedom, future generations, for traditional values, you do not fight alone. he who stilled the waters, he who cleared the ice floes on the delaware will make a way for america, for he is not done with america yet. let's go pick a fight. [applause] host: one of the more high-profile controversies that mike pence had to deal with as governor was a law that was passed and he signed that critics said made it easier for businesses and individuals to

discriminate against people based on their gender. we are joined by tony cook of "the indianapolis star." tell us what that law did and how did the governor react to the criticism? tony: the law essentially tipped the balance in favor of religious objectors who said that if someone were to say that a government regulation infringed on their religious rights, it would tip the balance in that person's favor. the concern was this would allow christians or other religious believers to turn away gay or lesbian people because of their religious beliefs. and so it was a big controversy here in indiana, prompted calls for boycotts, several businesses threatened to cancel projects

here in indiana. it is a big sports and entertainment town with a big convention business. and there was a real threat to the tourism industry here in indiana. so the business community really rose up in opposition to the law after it was signed and really demanded it be scaled back some. one of the few cases were i have seen pence actually reverse or bow down to calls that he moderate on social issues, he did sign a fix to the law that essentially prevented it from overwriting local nondiscrimination ordinances that some cities here in indiana had on the books. so it was sort of a compromise with the business community and it was a situation where i also think you saw mike pence's propensity for message

discipline to backfire in a way. he appeared on some sunday news programs to defend the law at the height of the controversy and really stumbled when asked whether the law would allow discrimination. he stuck to his talking points over and over and over again rather than really addressing the question and that caused him some problems. so while that message of discipline may be a great thing when you are running with donald trump, who likes to shoot from the hip, it can also be a liability in some cases. host: what about when he is in the white house with donald trump? how does his experience with that law and the controversy surrounding it, how does that guide him in a future encounter with this kind of legislation or issues in the white house? tony: despite the fact that he was willing to sign a fix to the law, he never moderated his initial position on that issue.

he has been a rock-ribbed social conservative from day one. i cannot imagine that changing in the white house. i think part of the reason donald trump chose him is to reassure social conservatives, and i think you will see him be that voice and encouraging trump who may not be as familiar with some of the history on the social issues, may not be as passionate about them. mike pence is going to be that conservative voice. host: part of the response was adding a provision protecting lgbt rights and responsibilities. here is a look at the news conference. governor pence speaking to

reporters about the issue. gov. pence: thank you all for coming. it has been a tough week in the hoosier state. but we are going to move forward because as governor i have the great privilege of serving the greatest people on earth, the people of indiana. let me say first and foremost i was proud to sign the religious freedom restoration act last week. i believe religious liberty, as

president clinton said when he signed the federal law, i believe religious liberty is our first freedom. it is vital to millions of americans who cherish faith as i and my family do. but it is also vital to the framework and freedom of our nation and this legislation was designed to ensure the vitality of religious liberty in the hoosier state. i believe hoosiers are entitled to the same protections in our federal courts for the last 20 years. and is the law in 30 other states. but clearly, clearly there has been misunderstanding and confusion and mischaracterization of this law. and i come before you today to say how we are going to address that. we have been working over the last several days, literally

around the clock, and talking with people across the state of indiana, talking to business leaders, and talking to organizations around the country who have spent time in indiana, enjoy the hospitality of the people in indiana, and we have been listening. let me say first and foremost, as i've said to each one of you, -- one of them, the religious freedom restoration act was about religious liberty, not about discrimination. as i said last week, had this law been about legalizing discrimination, i would have vetoed it. this law does not give anyone a license to discriminate. the religious freedom restoration act directed at my -- does not give anyone the right to deny services, to anyone in this state. it is simply a balancing test used by federal courts and jurisdictions across the country for more than two decades. but let me say on the subject of the bill itself, i do not

believe for a minute that it was the intention of the general assembly to create a license to discriminate or a right to deny services to gays, lesbians, or anyone else in the state and it certainly was not my intent. i can appreciate that has become the perception, not just here in indiana but all across the country. and we need to confront that and confront it boldly in a way that respects the interest of all involved. personal reflection for a moment, if i can. i abhor discrimination. the way i was raised was, like most hoosiers, with the golden rule. you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you. and i believe in my heart of hearts that no one should be harassed or mistreated because

of who they are, who the love or that who they love -- who they are, who they love, or what they believe. i believe every hoosier shares that conviction. as i said, we have a perception problem because some people have a different view. and we intend to correct that. after much reflection, and in consultation with the general assembly, i have come to the conclusion that it would be helpful to move legislation this week that makes it clear that this law does not give businesses the right to deny service to anyone. let me say that again. i think it would be helpful and i would like to see on my desk before the end of the week legislation that is added to the religious freedom restoration act in indiana that makes a

clear this law does not give businesses the right to deny services to anyone. we want to make it clear that indiana is open to business. we want to make it clear that hoosier hospitality is not a slogan, it is our way of life. it is the reason why people come here from around the world and they come back again and again and again, because hoosiers are the kindest, most generous, most decent people in the world. let me say i believe this is a clarification, but it is also a fix. it is a fix of a bill through mischaracterization and confusion has come to be greatly misunderstood. and i am determined to address this this week and move forward as a state. and i know we will. indiana has come under the harsh

glare of criticism from around the country. some of us get paid to be under that criticism. so we don't complain about it. but the things that been said about our state have been deeply offensive to me. and i will continue to use every effort to defend the good and decent people of indiana. i think it is important to take this action this week. i've spoken to legislative leaders all through the last hour. and we are going to be working to make that happen. host: governor mike pence from 2015. we are talking with tony cook of "the indianapolis star." throughout the conversation, the

issue of mike pence's rocksolid conservative views have been discussed. how did he develop these views? what is the root of his political faith, his political beliefs? tony: he will tell you he grew up a democrat and it was not until he was at hanover college that he really got to know some conservative republicans and essentially, along with ronald reagan, whom he grew to admire, really changed his political views. at the same time he met karen pence, his wife, and became a born-again christian. that is a religious experience that he has talked about a lot over the years and that really forms a core part of who he is.

host: tony cook has been with "the indianapolis star" since 2012. you can read his reporting. thank you for joining us. tony: thank you for having me. host: we will wrap up with mike pence speaking earlier before his selection as vice presidential running mate for donald trump. here he is speaking at the annual cpac gathering in washington. [applause] gov. pence: thank you. thank you, john. thank you for that warm introduction. good evening to you all. it is an honor to be with you among such a large group of so many americans, men and women who represent the bolt work of wark of the leadership of the conservative movement in the

united states of america. i appreciate that kind introduction but the introduction i prefer is a little bit shorter. i am a christian, conservative, and republican, in that order. [applause] gov. pence: there is an old saying, when you see a box turtle on a fence post, you know one thing for sure, he did not get there on his own. that is certainly true of my life. and other than my faith, my family, my beloved wife, who is here with me tonight and my fellow hoosiers, i arrive tonight first and foremost to pay a little bit of gratitude to you. i owe so much to cpac, to the movement, to the namesake of this dinner, for the inspiration and opportunities i have been given. it is good to be back at cpac, the premier conservative gathering in the united states of america. [applause] gov. pence: we gather in 2015 in a challenging time in the life

of this nation, and administration paralyzed by ideology and incompetence that has weakened america's place in the world. and stifle our nation's economy. while the challenges we face are daunting, the choices are not. 50 years ago, ronald reagan helped birth our movement. with his iconic "time for choosing" speech. today i believe we have come to another time for choosing. you either choose to view america as a shining city on a hill that inspires the best in all mankind, or you do not. you either want america to stand by her friends and stand up to her enemies or you do not. you are either for limiting the power of the federal government or you are not. you are either for protecting the unborn and the religious liberty of every american or you

are not. [applause] : i say tonight, after winning both houses of congress, more state houses than ever before, and electing 31 republican governors in states like maryland and massachusetts and illinois, the american people have made their choice and we are on the verge of a great american comeback for our ideal. i believe that because i believe in this movement. my grandfather immigrated from ireland. my dad built a gas station business in a small town in southern indiana. while i actually started in politics as a democrat, when i heard the voice of the 40th president of the united states, it all changed for me. i lived the dream of becoming a becoming a congressman and only -- and now i serve as governor of the great state of indiana. [applause]

gov. pence: i served 12 years in the congress and if i only had 12 more years i would want to live it as a member of congress because that was the longest 12 years of my life. [laughter] too numerous to count. now the internet, the unconstitutional amnesty or the war on coal. administration's policy are

zapping vitality and threatening our prosperity. most americans understand you cannot improve health tlt care by ordering every american to buy health insurance whether they want it or need it or not. you cannot expect the internet thrive under regulation. you cannot change the laws of fiat and by executive you cannot build an energy of cy by raising the cost lectricity on working americans. it should almost go without saying, obamacare must be repealed. fcc rules must be repealed. and the war on energy must end. tonight allow me to americans. it should almost go without saying, obamacare must be dvice, some offer some advice e rising generation of leaders. here, those ed looking on from across the country, how we might confront we face with renewed focus at home and abroad. let me submit the 2016 the first lly be

foreign policy national election since 1980. this administration its educed our army to smallest size since 1940. than vy has fewer ships any time since 1916 and our air force has smallest fighter force in history. now history teaches that you military uce our strength without provoking our enemies. arouses evil. as we speak, isis is setting up the middle east and is on he offensive across the arab world. the president says jobs are the jihad. to violence mr. president, jihady john job, he wants to see paradise and i think we there as quickly as possible.

of the growing threat homegrown terror, it is important to remember that our irst line of defense is the right of self-defense, now, more than ever, the right to keep and arms must not be infringed people.merican our iolence jihad is not only threat. n asia, china is expanding its military. just last month the pentagon chinese satellite and missile are approaching parity with our own. gather here tonight, a new iron curtain is descending down spine of europe as modern map a seeks to redraw the of europe by force. unlike the former soviet union that respected the strength of vladamir putin's russia ignores talk of sanction,

claims land and supports rebel necessary ukraine with impunity didn't know enough about the threat from iran, the foundation of military strength released just this week iran as "by far the most ignificant security challenge facing the united states and its allies and interests in the middle east."in a few days, the leader of the most cherished alley will come to washington, d.c. to warn congress and the american people of the gathering he believes will strike his country and threaten our most e allow the world's dangerous regime to obtain the weapons.most dangerous traveling to israel last december, i met with prime netannahu in his quarters. t would have compromised

israel's security. i saw first hand the resolve and of this courageous leader who stands too often peril n times of great across the middle east. to ker boehner was right invite prime minister netanahu address our nation at a time like this. israel's cause is our cause. israel's enemies are our enemies. world knows nothing else, let it know this, america stands israel. applause] pence: the truth is you cannot command the respect of he world when you spend years apologizing to our enemies and abandoning our friends, american people about crusades while refusing to islalic extremism by name is advocation of leadership. resident reagan taught us,

peace comes through strength. providing for the common defense is the nited states chief responsibility of our national government. everything happening in the world, i believe my fellow conservatives, i believe it is imperative that conservatives again embrace america's role as leader of the free world and the arsenal of democracy. [applause] mike pence: the time has come spending e the fence of this still new century. without rebuilding world, i believe my fellow our , no strategy or innovation, no matter how brilliant will be protect the merican people and the sovereignty of the united states. among other measures we could revive the future combat system corps, rmy and marine resume production of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the rebuild our and

navy. safer and more secure america is stronger and more prosperous america. begins e, our strength at home, in our families, our communities and our businesses our states. so second, let me suggest that movement also put the of federalism and state-based reform back at the center of the conservative agenda in the 21st century. as president reagan said, it is be reminded and i quote, that the federal government did not create the states, the states created the federal government. states are not territorial out posts of the government, a of vital sxit reform. i should know, i come from a state that works.

indiana we balance budge sxet have triple a bond rating, lot better than washington, d.c. inpass largest state tax cut indiana history. educational argest voucher program in america. i'm proud to say indiana was the first state to withdraw from shifting e and amidst san amidst the shifting sanding of contemporary culture and law stood without apology for the sanctity of life, the importance of marriage and the freedom of religion. two working and our first year necessary office, unemployment drop friday 8% to 5.8%. we've seen 100,000 new private created and last year we led the nation in manufacturing jobs created.

rates are up, test scores are up and life is abortion is diana, in decline in the great state of indiana for the fifth straight a row. [applause] now i didn't come here to brag on indiana. come here tot just brag about indiana. encourage you.o encourage each of you here today with the progress being made in and in other republican-led states. nd to urge you as leaders and activists in this movement to from the ragement successful results conservative policies are achieving in states country.his after 12 year necessary congress i am o years as governor, more convinced that the cure for what ails this country will come ore from the nation's state apitals than from our nation's

capit capitol. so let's put state-based nnovation and reform at the national agenda. look to the example of republican-led states balancing budgets and crafting solutions to the most intractable problems facing our nation. includes getting runaway federal spending under control. hen it comes to most public assistance programs, states are simply better equipped to anti-povertymanage programs in a fiscally way.onsible because states can't print money. necessary ear congress i honestly never recall anyone focus og revenue forecast we passed a spending bill n. indiana, we have balanced budget wills year's be completed when we get the final revenue forecast to make the outgo.emy meets states are betters equipped to and reform antiquated programs. in indiana we ended traditional

for able-body adults and replaceed with consumer and health hcare savings accounts. we expanded access to healthcare not through government mand sxaet taxes but through market grounded in personal responsibility and self-reliance, on education that all believe honest work is honorable. today indiana is crafting plans to be the first state in america to make career and vocational education priority in every high school in our state again. so let's empower the states with flexibility to develop substantive alternatives and other room as a movement to try new ideas and nnovate without reflexively rejecting policys that break new ground n. fact, let's wean washington f the centered notion every problem must find its answer in the nation's capitol. now, some say the next nominee of the party should be a

governor. i'm certainly sympathetic to that view. the way i the capital ran the state capital. the hose who served in city, you know, washington, d.c. or ot a state, literally figureatively. send me to washington, d.c. and 'll make it more possible for the next person running my state to run it with more freedom and flexibility, that is the constitutional way. when we win the white house and republicans to congress, make it our aim to reduce the of government by restoring the state, freedom and flex thablt is theirs under it is constitution of the us of america.

and finally, we strife to be the at home and tion abroad, let's be relentlessly. know, i've said for years, conservative, but not in a bad mood about it. we need to be cheerful partisans, happy warriors. lord knows we need optimism these days. was reminded of that not long ago at the indiana state fair. man walked up to me, great conservative, older gentleman, with a sad eyes and a weary look about him. to say he ed me supported everything i stood for trembling ked with a lip, he asked, governor, do you think the country is going to it? he had all the tell-tale signs television cable viewi viewing. on his shoulder and i said, of course we're going to make it, we're

we always make it, we always find a way. but, you know that man and millions like him are worried, countryndably about our and our future because of the failings of our national government. national government does have all kinds of problems and flaws and weakness. remember, america is not the american government, stop confusing the american government with the american people. best, we agan said it are a people with a government, not the other way around. i learned that lesson when ndianapolis was hosting all living recipients of the medal of honor, dedicating our to the great men throughout history. the time adio host at and had the privilege of interviewing the heroes, one was jack lucas.

born in 1928 in north carolina. he enlisted in the marine corp august of 1942, at the age of 14. on the usstowed away dual to join the fifth marine the south ing into pacific. jack turned 17 at sea just a few at iwo jima.anding a ravineimbing through with three men and his rifle team. two grenades landed nearby. teenager used his own body grenades and hand marines despitew suffering horrible injuries. in october of 1945, pfc jack ucas was awarded the medal of honor by president harry truman.

had him on my radio show and during the interview talked bout experiences, exchanged pleasantly and spoke with tlt ity about his extra ordinary courage. and then i asked him a question, you're part of the greatest generation. worried about his country when you see young people these days. in that moment, jack's changed and that old soldier looked at me and said, son, you obviously don't have the first idea what you're talking about. i laughed nervously, this was live radio. i said, why don't you enlighten me. he did. jack said, let me tell you something, he said, growing up s, he said, we didn't have any more sense than kids these days.

we wasted just as much time, partied just as much, but came, we stepped up because we're americans and kids these days will do just the same thing. know, i've been to told, i didn't know how right few years til a on a sunny morning, in september, of 2001. the day i found myself in my as a member of congress, on capitol hill. sirens blaring in every smoke on, columns of billowing from the pentagon, and there were lines outside every recruiting station every city and town across this nation. right.k was

in the trips down range in iraq, i saw the greatest of the new generation. just like jack said, stepped up and did what needed to be continue. so i say with conviction tonight, the american people today despite all failings of the national government, the every n people today are bit as strong and patriotic and enerous and selfless and resillient and freedom loving as they have ever been throughout this great story of nation. [applause] mike pence: our nation deserves leaders who believe in the people with unshakable faith. point.th is my final alo e we are not in this

alone. the bible says we're the spirit of the lord, there is liberty. banner of d the liberty high, when we take up at home and freedom abroad, i believe with all of my we make his cause on this we do notvery own and fight alone. o my fellow conservatives, let's be confident, let's have faith. aith in america's unique responsibility in the world and in the founder's vision of limitd and constitutional government. faith in the boundless capacity of the american people, states to in our craft solutions to the complex us.blems that are facing and faith in him who set this democracy on these wilderness shores that he will fulfill his promise for this earth.est hope of we have come to another time for all ing and i believe with

my heart with your help and with help, once again, america will choose freedom. thank you and god bless you. > we had a great meeting, went very smoothly. i am humbled, truly humbled and to receive the support f my colleagues to be the next leader of the senate democratic caucus. newsat's the november 16th

conference where charles schumer nextnced he was elected as senate democratic leader for the 115th congress. here on c-span over the next at his 'll look back house and senate career and discuss the senator's rise in leadership and how he'll work with a republican-led a new president, president-elect-donald trump, video from the video library over his career in the next hour. we're joined by two long-time capital hill watchers. jennifer steinhauer for essional correspondent new york times and paul kane senior congressional respondent. thank you for joining us. let's start with chuck schumer's leadership and personality, you a video piece for the "new york times" that jennifer steinhauer, he has a doing things. of what did you mean by that? guest: i think so. his career ted out in congress, he really rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, his

aggressive sort of street doing y style of business. blunt, y canned did, informal and very new york. it is different than people the rest of the country that are serving and similar to some operate. he has become more of but not al legislator, lost brooklyn. host: what have you seen in evolution of his style? uest: i think what is -- resting, we've had very last few senate leaders between hairry reid ll and weren't aschle, they huge personalities. things off can say the cuff and make sxeekt ashington journal, but it is not schumer is this big personality that just fills a

when he walks in it. he has tried over the years to from just being viewed as the sharp-edge partisan to somebody is sort of a wheeler dealer, to mccain about rushing investigation, but that much ality is still very there, that sort of full-force very brooklyn view. host: in general does that in bipartisan way, rub some people the wrong way? guest: well, where he comes from, new york -- bigger than andrew cuomo, y, bloomberg, n michael koch, regional tradition makes nationally recognized, which can be helpful, it can also hurt as we und the country, saw with pelosi, i could see evolving that way.

his evolution has been part of his ost help to feel him, ability to learn from others, especial him ially -- mentor to about how to operate within senate.ly the host: let's move forward in his career. elected to the house in 1980, 1981. serving in go forward to 1993 and debate on the house floor, november of 1993. then house member chuck schumer theting for the in favor of brady handgun bill. look.s a >> mr. chairman, today is the day for this chamber to join the in saying we e have had enough. up ands the day to stand say enough to the boundless handguns, enough to the senseless killing in every community. day after day, night after we see the bloody madness, children kill children, others die trying to protect

their families, parents bury children, children bury parents. you and i and every one of us in the chamber know our neighbors, sick erican people, are and tired of this insanity. my neighbor necessary queens and scared. are we are all frightened per our children. we're disgusted by this orgy of handgun slaughter. and neighbor necessary ohio california and wisconsin and all over america, your neighbors are neighbors, they want the killing to end and they end. it now to whatting we doch here today. it is said by my opponents, the guns nts of this bill, don't kill, people do. people have bad instinct but without m, guns, those instincts often don't flult killing. guns, those instincts all too often do.

there areamerica know no magic pills to end violence, but they also have the good to know that aiting periods work and they want the simple commonsense restraint of the brady bill. "washington journal," paul kane, what did you hear in erms of leadership on gun control and obviously his developing ore tory style? that is chuck schumer, the man of the house, back in actually really pretty policy specific. served on house judiciary the crime was rampant in new york throughout '90s.80s and early e took on these issues and was n.r.a. o take on the on the brady bill. what you saw there, though, the chuck schumer of the house, of a congressional district in which gun control is an issue that he

much take the lead on. as he became a senator and the campaigng over operation in 2006 and 2008, he candidates who had different views of his own in terms of gun control. it is just interesting to see he is sort of an issue that he times, he did in 2013, after the connecticut he pulls but times back from that and sort of sees wind.litical head tlt host: jennifer steinhauer, do you see a change there? guest: i agree. would say chuck schumer we saw speaking on the floor, we hear emotion, e, kayedence, when he chooses to speak on the senate floor and i don't think paul is right, holistic view of guns as pertain different regions of the country. i don't think his personal views evolved. what is interesting, jump to 013, to the mansion background

check bill paul was eluding to, senator schumer was very nvolved in getting the whole thing started between the tom coburn to set up boards. hat is interesting, when that bill started to go south, he ore or less stepped out of the process and forecast the next big fight, which i think at that ime he thought was fight on immigration. host: we'll get to that in an upcoming clip. about the house leadership possibilities for senator schumer, did he, where was he in terms of leadership in the house and ever a path for him to be a there? uest: he was part of this sort of brat pack of young up and coming people back then. house owned in a by george miller, just a couple locks from the house office buildings. dick durbin lived there.

panetta lived there until he went to the clinton administration. they were trying to challenge leadership at the time, first and speaker foley wright, they wanted to push the envelope. 1994, the ed was mid-term losses and they lost and he will tell you, chuck schumer will tell you he's and majority in the senate and majority in the house,and minority in the only one of the four situations in he hate, that was being house minority. he's asked when he make internal calculus, all right, i'm going to run state wide. for he's minority leader the u.s. senate, first elected to senate in 1998, a couple later, 2001, 9/11 happened and following march in 2002, schumer and new york delegation urging president

to sign bush legislation urging to passage escue money for new york city after 9/11. look at a march 2002 news schumer e with senator flagged by the new york delegation. much, mr. u very president, and i can't tell you what a thrill it is to stand president and all of my colleagues from the delegation, the governor and the on such a great day for new york. well, nearly six months ago, mr. president, i sat in the oval office and i asked you for $20 help new york. today you have fulfilled that president, new york thanks you. our city and country, he calls is good, i think. today, next week who knows, our ity and country had been

brutally attackd and we needed the president's help. senator clinton and senators from virginia i made the pitch and honestly, mr. expected you to billion or say you would get back to us or ask for a memo. instead the president looked us right in the eye, there were his eye, tear necessary mine, he said new york needs help? yes, mr. president. without hesitation, without said, you've got it. today the president is making ood on the pledge in full and then some. host: jennifer steinhauer, "new york times," chuck schumer in the new york delegation there. real rapport with george w. lot of esumably a delegation not real friendly oward george w. bush on other issues. guest: yeah, it is interesting, they have a history of especially when i think about incredibly partisan fights we now see in congress

aide, not to compare catastrophe in terms of 9/11. that was a , national problem that required solution.eral it is very difficult to find bipartisanship. i also find it interesting to see hillary clinton in that frame, they were pretty much rivalled, as you remember when senator clinton came to the hill nd that process of securing money that help cement their relationship which continued to grow through the years. that relationship, in terms of chuck schumer as senior new york senator to hillary clinton, his entirely usly went different way. how was the relationship in congress? uest: they denied it at the time, but as years went by, they would both admit the first year years were really tough. it was, you know, the "new york

assigned their congressional correspondent to "hill omething called watch," every single day, he wrote hillary clinton item, writing a he wasn't chuck schumer item. they really did, their staff over credit for things, if money was going to a would somewhere, they battle over it. after 9/11, they had to work together on that issue, they did start to bond. nd later, years later, they would get, the two biggest earmarkers in the senate and everything hare together. they would take credit for try to getting money, museum ey to a woodstock together. guest: that did not go well, if i recall. got : ended poorly and voted out. host: leadership role in the grudges oes he hold against other members? guest: depends -- of the press?rs

guest: depends if he wins. he can be in a battle with he beats you, he grudge, he's a happy go lucky. he said terrible things about me uring the debate, but we won, he can let that go f. he loses, oses that debate or that vote, loses that senate seat, he's sitting there thinking, i'm going to get him. be six years from now, i will figure this out and i will win. do you think that will work out in 150? guest: i think that is question.ng set up too is he most oppose? obviously donald trump, but i think interesting part of that relationship may be one of the most fascinating and important to emerge in the new congress. of course it is important how huck schumer gets along with mitch mcconnell and can't hold grudges particularly when

sides of the oth aisle are longing for better relationship between mat jority minority leader. viable -- to have a functioning relationship as much as possible in the environment going into will be important and showing support his own party. but the schumer-trump thing is a thing to watch. we'll see in a moment a clip from 2006 election after election, but senator schumer was chosen head of the campaign committee in 2004, why was he chosen? tom daschle had just lost reid was harry elevated to minority leader and schumer won re-election at that honestly he always felt under utilized by daschle daschle's team and reid picked up on that and said, i

a lot of hat, you got great ideas, you're political a strategist, run the senate committee. a brutal with just efficiency. year, n six seats that almost all defeating incumbent senators. they did, picked up eight more seats. set up the ly possibility of getting agenda through congress. they had super majority. tough, came ess and after you on every issue possible. im and mitch mcconnell had a lingering, a lingering bitterness because in 2008, helped negotiate this tarp bailout for wall street, running ads ople against mcconnell in his own and ection over that issue mcconnell felt that was just an

breach they had together with other senators. host: let's move forward and hear about that in a minute. let's go to the november 2006, after that election, the victory celebration, the news will, from if you 2006, in november. my colleagueshank for electing me now vice of the caucus number three and the leadership. i want to thank harry reid, in articular, for the great job for us.has done majority leader harry reid sounds really good to us and years, it's two going to sound great to the harry and ople when we can do.ow what let's just say, our challenge begun.lly just the american public has rejected bush and es of george they're waiting to see what we can do.

and we are going to show them we will never lose sight of them in of making their lives better and creating a better america for the average person and for all americans. i want to thank harry, dick, their support or promise my o colleague, all new yorkers and all americans, i will continue i can to maked as this country even a better place. jennifer steinhauer from the "new york times," there he's to caucus vice chair in addition to being head of the campaign committee. hat does the vice chair do, what does the role bring to chuck schumer? basically about bringing he caucus together and getting

agenda together, making people get in the same page, giving to vote portunities against bill when is they need to, getting people together when hey need to and help the legislative agenda of the party go through. facet messaging was a key of that job, it really was just position created the to give him more power, more authority. hirry reid y or create that? guest: it was -- i believe, i as i understand it, harry schumer went to reid and said, i helped create need more power, i need, you know, more authority to do things. ruthless, with respect to the tion, shameless and three cliche about chuck schumer that are true. that guy will ask anybody for money, any time day or night, go the morning y in

and back to washington and really works hard for democrats. think that was a big part of why he was rewarded. he was taking lessons he learned in new york and teaching technique.ors his did you ever cover one of his in new ress conferences york? guest: oh, yeah. guest: he runs almost every unday a press conference, he knew all the local reporters weren't really doing much on sunday afternoon and he would headlines that way. his role early on in that was like, teach these guys. host: he takes on this role and on as cc chair for 2008, sdmrekt tell us about the rivalry withership people like senator durbin, the landscape look like in the leadership then? point, it was at that two behind is number

harry reid, but reid also was schumer very close to nd carving out new roles and new power, it was like schumer as leader to a and dick durbin was number two and it became that reid trusted schumer much more and would go dick for more advice and durbin was, they were roommates dick years, schumer and durbin living inside that ownhouse, but their it tionship stayed okay but became clear, when is reid going to lose, retire, who is the dick durbin or schumer and it was a long shadow boxing them, but if wo of you look closely, it was clear ho harry reid wanted to be his successor. guest: you see senator dick in his n the clips,

face, melancholy look, he could have had the role. felt ld admit now, he rivalry, obviously, but i sense role, he eace in his has very specific issues, dreamers this issue of age, his oung signature issue, he's passionate about it and associated with that. he does a lot on the policy seems to have found his place comfortably. guest: six years after the bail fall of 2008, markets and financial about to collapse, financial crisis and congressional new york nd obviously senator key part of constituency is wall street. ell, what were efforts like in getting the financial crisis addressed by congress? tireless. was he didn't have a sort of senior position on the senate banking

r senate finance committee at the time. he was a lower ranking member of the committees and his biggest the sec chairman running the campaigns, but he probably the most trusted person for wall street xecutives, the most trusted person in the senate, if not the entire capital. closely in this ad hoc ommittee that just, you know, was a bunch of house members, house minority leader, john speaker, pelosi, senate finance chairman, chris dod d, banking committee and they just basically sat pelosi's office and ntire weekend coming up with legislation, $700 bailout and diplomacy as as republicans were sitting in boehner's office, minority schumer and ammanual back g in pelosi's office

and forth and hank paulson, treasury secretary, almost collapsed in the middle of the so ing because it was exhausting. host: back to 2008, september of schumer's comments on the senate floor, particularly addressing the time,lican nominee at that senator john mccain, here is what that looked like. pass without strong bipartisan support. there will be some on both will not vote for any plan. majority, rty had neither democrats majority party chamber by small margin, nor the republicans who are close to majority, but we will support asbipartisan many on each side of the aisle will not vote for a plan. perogative.their we need the president to get the in order. house even if we were to pass a bill

votes, we democratic could not. it is obvious, look at the math. to have this we began support under chairman dod d, and chairman frank's leadership when crafted a good compromise that was basis to paulson.secretary t did far more for taxpayers, for homeowners, for oversight than the existing bill. unfortunately, however, we needed a four-legged stool and leg just vanished, the house way none of us still understand. in addition senator mccain's hadn't been involved to he legislation at all, fly in, put another fly in the

created more trouble. mccain, i haven't heard him offer one constructive he rk, we don't know what supports. does he support the house plan? does he support the president's plan? own plan?ve his he hardly spoke at the meeting, something.unity to do he spoke at the end and didn't say what his views were. supported each plan and so we really need two things, mr. president, on the republican side. and we need president bush to leadership. we need president bush first and to get the republican house members to support his modify it in some way to ring them onboard and yet keep the democratic house members, republican members of the senate and democratic members of the senate onboard. second, we need the president to respectfully tell

mccain to get out of town. he is not helping. he is harming. ost: jennifer steinhauer from the "new york times." this is 15 years after the saw.inal house clip we what do you hear in terms of not nly his style, but in terms of addressing the president, senator mccain calling him out from the campaign trail? guest: i think what that clip underscores, i don't know if agree, chuck schumer is intensely partisan. would not call him intensely liberal. he works a lot on policies that gets dinged n and on the left for having close the to wall street and banking communities, who are important to his state and important to the functions of government. and so he's calling there for something that is necessary, something people thought was in fact for.ng they could vote he's spreading it in a partisan

context. know, his line mccain, get out of town, somebody tell him to get out of town. he's doing both, he's offering hey, if e branch thing, all four caucuses are onboard, we'll get something done. making clear if this falls apart, it is on your fault, s, it is not our we'll blame you. o that is sort of what he does in a way more effectively than most people. the this is before election, he's doing his job as calling out the republican candidate for president. guest: yeah. before, been the at a mccain had flown in, suspended his campaign for a day or two was marching around the capitol trying to figure out negotiations were. nded up in john boehner's

office with a young paul ryan, who actually had these ideas about how to do things differently and they went down to the white house and that just up everything and that is what he meant about town, that out of meeting ended so badly that the republican treasury secretary, down on one got knee, held pelosi's hand and up, , please don't give don't give up. she replied, are you proposing to me? well, let me ask you about chuck schumer's relationship talked about paul ryan and the meeting in pelosi's office. relations with republicans on the house side? uest: oh, back then, they viewed him as a partisan pit bull. they only saw him, they yet to do any real work ith him, that would come in later years and i think back then the house guys looked at wants to win senate seats. guest: particularly in that legitimizing s

john mccain as a leader and important player in something for the nation. host: one big bipartisan effort the 2013 gang of eight. tell us what that was. after the 2012 election, then just a huge, huge democrats among hispanic voters, a bunch of republicans basically said, we do something to create some sort of legislation to try deal with the problem of 11 o 12 million undocumented immigrants here in the country, but also do something to help mccain tookand john working on that and he them chumer, the two of put together a bipartisan group republicans, four democrats to work on legislation. host: senator mccain didn't hold a grudge for calling him out in 2008? guest: senator mccain seems to

balance for barack obama. that was his target, i think, probably he was saying, obama. of the erness post-election john mccain. stuck around for quite a while. did not actually ever witness him attacking schumer, actually, context, too often. guest: yeah, i can't remember -- schumer t did chuck bring to this gang of eight? there?ere his goals guest: i -- he covered that more than i did, but i would say, i think that is where you see mergent chuck schumer as someone who has something beyond the perspective, the new york ity perspective, understanding immigration in the context of border states and context of farm states and context the the country, where there were differing views on holistic ecomes more politician that way. guest: absolutely.

was nk he understood this something that was both good olicy that he thought was good policy, at least, and there payoff.e political on the political side, he saw his as if majority senate democrat, democrats and the democratic president get this they might get a political dvantage with hispanic vote in democrats bj did for with the african american vote and in civil rights legislation. april ake a look at twept13 news conference, they introduce the legislation, chuck members,joined by other including john mccain. >> if you're wondering why we can be ident we successful passing immigration reform this time around, look you. behind these folks here. unprecedented coalition has formed in favor of immigration reform. growers and farm workers

leaders, the iness faith community, some of the most well-known conservative someists in washington and of the most progressive. powerful outside forces have defeat certain other initiatives in washington, but on imfwragz, the opposite is true.ng i am convinced this issue will not fall victim to the usual gridlock. and we are mindful that we approach our task at a moment the public has never been more fed up with congress. disillusion k when with politics is being acutely elt, this bipartisan breakthrough offers a degree of hope. despite strong personalities and stronger disagreementos many middle formet in the the common good. the bill is proof, the art of political compromise is not dead. so in conclusion, today is just voyage.nning of our it will be long andarduous, perils we can't

even anticipate, but we start with optimism because this bipartisan agreement gives us a the y ship to ride out stormy seas ahead. i'd like to -- like to couldn't be ne who here, but is on the minds of all of us today. the late ted kennedy. he's a hero to many of us on sides of the aisle and especially on this issue. work picks up where he left off. kane, "washington post," what is end result of gang of eight immigration legislation? had a great result in or 69 ate, they got a 68 votes, about a third of the republican conference supported it, almost every democrat supported it, it seemed to be in

have real momentum, but across the capital, among the house epublicans, there was completely different political dynamic at work. the weren't looking at national exit polling for mitt thinking we have to get right with hispanic voters, they were looking at own primaries and scared to death of getting primaried on the right and that bill, that was when chuck schumer and paul ryan first started working together, sort of behind the scenes ryan, he uld go to wasn't speaker yet, knew how ryan espect peep hel for nd they kept getting close to having a house bill, then something bad would happen. something bad happened. they lost the primary in june candidate, ar right david bratt, who ran basically issue, saying eric supported amnesty. reasons kantor lost,

they said, i'm out. host: the end of the news conference, he mentions ted kennedy, you said earlier he kennedy as a mentor and cracked up at the end of the news conference. kennedy,es, i think ted among others, but particularly schumer's tor understanding both of washington power because he was a person who always for the house felt in the he was this guy from brooklyn who would never be respected, an outsider, didn't fit in. i think kennedy was a mentor to of growing and self respect in the role he had in washington. 2013, we saw discussion of partisan discussion over changing of filibuster rules regarding the appointment of udicial nominees and other nominees. what brought all that about?

of wars, going back to the '80s and fights over thomas, but ence obama ppened by the time was getting into the end of his first term and early in the second term was republicans were filibustering nominees, both to he dc circuit, the second highest, second most important federal court in the land, they filibustering them on the grounds they shouldn't have to judges, no real reason be blocking those nominees other than they just didn't want to appointees ocratic on the court. they were doing that with onsumer financial protection board, national labor relations board, essentially shutting down filibuster by not it ing them get a 84 umand

just built to a point where they used for the first time ever, know, a wholly partisan vote oppressiveness of the that any t could say of these nominees on anything xcept the supreme court now just need a simple majority, 51 votes. onhad never been done before that level to really change a big, important rule of the senate. host: take a look to a news conference after the vote on conference , news with chuck schumer, harry reid and others. grinding the are senate to mere stand still and rules intended to bring people together to tear us apart. the age old rule of the senate us being used to paralyze asking, is ic is

begging us to act. we're 9% approval because the ules give advantage to those who want to prevent senate from achieving anything. mitch mcconnell says we've tried beg to e the subject, i differ. he doesn't want to address the filibusters, he doesn't want to address the rules changes, so three quarters of his speech is dedicated to obamacare. we are not changing the subject today, he is. he doesn't want to discuss the ysfunction and the way republicans have used the rules to tie this place in one big knot. if you have two sides, one, one who for action and is opposed to senate rules give head start.on a and republicans have abused that dvantage for years now, refusing to confirm qualified judges, preventing executive leaders from having they deserve. well, it is a new world.

people demand action the old ules need to be modified and that is what we have done today. we haven't ripped them up, we've them in ways that can make things work. who in america doesn't think a democrat or republican, deserves his or her for who should run the agencies? but the american people deserve a functioning government, not gridlock. and if our government continues to be gridlocked, people are going to lose total faith in government, and it will be a different america. it is an imperative to change the rules to help break the gridlock, and that is what we