For joining me for facebook live, I wanted to talk a little bit about our efforts that is the efforts of Democrats to drain. The swamp in Washington. We launched in agenda right before we left for the August in district work period that focuses on our agenda for the people of this country very often uh people last. What Democrats stand for who Democrats fighting for and the answer to that is Democrats stand for the people of this country and we're fighting for People and we launched really um uh, a kind of clear agenda of what Democrats will do if we're giving the privileges of leadership again and the majority in the House and we really focus on three important priorities. Uh first is lowering your healthcare costs and reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Democrats are committed to making sure that uh healthcare is affordable and that we do everything we can to drive down the cost of premiums out of pocket expenses, prescription drugs and to protect coverage for preexisting medical conditions the Republicans passed a tax Results in 13 million Americans losing their health insurance and premiums going up for everyone else. There in court today, fighting to uh remove protections for preexisting conditions and there's, a strong contrast between what we're fighting for. What they're fighting for the second thing that we're committed to doing is increasing the pay of working people and making sure that we rebuild crumbling infrastructure of our country. This is an effort to invest over trillion Rebuilding roads, bridges, ports, transit, schools really rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of America. It will create 16 million good paying full-time jobs. It will help us to really strengthen our economy and it will make America have the first class infrastructure that we once said in the second issue, is in the one I really wanna talk about tonight is cleaning up corruption to make sure that Washington works for you and not for the powerful special interest and uh I wanna particular About this in light of the indictment of cali Christopher collins for inside of training, this is just the most recent example of Republicans in Washington and then administration. Washington that's really interest of themselves against ahead of the interest of the American people. Uh the American people are sick and tired of the self dealing. You think about administrator Scott pruitt about Secretary Tom price, about betsy divorce about wilbur ross, all the examples of people Using their positions for their own enrichment or to get things at the expense of the American people and what we need in leadership in Washington is people who are there to fight for the people of this country who understand that public services is sacred trust and they're expected to do it in a way that honors that responsibility by providing honest, ethical leadership so we've put together a very comprehensive package ugh democracy reform package that specifically addresses our efforts to really end the corruption in Washington to really drain the swamp Arthur To the most corrupt administration in our history and make sure that government is working again for the people, it's supposed to serve and so the first part of that is strengthening ethics laws to make sure that people are held to the highest standards that secondly to make sure we combat our broken campaign, finance system and reduce the influence of big money in our politics and also make sure that the voices of the American people are heard by passing automatic voter registration. We authorizing the voting rights act and make sure that people's voices are heard in our democracy and so we have a Plus plan to kind of in the influence of Wall Street and Washington, you look at the tax bill that the Republicans passed eighty three percent of the tax cuts to the top. One percent of the richest people in this country. Uh eighty five million American families working families, will see a tax increase and uh what we know is that the Republicans were really responded to the powerful special interest of biggest corporations in fact, uh Chris uh uh collins said and Voting here my donors are basically saying get it done or don't ever call me again actually making it very clear that they were doing things for their big donors and not for the American people. So I wanna talk a little bit tonight about Democratic efforts to drain the swap to bring responsible ethical government to Washington. I wanna thank you for joining me and I'm happy to take questions from folks. I thank all the nice people who have joined us and thank you for um for Good good wishes. Um and I'm just happy to take your questions. I think um one of the things that has been really disconcerting and this administration is the constant self dealing the fact that um folksy administration filled with people who are trying to figure out ways they can take advantage of their positions to enrich themselves to enrich their friends and what I think people are sick and tired of is the Washington that's working for the special interest in the well connected in the very powerful. They want people to be working, then what Work for them why do we spend the most UN prescription drugs of any country in the world, just about because of the powerful influence of big pharma in our elections and in our government. Why do we still give billions of dollars to fossil fuel companies because of the influence of fossil fuels on our elections and so I've taken the pledge not to take uh pac money from corporations to as a small way of saying, I wanna do my part to reduce the power and influence of corporations in our government. We need to have a government that works for People and that is committed to driving down health care cost, rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of our country to repair our roads, our bridges, our ports, our transit systems are schools so that we can be sure that we put people back to work and have an economy and infrastructure really that's the envy of the world uh and also make sure, as I said, most importantly, that we clean up the corruption in Washington and get a government that works for the American people and not for the lobbyists and the powerful special interest. Let me go first eugene oakland, please, as share your stance on illegal immigration, The right to vote, I look I've said this before we need to have comprehensive immigration reform. We have a bipartisan bill, supported by Republicans and Democrats that will secure our borders. That will get provide a path to citizenship. Uh that will ensure that we continue to benefit from the flow of immigration into our wonderful country uh. What I think we all have to agree is that the current policy of separating children from their parents is disgraceful and horrific. I went there to Texas to see with my own eyes It's happening and uh it's it's disgraceful. It doesn't reflect our values it's really a betrayal of American values and uh. I think we have to do everything we can to stop that practice immediately. We can have debates about immigration. There should not be any debate that you don't take children away from their parents period uh and I hope that practice will stop immediately. I think the American people have said that loudly and clearly um. Let me know next to Joe what can be done to assist seniors and not losing most of their assets when they need nursing home care um this is a big Uh obviously eligibility requirements often obligated to seniors to uh dispossessed themselves and their assets in order to be covered by medicaid and I think this is one of the things that people don't understand that two thirds of medicaid spending is responsible for us. Seniors in long-term care, nursing care and that's. Why protecting Medicare medicaid social security. I think, are so critical um. You know the Republicans when they passed the two trillion dollar tax cut. They said that was part one part two is now entitlement. Reform which Their way of saying cuts to Medicare medicaid and social security and think about the immorality of that you give a tax cut to the richest people in this country. Eighty three percent into the top. One percent and now you're beginning a conversation saying we need to know pay for those tax cuts for the richest people in the biggest corporations in this country and making cuts to Medicare medicaid and social security it's wrong I'll do everything I can to fight against it and make sure that we protect those vital program so thank you to all for your question um And tell us why our Congress, uh choir this is from Matthew. Why are comes from allowed to be on the boards of public uh. Hem and c's uh ice that means multinational corporations. Uh there are number of ethics rules that govern the conduct of members of Congress and I think we have need of stronger ethics rules. I actually introduced a piece of legislation with the Republican colleagues to mandate annual ethics trainings for members of Congress and I think that's an important step uh but I think we have to. We have to move forward and Democrats are committed to moving forward and a whole series of proposals to strengthen at Enforcement for members of Congress um serving in Congress representing the people who Don is the greatest honor of my life. We are all do it in a way that understands what a privilege that is and provides honorable service and members of Congress should be held to the highest ethical standards and we should do everything we can to make sure that those standards are met by every member of Congress. I think that trump administration and many of the represents the trump administration have really undermined that By engaging in tremendous self dealing, trying to figure out how they can take advantage of their positions for their own personal gain and the gain of their friends and cronies. Uh. I think it's the swamp. This administration we've seen in my lifetime. I think people are sick and tired of it. I wanna see people in Washington working for them and working on to improve the lives of the American people are not working hard to improve their own lives and that's the most important um lesley ballinger. Thank you for your uh for your compliment. I agree. I mean I think we have got to reduce the influence of money in our elections. That means passing a constitutional amendment to reverse citizens United so corporations are not treated as people and also means ending the dark money where secret spending unlimited spending by people who don't even know who are not required to disclose who they are to influence our elections has to end. We need to pass the disclose act which I'm introducing House senator whitehouse, is introduced in the Senate so that we know where money is coming from that is being spending in our elections and we need to amplify the voices Ordinary citizens of this country, by making it easier for people to vote by protecting the right to vote by renewing the voting rights act and making sure that our democracy reflects the voices of the many and not the check books of of you and that's what our democracy reform uh package will achieve and we know that Democrats to make that a reality so um. Thank you for your question. Um uh Alan vines. What is being done to protect our voting system for being hacked uh. This is a very serious question. Our election was attacked. Our last presidential election by the russians buy again a very sophisticated campaign led by Vladimir Putin. According to our intelligence agencies to help Hillary Clinton and to present to help down with nothing to undermine the candidacy of Hillary Clinton uh. We know it was a sophisticated campaign. We know there are added again. According to our intelligence communities. We need to have an inter agency effort the federal level finding the present and pad and meaning of his National security team to begin Do this work this is something that should have been done. A year and a half ago. We also have to rely on secretaries of state who are doing a lot of work of the state level to protect the integrity of our elections. Sadly, we appropriated uh the money that was taken out by our Republican colleagues. We try to put the through over 300 million dollars back into the budget to help local and state election officials, protect the integrity of our elections, but the Republicans defeated that amendment, along party lines and it's very Oh, we should be working in the bipartisan way to protect the integrity of our elections. It should be a Republican or Democratic issue. It's an American issue. It ought to be everyone's belief that the American people will decide who our elected officials are not a foreign government, not an adversary of the United States and we are all be committed to making sure that we protect our elections on disappointed that my Republican colleagues have not joined us in this effort, but we're gonna keep working hard to make sure that we're doing everything we can to protect our Um mich dina can you talk about protection for the special counsel with devin nunes recent average Stewart protection the President, over the check on the second part of this is uh really very disturbing in one of the many disturbing things that have been in his said here is that the secret to uh fundraiser where he says look, we have to elect Republicans cuz. We need to protect the President from the investigation it's pretty disappointing to hear that, like what we have a responsibility to do is to protect the constitution, to protect our democracy and to hold the President and everyone else in public office accountable. We have legislation that is in Need to protect the special counsel that will allow only do removed for cause that will make sure that he has the resources he needs to complete the job he is doing and to make sure that he's protected from any political interference that if there is some termination the special Council to protect all of the work product of the investigation that he's done, we cannot get any of these bills brought to the floor for a vote on Republican colleagues. Will not join us in this effort. I think we need to keep pressing for this. We all understand that they were responsible that we have is to hold the administration and this President, accountable not to protect him that's not over there with their protect the American people and to serve their interest at mister news. Comments were very disturbing and we ought to be doing everything we can to protect. Mr and make sure that he can complete his work and uh lead us to the facts whatever they are to report, that to Congress so we can take appropriate action in response to his finding so uh. Thank you much for your question. Oh my God, I miss fagan now is figure is on uh. She was a uh one of my teachers when I was at webster Avenue school. Thank you, Ms vega. I'm glad you joined us and thank you for all of us all. You did to contribute to my early education um. Let me go next to our next question ot risa Marie know how can we do something about loving uh it's a really good question um. I actually introduce legislation to prevent members of Congress from ever becoming lobbyists. I think you know one of the big things that we see in Washington is this revolving door. Working government and then you know, I take that you eat those years of public service and then parlay it into very lucrative earnings. As a lobbyist. My view on this is very simple and I think if you have the privilege of serving in the Congress in United States and representing the people in the district that you serve that's a tremendous privilege and great honor and when you're done and when the voters decide you're done and you decide to retire go to move on to do something else, but you are not take the public service that you have provided and try to leverage that in to a big money making operation of A lot of it so I introduce legislation that would ban members of Congress from becoming lobbyist permanently. I think this is the right approach from haven't had lots of support work, but uh I think it's actually right approach so thank you for your question. Um Matthew mccoy. What can be done to protect the from outside influences and the presidents cronies uh that's a great question. I think some of you may have read about this idea that there are currently three members of mar largo that have tremendous Once uh with respect to the president's decisions and the veterans administration, uh, I think this is obviously sickening. Uh. We always a very special responsibility to the men and women who have served our country in uniform who keep us safe and who engage in very dangerous work. All around the world. We have responsible to make sure that the Va is providing the best services possible to them and when they finish their service, that they have access to quality, health care and housing and employment assistance and mental health counseling and anything they need to read to me back into the civilian You successfully uh it is very, very disturbing to learn uh that those decisions at the being influence, not by people that have been approved by the Senate and uh sworn into positions that the and qualified to do that job. But instead I'll be influenced by friends of the President from his private club and I think what we need to do is make sure we elect people we're gonna hold this President accountable and that are committed to protecting our veterans and making sure they get everything they need some. Thank you Matthew from raising that Um thank you, uh claudia, for your uh comments. Uh linda artist, uh her quest. I find it alarming that those serving in public service positions become quite wealthy while serving their constituents. How was that possible. It's a great question. It should not be possible uh no one should be permitted to use his or her position to enrich themselves. I think we saw a an example of this with indictment of congressman collins, where he is allegedly used information that he received uh while being on Bored of the public company to avoid the tremendous quarter million dollar loss and his family, um, but I think you know anytime anyone uses their position. Uh in public office to enrich themselves. They should be held accountable and uh. They should not do it and it should be removed from office so um it's not possible people follow the rules, but unfortunately there are instances where people don't in those people should be held accountable so um And hendrickson hot, what can we do to stop product and pastors from preaching politics and social media it's. Why Republicans keep winning um. I think you know one of the challenges we have is in one of the kind of strength of our country is that you know we have the first amendment. People have the right to speak and share their views and attempt to persuade people of the correctness of their positions. It's one of the great strength of our democracy. I think it's pretty hard to prevent people from doing that, but I think what we can do to respond to this be sure that good people who have different views are equally in that space sharing their views, making the argument so that we don't um give Uh that space and so I try to do my part in social media to correct the record and make sure that my views are being shared, but I think it's one of the challenges of having the first amendment um Bob harrington. What level of certainty do you think we're just by sitting President of being indicted. How bad I just have to be to warn this. You know there's um sort of a some disagreement about whether or not a sitting President can be indicted, others, some people think that the only uh action that Place for presidents committed a crime is impeachment and removal from office. Um. I think it's an open question. It's important to remember that when President Nixon was being in investigated by special counsel, they had actually drawn up an indictment. It was never actually file because President Nixon resign, but I think it is an open question as to whether not a sitting President is it's gonna be indicted in fact, there's no express prohibition against that in the constitution and we know that in our country, no one Above the law and that would be kinda curious to say well no one is above the law except the President. So I think we begin with the proposition that no one is above the law and uh. I don't know whether or not uh there is any clear understanding is whether not seeing present can be indicted um but I think there's no question that when Mr Mark completes his work uh report will be filed with congressman 11 opportunity to take appropriate action depending on with the finding of that report are so um Thank you, sandy thank you for your comment about the Peter struck hearing. Um. I have to tell you one of the things that struck me. The Peter struck hearing and one of those that has really disappointed me has been the unwillingness of my Republican colleagues to hold this administration is President accountable. You know it's one thing to be of a different political party and have different views on economic policy and tax policy, but Congress has an important role to play in providing real oversight of any administration and uh. We have tried on the judiciary Committee in particular, to My dad oversight, we have employed our chairman of our community and our Republican colleagues to engage in meaningful oversight of departments and of agency directors and Cabinet secretaries and the Department of Justice and other agencies of the federal government and we've had really no willingness to my Republican colleagues to do and as I said, that's trucking. Sometimes it feels like my Republican friends, are acting more like donald trump's defense team, then they are and actually providing meaningful oversight that's not good for our country it's not what the role of Commerce is intended to be. We have important oversight responsibilities and uh. I think we Fails in that responsibility and many of us who believe that we should continue to play that role continue. Pressure that so uh thanks very much uh Clinton. How do you feel about village for our father weight. Seven steel sitting in the House shoot me uh. If you could tell me what build it is off the top of my head. I don't know the bill numbers, but let me know and I'm happy to come in and uh Jordan hart early. How long you plan to be in office uh, as long as the voters want me to be there that's the uh thing about this job and you only get to be there as long as voters want you there and I hope to stay here as long as I can be effective and Fight for Allen and until voters decide that they don't want me there so um Um go next to linda asking you address the reason words of finding more rituals and citizens living in multiple locations across. I don't know uh that much about that reporting that your matching I've actually not seen it. I'm happy to review it and get back to you. If you wanna be in touch with my office with a contact number on heavy um. What is your opinion on term limits for legislators uh it's a great question. I mean I have never been a strong supporter of term limits because I've always like voters have the ability to um you know about people out whenever they think they serve long enough um and I think the real problem in our System is the way we finance and run campaigns. I think if we had campaign finance reform and get rid of citizens United and get rid of dark money and pass the disclose act and provide for automatic voter registration. That would really open up the process. Having said that, you know I think, if you couples uh term limits with all those reforms, it would probably be a good idea. I think you know um finding away to make sure that they're new people that come into the system and that bring their ideas, their energy is a good idea so I am not opposed to term limits if it The right term, but I think the real, pernicious part of the problem are the way we fund campaigns and the unlimited corporate money gets spent in our elections and the difficulty of makes and having people go on run for the first time. So I'm open to terminus but I think can make financial forms the really big problem. It um let me get next to think. I talked about devin nunes already thanks for your question um thank you Coming soon, uh You go Steven newman concerned about rising healthcare costs. What can be done. Um. I think that's the there's, a number of proposals that are pending in Congress, most of them offered by the Democrats that will help to increase competition in healthcare. That will create a public option that will drive down the cost of prescription drugs by allowing the government to negotiate discounted prices through with the big pharmaceutical companies to Medicare by creating uh more competition so there are number of good ideas. I think, will help drive down health care Uh and we're gonna be working together in a bipartisan way to do that. Unfortunately, what we had in our Republican colleagues is an effort to repeal the affordable care act and to now sabotaged two by administrative action and then to pass a tax bill that takes away health care from 13 million Americans. So there are ways to do it. There ways to drive down health care costs to create more competition uh to make it easier for people to access health care to drive down the cost of prescription drugs, but we need to elect people who are committed to doing that Um, I think that's the challenge we have right now uh ooh not what you doing great job. Thank you. What is your top part of the next 12 months. Um. My top priority is to do everything I can to make sure the Democrats go back into the majority because everything I care about strengthening Medicare medicaid creating a new way to finance higher education to provide for interest free student loans, driving down the cost of prescription drugs uh restoring net neutrality the draining the swamp in Washington and ending the corruption and self dealing with real campaign, finance reform, passing immigration reform, passing the Dream act ending family All of that is, it's taking this election and we have to elect Democrats who committed to doing all the sins of everything I care about is at stake because if we go back into the majority, we can make the right decisions on all those issues and work for the people of this country uh and improve people's lives so that's my commitment and uh um working hard for my only election but also working hard around the country to help elect great Democrats oppose back into the majority um Um bryan I'm gonna start, barbara o'brien, to teach O barbara nice to have you on my look. I think Chris collins should resign. I think uh the allegations are serious. I think I've does uh a real disservice to um the Congress into the country to have someone who's engage in that behavior remaining Congress it's a distraction it's wrong. It sends a very bad message and I hope you guys resign um Um USA, thanks for your compliment and just trying to uh how we, gonna lower prescription drug cost. This is from Carlos limos, uh. This is a great question. We have a very detailed plan. If you go to our better deal website, it has the detailed explanation of it, but it's essentially by creating more transparency in the development, production and sale of prescription drugs, it's also by allowing the government to negotiate discounted prices with pharmaceutical companies if you go to sam's club, you get a discount when you buy in bulk uh Medicare is the biggest purchaser of drugs in this country um but they're prohibited under Law firm in negotiating with the pharmaceutical companies to negotiate discounted prices if they're allowed to do that, if the government is allowed to do that, we would send 10 save tens of billions of dollars. Uh in cost to the taxpayers and to consumers of prescription drugs and the only reason it's not alot is because the big pharmaceutical companies had it written into the law to protect their profits and no other good reason for it, so allowing the negotiations discounted prices bringing more To the process and preventing price gouging in certain instances, all those things taken together could substantially reduce the cost of prescription. Does which, by the way, is one of the drivers and health care cost. So I think that's an important step. We have you know the President said he would do this. We would do something as you drive down the cost of prescription drugs he's done nothing our public colleges won't bring any of these bills to the floor and again, you look at the influence of big pharmaceutical spending in our elections and it helps to explain why they protecting big pharma rather than their own Um uh threesome arena we need to all make sure we work to get out the vote that's absolutely right. This is a really important election. Um. How do you feel about public elementary schools enforcing rules about not discussing politics during school hours hoping it will prevent possible fights between children uh that's from Steven pitts. I'm very disappointed to hear that I think we need to encourage young people to talk more about politics and political issues in public policy and adults have to model good behavior and How to discuss it, the way that you can disagree with someone passionately and strongly. But not be personally unpleasant, not personalized. It. I think young people need to see adults having very candid and passionate discussions about the issues and know that you can disagree with someone and strongly disagree with them and still be respectful and still appreciate their right to have their opinion so I don't think not talking about issues is a good idea and I'm sorry to hear that that's a policy so um Uh let me go now Uh, I think where I'm nearing the end here so um, I know I didn't get to every question, but I hope this has been useful. Thank you for joining me in this facebook live and uh look forward to talking to you again probably next week. Um back home in rhode island, which is a great place to be always particularly wonderful in the summer time, so everyone have a good week and talk to you again, thanks for tuning in