wednesday, the focus is on president trump's picked to replace tom price. the senate health committee will consider his nomination on seat span three. -- on c-span3. c-span.org or listen live with our radio app. our guest on newsmakers joins us in tucson arizona. he is the seniormost democrat on the national resource committee. congressman, thank you for being our guest this week. let me introduce the two reporters who will be asking questions.

billy house and colin wilhelm. billy is first. a lot of news the last two days. the revelations, allegations p democrat. to should he resign or at least step down from that top role on that key committee? the shattering of some norms nationwide. particularly in the congress. the exploitation, the maltreatment of women in ploy he's i leadership in the office.

members of congress. i think it deserves the area and it is getting. i think on this issue, the ranking member needs to step down. theur leader asked for ethics investigation. at the minimum, that is a necessary step. dealing with employee issues is

difficult to read settlements occur all the time. when it approaches the issue of sexual harassment and used as a means to try to keep that issue yeah, that is a serious issue that inevitably could lead to more punitive issues. we have got through that. to have to dispatch employees, separate yourself from them. many times, it is a matter of not accommodating each other. settlements are made for the benefit of both. when the cement is made, a means as to deal with an issue

ugly as we have seen in the recent past, i becomes very serious. you made the distinction between settlements that are surpriseded, were you at reports of how much money, taxpayer money, going to playerents going to tax claims? if the issue approaches what we are seeing now, the settlement payment was issued on the issue of sexual harassment, the as a meansn issue, to quiet that, the requests my i thinkthis process,

that kind of information needs to at some point the public and noted. other claims that occur, the benefit of the employee and the employer, those individuals can continue to work in an environment that is perhaps more conducive, that might be a different matter. when it is pointedly to try to the information from getting out, those need to be talked about. >> i want to go back to your suggestions. 30 years ago, there have been sexual harassment cases involving members and staff. bob packwood. both of them resigned as a result. still talking about

the same culture. why will it change down? -- now? > we passed the tipping point. in a shop, in a business. or the halls of congress and the relationship of attempt to exploit that power sexually, to the on a sexuale co that change is not only needed to, it is happening. it is happening because you reached a tipping point. not just weinstein. theink the fact that

courage of many women, showing the ability to deal with thattly with those issues many times are felt, people are compelled to keep to themselves, beyond which there is no coming back, nor should there be. earlier,ntioned transparency funds. these are on the minds of members and staff. republicans are pushing tax cuts and tax reform. do you think the expectation this is something they can leverage into political success, is a correct assumption, or do you think this will hurt them in the midterms?

>> i said the other day to a if the senate passes the tax bill with whatever changes they make, i don't think sigrid legally -- significantly better than the bill, on a partisan vote or minimal democratic and ghostf it passes of the president for a signature, they lose. as more scrutiny happens -- it was a rush job. it only surfaced during the ways and means hearing. what was the content of this. the negotiations were never bilateral. the fact remains, as more

scrutiny goes into the bill, as see the promises in terms of the middle class, this is a , it will call for thatare and decayed, produces more opposition. the point.ou are to pass it, they lose and if they do not, they lose. >> do you think this speed has sidestepped the some of that scrutiny and opposition? the secrecy of it all, the

drip of information to get that kept everybody off balance. you have the template, the house bill. the school me on that. analysis, groups advocating for some level of fairness. indeed a boon, , for thes boon wealthiest career to all the promises made as to how this is financial andde ,ax relief to the middle class small business folks across this businessesmily owned , is not there reality.

something that historically we have seen more than once. it does not produce the jobs. the wage increases. it makes the competition worse for small businesses. template, the corresponding work in the senate, hopefully longer and more deliberate, the opposition has a focal point and the people have information that is reliable. one piece of legislation out of the house. you are involved with negotiations. for $94nd has asked billion. who is negotiating with the an on thewhite house

puerto rico issues? that there is fatigue? >> the law passed, the bipartisan piece of legislation, to provide financial oversight, the control in terms of restructuring the debt in puerto rico, stabilizing the financial that was 14 months ago. then the hurricane hit. caused up more complications to what was that congressue attempted to deal with. i think the negotiations are down to -- i like to divide it into two. humanitarian relief.

package, which did not i thinkat was needed, that has to be priority number one. the long time recovery issue, that affords us an opportunity. this is where the debate is centering around, i don't think giving more power to the oversight board to effectively have a per government in puerto rico is the way to go. and two,entitled three the oversight authority, it is what they need in terms of financial issues. but it has the government needs to have that.

the the potential scandal did not do anything to assure anybody. this point, to create a parallel government is not the solution. there are things congress can do. everything from debt forgiveness, looking at the $90 billion as an important initial investment. right now, it is humanitarian. medicare. providers have parity with the rest of the u.s.. the virgin islands as well. be onsponsibility has to

a parity and equity level. $2.4 million. they have left and gone to leaving the devastation and that is going to continue. peopleparture of the oversightat board has a responsibility. the cannot be a parallel government. >> how likely do you think it is congress will fulfill the a request from puerto rico? ? you think the whitefish contract

and the lack of transparency may have hurt their cause? for that parallel government, the inference was, how can we trust you? the fact remains, you mayors,civil society organizations that we need to connect with. you i think the request is a realistic a gear. that,the application of how we prepare for the future in terms of sustainability. making the governors there more transparent and accountable. issues that have to be dealt with. to hold hostage relief and recovery support, because of an

inference you can't trust this government or somehow there is a different criteria for puerto thatthan any other place is comprised of u.s. citizens, i think is a huge mistake. congress has the power, the act provides the power. we should utilize that before we explore waving environmental laws and other protections. i open this up as a shop with privatization, all the utilities. education. some of the emphasis we sought in louisiana, that became experiments in terms of providing relief. did not do run, that. we have lessons to learn. we have an opportunity to do

something right that will require resources. question, right now, i wish i could be more optimistic as to where my colleagues are going. i don't see them at that figure. thought but the government are and the government provided, a blueprint for what was needed to was correct. >> if i can follow up on your mark route congress addressing the debt through legislation, do you think that is a direct route congress should go? ? your colleagues have called for the board to request the judge overseeing the proceedings wipeout puerto rico's debt creditors.

you think that is the most viable solution, or congress needs to revisit this issue? >> debt relief and forgiveness has to be part and parcel to that. to say we are going to structure everything we do from now on to satisfy some hedge funds and risk lives, the economy for that, i think the judge how the power. already striking down the request to put an overseer over and other people. it lays with the government of order rico. that was a good decision. i think that request is legal. forgiveness,nd

parity with medicaid and additional appropriations around community block grants, making those initiatives, is a function of congress to do as we put up a package together. >> other questions? the tont to make sure get this in. do you think bernie sanders should consider running for president. would you want him to run for president? >> i love bernie. to run, i think you would be formidable. i'm trying to dodge around your question. that, he hascides had my support in the past. this point in time, i don't see any reason to change that.

>> let me follow that up. how is the new interior secretary treating you? those -- you called for investigations into the harassment allegations, which seem to be going nowhere. to lookked interior into whitefish. 26 requests for information not responded to every it they have been responded to by the obama administration, both the republican majority and minority. quests -- requests were not responded to. cavalierrned about a attitude towards our public requests -- lands. conservation, protecting habitat.

it has always been part of that. we seem to be going on a one-dimensional use. how much can we get out of it? oil, gas, and mining. i've warned about what the president is going to say. ther potential changes to monuments. aworry about him going from 75 -- $25 fee to $75. in order to pay for maintenance and of keep a facilities. concern me.ings almost a militaristic look at how we run our public lands.

we're talking about a shared asset. affordable to everyone. him -- i'm worried if we are looking at jurisdiction of lands, they become a commodity to see how much we can make off of them as opposed to what we can make of them historically. i worry about that. >> three minutes left. you are engaged on immigration. you think a permanent passage of the dream act should be a condition for democrats to support? i think that is going to be an important crucible. i think if it was put on the

floor as it is, it would pass. while i understand but do not appreciate the situation speaker ryan is in terms of his own caucus rebelling against him, the fact is, it would pass. given it is probably the most divisive and critical issue we are facing on many levels, being part of what we do in terms of continuing it. two weeks or months. be partthat needs to and parcel. it, i cannott support the rest of it. >> even if it means a government shutdown. >> then it becomes, whose fault is it. we are not in the majority. they are in the majority.

they drive this budget. they know, one way to get a full pipe artisan passage is to include daca as part of that, the dream act. it is their call. i think if fingers are going to be pointed, they should be people in charge. >> do either of you have a final question? >> one we get to the next congressional session, any predictions about whether nancy pelosi will be elected the top democrat? >> prediction? if we are in the majority. there is a opportunity, i think she will have significant support among democrats. doing,opsy we have been it is time to stop that.

2018 is coming around and we to focus on the fact, as virginia showed, the american people care about issues. fortunate enough to get a majority in 2018, that decision will,. if she decides she wants to return to her speakership, she would have significant support. >> thank you for joining us. we will see you back in washington. >> happy thanksgiving to you folks. tuesday.ss comes back how much are the sexual scandals getting in the way of accomplishing the legislative agenda? all encompassing.

what the responses are. we heard the congressman say, we have all had settlements to some degree. sexual't talking about harassment, necessarily. there is a sense this is more widespread than we know. said there are other members who engaged in this activity. along with the fact we have the ore alabama race. they will put their noses to the grind on tax reform, but this be the bubble paint over everybody's head. >> the payments come from the office of compliance. how transparent our members

going to push for this to go forward? maybe you can explain how it works. argue thisld .rotects the allegedly to him it does not put him or her out there. it protects the lawmaker from what they say is being targeted by disgruntled employees. process,es this signing papers saying i will not press this further and accept a settlement. it involves taxpayer dollars. learned congressman conyers used his office money to pay for it. taxpayer dollars. there is a push to change the system. nancy pelosi has said the

system, charges should be investigated, she has hinted she is going to look at the system, too. so was paul ryan, the speaker. >> this is cyclical. capitol hill goes through this. the current system was in response to complaints in the past. >> the u.s. house, unlike senate, does not have pages. there is a reason. the mark foley scandal. that led to his downfall and perhaps his -- the downfall of the majority. big ramifications. on to the budget deadline. what do you see happening, especially with regard to the dreamers? >> it is hard to say. the president has made some

remarks there is a deal to be had with democrats. he seems to have backed off. republicans are hesitant to an immigration issue. tax want to focus on reform. the focus would be, and get the government funded for a few months and kick that can down the road. how important is the alabama outcome going to be to both parties will wrap told they them around every candidates, if he wins. even if he wins, there is some doubt he will be around long, as republicans are suggesting they

may try to push him through ethics investigations in removal. fear, any voices some think this guy, who does not like the leaders of his party, says or does will be attached to them when they run. the congressman said the time for autopsy should be behind them. we have serious criticisms of party structure during the last campaign by the interim chair. party isring, how the responding to this, and if there will be systemic changes in the democratic already. sure about systemic changes. they are grappling how to message themselves in 2018. they realize they cannot be against president trump, against republicans.

they need a positive message to put forward. we have seen attempts that they are trying to do that. it is interesting that representative grijalva said they will be able to run against tax reform and make the economic middle-class case in 2018, because they feel the republicans will hand them a fair amount of ammunition on the subject. >> that is it for our time. thanks for being with us. these come back. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2017] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] >> c-span's " washington journal," live every day. with policies that impact you. coming on thanks getting a discussion on the current role of troops in afghanistan, and how they will

celebrate thanksgiving. a look at where u.s. troops are serving in the world and their missions. later, a discussion on some of the top issues facing the u.s. impact ofncluding the tax reform. be sure to watch c-span's " washington journal," thanksgiving morning. join the discussion. a busy week ahead for congress, we will have live coverage of two significant hearings. the senate banking committee considers jerome powell to had the federal reserve. wednesday, president trump's take to replace tom price as health and human services secretary. hiscommittee consider nomination