Meet the Press - April 23, 2023
Interview
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Good to be with you, Chuck.
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Well, I don't view that as an official response, and we're still waiting for the chief justice to answer my invitation. I think that's the first step that ought to be taken with the Supreme Court itself, with its leader, the chief justice. Make it clear that they are going to bring reform when it comes to ethics to the court and spell out what they're going to do. I asked the chief justice ten years ago the very question we're asking today: What is the Court going to do to bring its standards of ethics up to the level even of other courts in this country?
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That's exactly the point, Chuck. If this were another judge, if this were a member of Congress, and it happened that some Texas billionaire came in and said, "I'm going to buy your mom's house and the houses nearby and own this so she doesn't have to pay rent or a mortgage payment," you'd say to yourself, "Well, that's obvious. That's the sort of thing that needs to be disclosed." That's a clear indication of a conflict of interest. Is there a question that should be raised? So yes, there's no question in my mind that the Supreme Court has exempted itself from the standards that apply to the executive and legislative branch, and even to other judges.
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Well, the code of conduct would look an awful lot like the code that applies to the rest of federal government and other judges. And basically, would have disclosures, timely disclosures, of transactions like this purchase of the justice's mother's home. It would also give standards for recusal, so that if there's going to be a conflict before the court and a recusal, it be explained publicly, and investigations of questions that are raised. It is the same standard that's being used across the board, code of conduct, ethics laws applied to the Court. Why this Supreme Court, these nine justices, believe they are exempt from the basic standards of disclosure, I cannot explain. And I think the chief justice should appear before our committee and explain something or explain the changes that he's going to make.
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I think I know what would happen to that invitation. It would be ignored. It is far better, from my point of view, to have the chief justice here. Listen, this is John Roberts' court. We are dealing with a situation where history will remember it as such. I was there when he went through his confirmation hearing. He is an articulate, well-schooled man when it comes to presenting his point of view. I'm sure he'll do well before the committee. But history is going to judge the Roberts Court by his decision as to reform. And I think this is an invitation on May 2nd for him to present it to the American people.
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It's about 19 months before there's an election. Most people make their decision on the candidate 19 days before the election. So we're far in advance of any decision-making. Here's what we do know. This president has shown extraordinary leadership. On the foreign policy side, he has mobilized NATO and expanded NATO to respond to a threat by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine and beyond. He is moving forward when it comes to the relationship with China, which is much better for the American economy, I think, in the short term, and I think establishes long-term standards. Then when you look at the domestic front, Governor Sununu doesn't want to talk about it, but let me tell you, there is a realignment of American voters over this issue of choice in women's reproductive rights. The Republican Party is on the wrong side of history by a long shot. And we're seeing this realignment in elections. The recent mayoral election in the city of Chicago several weeks ago, one of the major questions, "What's your position on choice?" That would not have been a question raised in most mayoral contests before it. We also have the kind of leadership when it comes to climate change, which the American people are wanting, and we have a position that actually makes sense when it comes to gun safety. I listened to Governor Sununu, and it's mindless to think that we have the kind of death rate going on. It's the leading cause of death, gun violence, the leading cause of death of young people under the age of 21 in America. For goodness sakes, doesn't it tell the story? He says, "We want to have limited government." Well, I can just tell you, people want to be safe from assault weapons and the kind of profligate gun ownership that is not responsible.
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I think his schedule reflects an active person, mentally and physically, who is engaging with the American people on a regular basis. I don't know what more they are asking for. But I've been in meetings with him time after time. His performance tells me he's up to the job and does it well. Let's concede the obvious, what his age is. But let's look at the obvious. He's an active president who is meeting the challenges of America every day.
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Dianne Feinstein is my friend. She's my colleague. We sit next to one another on the Judiciary Committee. She's done extraordinary things in her public career. Let's face it, she's gone through several weeks of real travail over this shingles issue that she is obviously dealing with. She wants to come back. She said to Chuck Schumer on the phone last week, "I want to get on that plane next Monday and be there." I want her to come back too. But her future is in her own hands and her family's consultation. I wish her the best and I hope she can return very soon.
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No, I haven't.
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No, I haven't.
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It's been several weeks. Schumer has, yes.
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No, I think we reflected the reality. A 50-50 Senate, if you have a tie vote, you can discharge it to the floor. When you have a 51-49 Senate, we have a nominal majority. And the rules reflect that reality. We have to have a majority vote coming out of the committee. If we don't have a majority vote, if it's a tie vote in the committee, then the nomination does not move forward. So that's the reality of the composition of the Senate today.
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Listen, she's served on this committee for decades, and served with distinction. And she stepped aside from the chairmanship and gave me an opportunity to serve as chairman, and wanted to remain on the committee for other issues that were important to her. It made sense, and I think it was the right decision at the time.
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Listen, we don't need to default in this country. If we default on our national debt, it's going to cost our economy dearly. We're going to find businesses unable to proceed and people losing their jobs right and left. That is a terrible outcome. So let's do the responsible thing and not default, move forward on the debt ceiling. Now, we can have a fulsome debate on the budget, and we will. And I understand it on the spending levels, but not at the expense of jeopardizing jobs and economic growth in America. Don't default. Avoid default on our national debt.
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Well, of course, we should talk.
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No, no. The conversation should be under way, but it should be on the budget resolution and on the appropriations process and entitlement reform, if that's part of the agenda. That should all be separate from the question of the debt ceiling. Don't default. Avoid default.
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Good to be with you, Chuck.
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