Fox News "Hannity" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. Mitch McConnell

Interview

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HANNITY: All right. Joining us now with reaction is the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell himself.

Senator, good to see you.

You have called this partisan paralysis, breathless conspiracy theorizing, unhinged partisanship, Groundhog Day, a spectacle, stop relitigating a 2- 1/2-year-old election result and move forward for the American people. I agree with all of that.

What is Senator Burr doing? Did he not hear your message?

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL, R-KY: Well, I think the good news is that Chairman Burr has already indicated that the committee will find no collusion, because that will be consistent with the Mueller investigation. I think that this is going to have a happy ending.

I understand the president's frustration here. But I think that this is just a blip, I think that the case is closed. I think that the controversy has been concluded.

I don't think the House thinks that, they're going to continue to try to stir this up. But enough, already. I mean, you know, we found out from the Mueller report that the Russians were deeply involved in it. There was something like 18 to 20 indictments of Russian companies and Russian individuals who were trying to get into the campaign and to mess with it.

I think it's over. And I think it's time to let it go and move on and try to deal with people's business.

HANNITY: Specifically, is that your message to Senator Burr?

MCCONNELL: That's my message to the public. That's our view that the case is closed and it's time to move on, and I believe when the Senate Intelligence Committee finally does report, which I think will not be too far down the road from here, they will reach the very same conclusion.

HANNITY: You called yourself the grim reaper of the country.

MCCONNELL: I'm sure did.

HANNITY: When it comes to the Green New Deal. Well, I mean, everything's going to be for free, so we're told. But we were also told that you can keep your plan and keep your doctor and save money. That didn't happen. Millions lost their plans, doctors and everybody paid more.

But this see - I think there's an important point you're making. This is not just Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez--

MCCONNELL: Yes.

HANNITY: --we've got Presidential candidates. How do you assess this group of 20-plus Democrats that want to be President?

MCCONNELL: Even the ones, Sean, that will declare themselves moderates, will say with regard to health care that they want the public option. There won't be any private health insurance if you have a public option, because the government will always sell you the insurance cheaper.

So no matter how they choose to characterize themselves, you can bet, whether it's Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders or somebody else, the nominee for President on the Democratic side is going to be on a path to try to turn America into a socialist country.

We're not going to let that happen. Donald Trump still in the White House, and as long as I'm Majority Leader of the Senate, I get to set the agenda, that's why I call myself the Grim Reaper. We will not have the Green New Deal and will not have Medicare for none as long as I'm Majority Leader of the Senate.

HANNITY: Tell me about - and tell us about your relationship with the President now - I know you said we're not going to do health care this year. But I know most Americans would like health care fix. They would like to have portability if they change jobs.

I personally like either health savings accounts, there's a health care cooperative where it's $50 a month unlimited care and Wichita, Kansas, Dr. Josh Humber (ph). What are the top agenda items as we close out this year and move into an election year?

MCCONNELL: Well, our challenge in doing any kind of health care reform now is the Democratic House. They're not going to agree to the kinds of things we'd like to do, that you mentioned.

The President established this business to form small groups for purposes of being able to allow groups to purchase insurance like larger companies, and a number of other things the administration has been trying to do through executive orders.

But, look, you know what the Democrats want to do? They're running the House. They want to have Medicare-for-all, which is actually Medicare-for- none. Doing a deal with Nancy Pelosi's House is a real challenge.

As the President's pointed out on health care, what he wants to do is to come up with a recommendation we can enact when we get the House back and hold the Senate and he's on his second term.

HANNITY: Tell us about your relationship with the President Trump, how you work together? Tell us maybe things you didn't know about him that you now - I assume you talk with him regularly. Tell us about it.

MCCONNELL: Yes. Well, we talk on almost a daily basis. We've been on the same wavelength almost all the time. Since he's been there we're trying to take America in the same direction. And I want to particularly compliment the President for the extraordinary selection he has made for judicial appointments.

As you know Sean, the biggest call I made in my career was to not let Barack Obama fill the Scalia vacancy during the Presidential election.

HANNITY: I give you a lot of credit for that many times.

MCCONNELL: The President didn't blow that opportunity. He sent up Neil Gorsuch. And then we fought our way through a highly controversial confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. But it's not just changing the Supreme Court that we did, we also were changing the Circuit Courts, one step below the Supreme Court.

HANNITY: All right, Senator, thank you for being with us. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, we appreciate you taking time to be with us tonight.

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