CONTINUES RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU FOR CLICKING ON OUR EXTENDED CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE WITH REPUBLICAN MIKE ROGERS, A FORMER LONGTIME MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM MICHIGAN. THE NEXT 30 MINUTES IS ALL COMMERCIAL FREE. WE’RE GOING TO TRY TO GET TO AS MANY QUESTIONS FROM OUR AUDIENCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. WE’RE GOING TO START THINGS OFF WITH LAURA LANDSMAN. GARBER, WELCOME TO NEW HAMPSHIRE. I HOPE YOU’RE ENJOYING YOUR VISIT. BEEN FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. GOOD. I HAVE A SEPARATE QUESTION, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRIORITIES IN MENTAL HEALTH. I’M A PSYCHOLOGIST HERE WORKING WITH KIDS, AND I’M IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH YOU ON THAT. SO THANK YOU. YEAH. WELCOME. THANK YOU. HOW MUCH WORK DO WE HAVE TO DO? OH, MY LORD. A LOT OF WORK. I GREW UP IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AS PART OF THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE COMMUNITY. I GOT I HAD WENT TO NURSERY SCHOOL THERE. I GOT MARRIED THERE, MY CHILDREN, HER NAME THERE, AND THE TRIAL THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS BRINGING BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES THAT MY COMMUNITY THERE AND MY COMMUNITY HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS STILL SHATTERED. I STILL FEAR HAVE FEARS WHEN I GO TO SYNAGOGUE AS MANY COMMUNITIES DO, FAITH, COMMUNITY IS AS WELL. I WONDER THING IF WE MIGHT HAVE HAD RED FLAG LAWS, IF WE MIGHT HAVE HAD BACKGROUND CHECKS, IF THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THOSE AND OTHERS LIKE THE ONE RECENTLY IN A CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND OUR COUNTRY. IF WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THOSE TRAGEDIES, WHAT ARE YOUR TRAGEDY STRUCTURE? WHAT ARE YOUR STRATEGIES? SO I’M SORRY FOR ALL OF THIS. YEAH. SO I’M A PROPONENT OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS. WE HAVE A VIOLENT PROBLEM IN AMERICA AND IT’S NOT JUST SHOWING UP AT YOUR SYNAGOGUE OR THE CHURCH. IT’S SHOVING PEOPLE OFF THE TRAIN INTO OFF THE STAND IN NEW YORK. IT’S STABBINGS. IT’S DRIVING YOUR CAR THROUGH A CROWDED GROUP OF PEOPLE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF EVERY ONE OF THOSE, THERE’S A MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. HOW DO WE INTERCEDE OR AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUY, HOW DO YOU GET THERE EARLIER? IS IT WOULD BE MY ARGUMENT, HOW DO WE DO THIS? HOW DO WE GET THOSE KIDS? AND AND IF THERE WAS A BACKGROUND CHECK THAT I COULD HAVE THAT IS GIVES PEOPLE DUE PROCESS, YOU CAN’T YOU DON’T WANT THE SYSTEM TO BEAT YOU DOWN, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE SOME WAY OF SAYING THIS PERSON IS EXPERIENCING SOME MENTAL DISTRESS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO BUY A FIREARM. AND IT’S THAT BAD. OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS THAT BAD IN AMERICA. YOU SEE IT AND YOU’RE SEEING IF YOU’RE WORKING WITH KIDS, THEN YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT’S BEEN PUSHED DOWN BY GRADES. YOU’RE TALKING SECOND GRADERS, THIRD GRADERS, FOURTH GRADERS, FIFTH GRADERS ARE HAVING THIS MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS IN THEIR LIFE. SO I WOULD FIND WAYS TO ATTACK THAT PROBLEM FIRST. NOW, I HAPPEN TO THINK READING IS A PART OF IT. I KNOW BEAR WITH ME IF YOU DON’T READ BY THE FOURTH GRADE AT THE FOURTH GRADE LEVEL BY THE FOURTH GRADE, YOU HAVE A. 70% CHANCE OF EITHER BEING IN PRISON OR BEING ON WELFARE. WHEN YOU GRADUATE. THINK OF THAT, RIGHT. AND SO THAT ALSO CAUSES MENTAL DISTRESS. I WAS JUST SPENT SOME TIME IN A PRISON DOWN IN I SHOULD REPHRASE THAT. I SPENT I SPENT SOME TIME AT THE PRISON IN IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I CAN SEE THAT HEADLINE. AND I WAS GOING TO RUN WITH LESS AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE, ABOUT READING AND MENTAL HEALTH AND IS THERE A WAY AND THEY THEY WILL TELL YOU THE REASON PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO TAKE THEIR GED BECAUSE THEY CAN’T READ. YEAH, RIGHT. AND SO WE’RE FINDING WAYS, CREATIVE WAYS OF READING, RECLAMATION, GETTING THEM READING AT GRADE LEVEL, GIVING THEM DIGNITY BACK. I THINK THAT’S HOW WE GET AT THIS PROBLEM. HONESTLY, WE’RE GOING TO FIGHT ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT CANDIDLY, I WILL TELL YOU, WILL NOT MAKE A HILL BIT OF DIFFERENCE. IT MAY MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER. IT MAY MAKE YOU HAVE AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT OF, YES, WE’VE DONE SOMETHING. IT WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE 330 MILLION GUNS ON THE STREETS OF AMERICA. RIGHT. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET GUNS. IF THEY WANT TO GET GUNS, WE HAVE TO GET THEIR EARLIER IN THIS PROCESS. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT APPOINTING A MENTAL HEALTH CZAR TO HELP WITH THIS WHEN YOU’RE IN THE WHITE HOUSE? YEAH, I WOULDN’T BE OBJECTIVE. I’M TRYING NOT TO GROW GOVERNMENT, BUT I WOULD I WOULD CERTAINLY RECONFIGURE SOMETHING ELSE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T DO, WHICH IS A LOT. EVEN THOUGH THEY PAY PEOPLE TO DO IT RIGHT. WE HAVE A HUGE, INEFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT. AND SO THIS THIS WOULD MAKE THIS MIGHT MAKE SENSE. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS CHANGE THE STIGMA OF TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. RIGHT. BECAUSE A CLEARLY NOT TALKING ABOUT IT OR NOT NOT TALKING ABOUT IT IS NOT WORKING. RIGHT. NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THIS TOPIC. I CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY PLACES GIVE ME THE YOU KNOW, THE CROSS EYES WHEN I START TALKING ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES WITH OUR NEXT GENERATION OF CHILDREN. SO MAYBE THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT. GIVE A CALL. I’LL BE AVAILABLE. I LOVE THAT. ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT? I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE SEEING WITH CHILDREN NOW. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN. WE HAVE ANOTHER VIEWER QUESTION THAT’S COME IN HERE. THIS ONE FROM CHARLES DOWD. HE ASKS, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES TO THAT YOU WOULD EMPLOY TO GET SPENDING UNDER CONTROL? I LOVE THIS ONE. SO LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. RIGHT NOW I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ONE THAT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT, BUT MEDICARE IS GOING TO GO IN CASH DEFICIT BY 2028, ACCORDING TO THEIR LAST STUDY, 2028, NOT 2035. WE’RE WORRIED ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY. THAT’S 2035. MEDICARE, 2028. AND SO THERE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT SO I’VE BEEN IN THE TECH SIDE OF BUSINESS FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND THE INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY IS REALLY INSPIRING. AND WHEN I LOOKED BACK AT THE GOVERNMENT, I THOUGHT, THIS PLACE IS A 19TH CENTURY BUILT GOVERNMENT TRYING TO SOLVE A 20TH CENTURY PROBLEM. IN THE 21ST CENTURY, THERE IS NO TECHNOLOGY BROUGHT IN TO HELP US GET THROUGH THIS, NO INNOVATION. SO IN MEDICARE OR WHAT IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS NO LONGER THE PROVIDER, WHICH DOESN’T WORK VERY WELL RIGHT? HIGH INSTANCES OF FRAUD, PAPERWORK, BUREAUCRACY. WHAT IF WE SAID WE WANT YOU TO BE A CUSTOMER? SOME OF THE BEST PERFORMING PLANS IN MEDICARE ARE MEDICARE, HEALTH ADVANTAGE PLANS, AND HERE’S WHY. BECAUSE THE MEDICAL HEALTH ADVANTAGE PLAN HAS A CAPITATED RATE, MEANING YOU CAN’T EARN ANY MORE THAN THIS. AND IT MAKES THOSE PLANS HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR HEALTH. GREAT EXAMPLE. THEY HAVE NURSES. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES AND YOU’RE NOT TAKING YOUR MEDICINE, SOMEBODY COMES OUT AND KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR AND SAYS, HEY, WE REALLY KIND OF NEED YOU TO TAKE YOUR MEDICINE AND BE HEALTHY BECAUSE YOU’RE GOING TO COST US A LOT OF MONEY. IT’S THAT OLD INCENTIVE OF BEING ENGAGED IN BOTH THE OUTCOME AND YOUR HEALTH OUTCOME. WE THINK THIS WOULD SAVE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THERE IS ACTUALLY ANOTHER PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY, AND I WOULD GO THROUGH A DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT, BY THE WAY, TO DO THIS, TALK ABOUT THE VA FOR A SECOND. THERE ARE SOME GREAT STUDIES NOW WITH I KNOW EVERYONE’S AFRAID OF A.I. WE SHOULDN’T BE RIGHT. WE SHOULD MASTER A.I. JUST NOT LET IT RUN OUR LIVES IN THESE CASES. IMAGINE IF A DOCTOR SHOWED UP AT YOUR BEDSIDE AND IT’S LIKE 100 DOCTORS SHOWING UP AT YOUR BEDSIDE BECAUSE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS IN ONE PLACE. SO THE DOCTOR DOESN’T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT TO GO READ A MANUAL. HE SAYS, HERE’S THE WAY MY PATIENT IS PRESENTING TO ME. WHAT ARE THE 100 DOCTORS THROUGH THIS ALGORITHM? BECAUSE IT HAPPENS LIKE THAT. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? HOW ARE YOU TREATING IT FOR THE BEST OUTCOME? WHAT THEY FOUND IN THE TEST STUDY, THE BETA TEST STUDY, WAS THAT HOSPITAL REHOSPITALIZATION WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY DROPPED THROUGH THE FLOOR. RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU’RE GETTING THE BEST CARE BASED ON ALL OF THIS WISDOM FROM ALL OF THESE DOCTORS. AND SO AND WE THINK THAT THAT, BY THE WAY, IS ABOUT A 10% SAVINGS IN THE WAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE VA. RIGHT. AND SO THAT’S IT’S CREATIVE. IT DOES. WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS. WE CAN DO THE MEDICARE THING. IT DOESN’T MATTER. FACT SERVICES GO UP. NO CUTS IN COSTS. EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT CUTS AND ALL. WE DON’T MEAN TO DO THAT. WE NEED TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT. DO IT FOR THE VA. SAME WITH THE PENTAGON, BY THE WAY. THINK OF THIS $125 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. THEY SAID, BOY, WE CAN’T FIND IT. AT $125 BILLION. WALMART WILL KNOW IF YOU WALK OUT OF A STORE DOWN THE STREET WITH A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER. THEY KNOW RIGHT THERE WE CAN’T ACCOUNT FOR $125 BILLION. IT IS BECAUSE IT’S OLD. IT’S ANTIQUATED. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT SILOS. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT US MILITARY, WE WANT YOU TO HAVE THE BEST EQUIPMENT, THE BEST PEOPLE. MY SON’S IN THE MILITARY. UNITED STATES NAVY OFFICER. WE WANT YOU ALL TO HAVE THE BEST TO STAND UP AND DEFEND THE UNITED STATES. YOU CAN’T WASTE MONEY TO DO IT. ALL RIGHT. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET SHARP ABOUT HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY. THAT’S THE WAY I WOULD DO IT. I WOULD GO RIGHT DOWN THE LIST EVERY DAY. PARTMENT CAN BE MODERNIZED IN THE US GOVERNMENT. IT NOW TAKES ABOUT 20 AVERAGE NEW HAMPSHIRE LINES. GRANITE STATERS SORRY TO PAY FOR ONE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE INSIDE OF THE BELTWAY. HOW MANY THINK THAT YOU’RE GETTING YOUR MONEY’S WORTH? RIGHT? NOT HAPPENING. RIGHT. AND IT’S BECAUSE WE JUST KEEP GETTING BIGGER. WE KEEP POURING MONEY IN THE TOP OF THE SPOUT AND HOPE IT WORKS OUT ALL RIGHT. IT DOESN’T. IT’S GOING TO TAKE REAL REFORM. EVERY DEPARTMENT, EVERY RULE, REGULATIONS GOT TO GO. THAT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. AND WE HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS. THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF ALL OF THIS THAT WE CAN APPLY TO THIS. SO THIS ISN’T THIS MEANS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH IT WITHIN A SHORT ORDER STORY, BUT WE HAVE TO BE INVESTED IN THAT OUTCOME. LET’S GO TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM JP MORGAN ZULLO. HI, HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND YOUR SON PICKED THE RIGHT BRANCH, RIGHT? I WAS AN ARMY GUY. I DON’T KNOW HOW I WAS SUCH A FAILURE. HE RAN. YES, WE WERE ALLOWED TO PICK THE. AS CHINA CONTINUES TO BE A THREATENED WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO PREVENT OTHER COUNTRIES? AND THERE ARE ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES. WHAT KIND OF SECURITY WOULD YOU SET UP IN? IS IT FEASIBLE? YEAH, I DO THINK IT’S FEASIBLE. AND IT’S AN ABSOLUTE MUST DO. AND THIS IS WHERE I WORRY ABOUT THIS AND I’LL SET THIS UP QUICKLY THIS WAY. SO THINK ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. WE HAD A CHINESE SPY BALLOON GENTLY FLOAT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, SNAPPING UP PICTURES AND SENDING THOSE MESSAGES TO SATELLITES. WE HAVE HAD THE THE RUSSIAN AIR FORCE DOWNED AND INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE, AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE BY THE UNITED STATES. RIGHT. THOSE ARE FOREHEAD FLICKS THAT’S TRYING TO FLICK US IN THE FOREHEAD. THAT’S RUSSIA FLICKING US IN THE FOREHEAD. NOT A LOT OF TALK, BUT WE LOST FIVE US SOLDIERS THAT WERE KILLED IN SYRIA BY IRANIAN PROXY FORCES. THEY FLEW DRONES INTO THOSE INTO THEIR ENCAMPMENT AND UNFORTUNATELY KILLED FIVE VERY BRAVE SOLDIERS. BY THE WAY, WHO WERE FIGHTING ISIS. REMEMBER THEM, RIGHT. THEY’RE STILL THERE. THEY WOULD STILL LIKE A PIECE OF US. THEY WERE THERE DOING, YOU KNOW, REALLY GOD’S WORK, TRYING TO PROTECT US. IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS DOING WITH PUTIN, RIGHT, FLICK IN THE FOREHEAD. IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT CHINA IS SAYING THEY’RE GOING TO DO TO US CURRENCY, GLOBAL RESERVE, RIGHT? WE ARE MOST PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHO CARES? IT DOES IMPACT OUR STANDARD OF LIVING. WE GET TO DICTATE A LOT FINANCIALLY IN THE WORLD AND HOW IT WORKS BASED ON OUR VALUES. CHINA SAYS THEY’RE GOING TO TRY TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US. AND BRAZIL JUST CAME OUT AND SAID, WE AGREE. RUSSIA’S ALREADY AGREED. THERE’S CALLED THE BRICS NATIONS. B R I C IF YOU WANT TO REMEMBER IT, IT’S BRAZIL, RUSSIA, INDIA AND CHINA. THE LAST HOLDOUT ON THAT IS INDIA. YOU WATCH HOW FAST THAT GOES. THEY’RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT TRADING IN THE ONE THAT MEANS OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF A FIGHT. SO HERE’S WHAT WE’VE GOT TO DO. YOU HAVE TO PUSH BACK EVERYWHERE. WE HAVE TO RE ESTABLISH OUR SUPPLY CHAINS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. WE SHOULD NOT BE DEPENDENT ON CRITICAL MATERIALS OF ANY SORT ON THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA. DOESN’T MEAN WE CAN’T SELL THEM STUFF. YOU KNOW, IN MICHIGAN, WE SELL A LOT OF BUICKS IN CHINA. I DON’T KNOW WHY THEY LOVE BUICKS AND WE’RE HAPPY TO SELL THEM. THEY’RE WONDERFUL CARS AND WE OUGHT TO BE SELLING THINGS ALL OVER THE WORLD. BUT WHAT WE CAN’T DO IS BE OVERRELIANT. WE NEED TO DO THE SAME KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY DO IN AN AMERICAN VERSION WAY THEY SUBSIDIZE COMPANIES TO ARTIFICIALLY COMPETE AGAINST US. COMPANIES EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE WHAT’S CALLED AN XM BANK. WE HAVE ZERO LOANS FOR INDUSTRIES THAT WE BELIEVE ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, BUT ALSO SELL THINGS LIKE AIRPLANES AND COMPUTERS AND OTHER THINGS TO BE AT LEAST COMPETITIVE TO CHINESE PRODUCTS. THE DIFFERENCE IS THEY DON’T HAVE TO PAY IT BACK TO THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. OURS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY US BACK. BUT IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE. WE HAVE ABANDONED ALL OF THAT, AND I THINK THAT’S A SERIOUS MISTAKE FOR US. YOU KNOW HOW WE’RE GOING TO BEAT CHINA COMPETITION BUSINESS. FREE ENTERPRISE. CAPITALISM. THAT’S HOW WE’RE GOING TO BEAT THEM. AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MILITARY IS READY TO RESPOND. AND I’M NERVOUS ABOUT THIS. WE TALK ABOUT FOLKS IN THE NAVY, THEY’LL TALK TO ABOUT HYPERSONIC MISSILES. THEY GET A LITTLE BIT OF SWEAT ON THEIR FOREHEAD ABOUT WHAT THOSE THINGS CAN AND CAN’T DO. THE FACT THAT THEY’RE COMPETING WITH US IN SPACE IS IS CONCERNING. AND THE WAY THEY KEEP SAYING THEY’RE GOING TO COMPETE AGAINST THE US NAVY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THEY JUST SURPASSED THE NUMBER OF SHIPS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. RIGHT. SO WE’RE KIND OF SLEEPING AT THE SWITCH. AND AGAIN, THIS IS THAT SMALL POLITICS THING. YOU KNOW, OUR POLITICS HAVE GOTTEN SO SMALL WE FORGOT TO SEE WE HAVE BIG PROBLEMS ON THE HORIZON. WE’VE GOT TO SHAKE OURSELVES OUT OF IT. AND WE CAN SOLVE EVERY ONE OF THESE. BUT THAT’S THE WAY I DO IT. I DO IT ECONOMICALLY, DIPLOMATICALLY, MILITARILY. AND I DON’T MEAN, YOU KNOW, AS IN SHOOTING. I JUST MEAN MAKING SURE YOU’RE THE BIGGEST, BADDEST GUY ON THE BLOCK. NOBODY WANTS TO MESS WITH YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM MARK BOYD. CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUR QUESTIONS AND BEING SO CANDID. WE APPRECIATE IT. I WORK. MY WIFE SAYS DON’T BE SO CANDID, BUT THEY ALL DO. YEAH. AND THEY’D BE RIGHT. I, I ALONG WITH MANY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, HAVE WORKED HARD OUR ENTIRE LIVES AND HAVE PAID INTO SOCIAL SECURITY. NOW, I AND WE ARE COUNTING ON IT FOR OUR RETIREMENT BECAUSE I EARNED IT. HOW WILL YOU PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY FOR US, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN? YEAH. NO, THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION. AND REMEMBER, I THINK I WOULD START TWO WAYS. SOCIAL SECURITY 2035 GOT PROBLEMS. MEDICARE, 2028 I THINK YOU GOT TO HIT MEDICARE FIRST. GET THAT FIXED. THEN WHAT I WOULD DO IS SOCIAL SECURITY. I WOULD GO THROUGH. WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THEY WENT THROUGH THIS HUGE PHASE WHERE THEY WERE GIVING OUT SOCIAL DISABILITY, SOCIAL SECURITY, DISABILITY, AND THEY HAD NO QUESTION THAT WHERE SOMEBODY SAID, HEY, I’M BACK NOW, I CAN I CAN GO TO WORK OR I CAN’T GO TO WORK. THAT BALLOON THAT WAS THE LARGEST GROWING PART, PART OF SOCIAL SECURITY, I WOULD GO BACK AND SAY, OKAY, WE JUST HAVE TO IF YOU DESERVE IT, YOU SHOULD HAVE IT. BUT IF YOU DON’T DESERVE IT, LISTEN, WE DON’T WANT TO RISK PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED THEIR WHOLE LIVES, PAID INTO THE SYSTEM, CAN’T GET WHAT THEY PAID IN. I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THAT. AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO SAY EVERY OPTION IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ON THE TABLE. YOU KNOW, IF YOU’RE, YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS OLD TODAY, YOU KNOW, AND IN YOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY IS 110 OR WHATEVER IT’S GOING TO BE NOW, IT’S IN THE NINETIES NOW, YOU KNOW, WE’RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A RETHINK ABOUT WHAT WORK LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT RETIREMENT LOOKS LIKE. DOESN’T MEAN THAT’S THE RIGHT ANSWER, BUT IT MEANS WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT. SO I THINK THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT WE COULD HAVE IS ELIMINATING FRAUD. AND AGAIN, BY THE WAY, TECHNOLOGY DOES THAT HELPS US TREMENDOUSLY ON THIS. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS THIS. I TALKED TO A DOCTOR FOR A LONG TIME WHO SAID THAT THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED TO GIVE THE CHECK BUT NEVER ACTUALLY RECLAIM IT BACK WHEN YOU’RE HEALTHY. WE OUGHT TO CHANGE THAT. I MEAN, WE WANT YOU TO GET HELP WHEN YOU GET WE NEED IT. BUT YOU YOU NEED TO STEP BACK AND GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO EARNED IT AND PAID IN AND RETIRED. GET THAT MONEY BACK. WE THINK THAT COULD HELP MAKE IT SOLVENT FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR EITHER CONGRESSMAN. YOU WERE IN WASHINGTON, I BELIEVE, WHEN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY, AND THAT TURNED OUT TO BE ANOTHER GREAT POLITICAL EXPERIENCE FOR THEM. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FOR THEM? WELL, I JUST DON’T THINK I THINK AMERICANS SEE SOCIAL SECURITY VERY DIFFERENT THAN THEIR PERSONAL INVESTMENTS AND THEY DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM INTERTWINED. AND I’M NOT SURE THAT’S THE WRONG ANSWER, HONESTLY. I MEAN, IT IS NOT THE BEST SYSTEM FOR RETIREMENT, IF PURE AND SIMPLE. IF YOU COULD INVEST SOME MONEY AND GET SOCIAL SECURITY, THAT’S PROBABLY FINANCIALLY OVER THE DURATION OF THE FUND IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. BUT AMERICANS AREN’T THERE, AND I DON’T THINK YOU SHOULD CHANGE IT. IF AMERICANS AREN’T THERE. I JUST DON’T THINK IT’S HELPFUL. I THINK YOU’RE STRESSING OUT PEOPLE WHO DON’T NEED TO BE STRESSED AND THEY’RE GETTING CLOSE TO RETIREMENT OR THEY’RE ON IT. AND IF ANY ANY KIND OF CONFUSION IN YOU INJECT IN THERE IS NOT HEALTHY. IF THEY WANTED TO LOOK AT SOMETHING FOR, YOU KNOW, 50 YEARS FROM NOW OR 60 YEARS FROM NOW OR 70 YEARS FROM NOW, MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. AND HERE’S THE OTHER THING I WOULD DO ON SOCIAL SECURITY, BY THE WAY, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. BECAUSE OF THAT EXPERIENCE THAT I LEARNED, YOU’RE GOING TO DO A COMMISSION AND THERE’S GOING TO BE EQUAL DEMOCRAT AND EQUAL REPUBLICANS, AND YOU’RE GOING TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND SAY THE MEDIA DOESN’T GET TO GO IN UNTIL THEY COME OUT WITH A DECISION. AND I’LL TELL YOU WHY. AND MY WIFE SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD ALL FEED THEM BEER FOR A WHILE, TOO, WITH NO BATHROOM BREAKS. BUT THAT MIGHT DO IT. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THIS IS SUCH A POLITICAL ISSUE, A REAL ISSUE THAT YOU CAN’T HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO FIX IT. AND I THINK WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS ON HOW TO FIX IT. WE MAY DISAGREE. IT’S OKAY. WE MAY NEVER EVEN COME TO A CONCLUSION. BUT WE HAVE TO AT LEAST HAVE THE CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW. THEY’RE NOT HAVING IT. SO I WOULD HAVE THAT EQUAL PANEL. AND DON’T MAKE ONE MORE OF THE OTHER TEAM THAN ONE TEAM. I WOULDN’T DO IT. EQUAL TEAMS PICK PEOPLE WHO ARE DON’T WANT TO RUN TO THE TV AND SAY, I’M THE ONLY ONE SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY. RIGHT. AND EVERYONE ELSE WANTS TO STEAL YOUR MONEY. THAT PERSON OUGHT TO BE OFF RIGHT? IT SHOULD BE A SERIOUS BODY TO IN SERIOUS WORK TO SEE WHAT KIND OF RECOMMENDATIONS THEY COULD COME UP WITH THAT WE SHOULD TALK THEN TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE I THINK THERE’S PROBABLY A LOT MORE IN THERE BECAUSE WE NEVER REALLY LOOK AT IT BECAUSE EVERYONE’S SO AFRAID TO LOOK AT IT. THERE’S PROBABLY SOME SOLUTIONS IN THERE THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE AND WE COULD ALL GO, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT KIND OF MAKES SENSE TO ME, BUT WE’LL NEVER GET THERE IF WE DON’T TAKE AWAY THIS POLITICAL THIRD RAIL CONVERSATION. LET’S GO TO THE NEXT QUESTION FROM CAROL IN LAUREL. HI THERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE’VE DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. IF YOU WERE PRESIDENT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS YOUR TOP NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THAT YOU’D LIKE TO GET DONE, THAT YOU FEEL THAT YOU COULD GET ACCOMPLISHED? YEAH, I WOULD MAKE US ENERGY INDEPENDENT. YESTERDAY AND THE PART OF THE REASON IS, IF YOU NOTICED OUR POLITICS HAS GOTTEN MUCKED UP IN NOT BEING ENERGY INDEPENDENT. AND BY THE WAY, I TOLD MY GREEN FRIENDS THIS, IF YOU WANT TO GET TO A CARBON FREE ECONOMY, YOU HAVE TO MAKE US ENERGY INDEPENDENT. TODAY. WE NEED COMBUSTION ENGINES FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME. SO MAKING THIS ARTIFICIAL KIND OF UGLY PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET THERE IS NOT GOING TO HELP US INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL GIVE US THE NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTRIC FIELDS. LISTEN, IF YOU LIVE IN, I’M SURE THIS IS THE SAME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHY DO I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT? AND YOU’RE UPPER PENINSULA, MICHIGAN, AND YOU DO LOGGING, YOU DO OTHER THINGS, OR YOU DO ANY KIND OF CONSTRUCTION WORK. AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROBABLY DOESN’T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO YOU TODAY. RIGHT. AND BY THE WAY, COLD WEATHER DROPS THE RANGE ON THESE BATTERIES. RIGHT. SO MY ARGUMENT IS EVERYBODY CALM DOWN. WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS SAY WE’RE GOING TO DO TWO THINGS. BE ENERGY INDEPENDENT TOMORROW. THAT WAY WE DON’T HAVE TO SEND A PRESIDENT TO SAUDI ARABIA TO BEG FOR OIL. I THINK THAT WAS EMBARRASSING. SHOULD NEVER DO IT. EMBARRASSING FOR THE UNITED STATES, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE THAT CAPABILITY HERE. AND IT ALSO WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE DIFFERENCE IN THE NATURAL GAS CONVERSATION IN EUROPE. RIGHT. IF WE DO NOT TURNED ALL THESE THINGS OFF, WE WOULD HAVE HAD BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR THE EVEN THE CONFLICT IN EUROPE AND OUR FRIENDS IN GERMANY AND POLAND AND OTHER PLACES. SO I WOULD DO ENERGY INDEPENDENT. THE OTHER PART IS YOU NEED TO UNLEASH AMERICAN INGENUITY AGAIN. YOU KNOW, THIS PILE OF REGULATIONS THAT KEEPS COMING IS NOT HELPFUL. AND SO I WOULD UNDO AS MUCH OF THAT AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN, BECAUSE IF YOU’RE GOING TO BEAT THE CHINESE, YOU HAVE TO DO IT PRETTY QUICKLY. SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT IS ROBUST AND ACTIVE AND GOING CRAZY AND INNOVATIVE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE, I THINK, THIS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE DONE UNWIND OUR POLITICAL DALLIANCES WITH COUNTRIES WHERE YOU MAY OR MAY NOT WANT TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH NUMBER TWO. SO I’D START WITH THOSE TWO AND THEN START THIS PROCESS OF REFORM. THE GOVERNMENT. HERE’S THE PROBLEM WITH DOING THIS ON THE DEBT LIMIT. RIGHT. AND THIS IS WHY I THINK THIS IS A PROCESS. WE CAN SAY WE’RE GOING TO CUT X AMOUNT IN THIS. GREAT. I THINK WE WE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH MONEY. WE BORROW IT FROM PLACES LIKE CHINA TO PAY FOR IT. RIGHT. SO WE’RE IN PART CONTINUALLY POWERING OUR ADVERSARY HERE. BUT JUST GO IN AND SAY, OKAY. RATHER THAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE’RE GOING TO CUT. I’M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW EFFICIENT WE’RE GOING TO MAKE YOUR DEPARTMENT. RIGHT. DO YOU NEED ALL THOSE PEOPLE? NOW, THIS MAY BE THE HARDEST THING IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, TRYING TO GET RID OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. I’M JUST CONVINCED WE DON’T NEED AS MANY AS WE HAVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER ADOPTED TECHNOLOGY. OF THE 20, YOU KNOW, THE 21ST CENTURY. AND SO I WOULD START DOING ALL OF THOSE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THE OTHER ONE IS I WOULD START A VOLUNTEER. I THINK AMERICANS AND YOUNG AMERICANS NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY IN SOME WAY. RIGHT. THEY HAVE THINK ABOUT THEIR LIFE NOW IS SO REMOVED EVEN FROM THEIR NEIGHBOR. AND, YOU KNOW, AS A YOUNG GUY GOING TO BOOT CAMP AND YOU WENT TO, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT IN THE NAVY VACATION. NOW, I JUST GET IT. I’M KIDDING. I’M GETTING IT. AND SO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE KIDS HAVE NEVER REALLY GONE. I SAY KIDS, THEY’RE YOUNG ADULTS, TOO. AND I GET IT. BUT THEY’VE NEVER BEEN REALLY REQUIRED TO GO AND DO SOMETHING THAT’S DIFFERENT FROM THEM. YOU SHOW UP IN THE ARMY AT BOOT CAMP. TRUST ME, YOU’RE EVERYBODY AROUND YOU IS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEY LOOK DIFFERENT. THEY CAME FROM ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES. YOU LEARN PRETTY FAST ABOUT THE VALUE OF AMERICA IN THOSE INSTANCES. WE’VE LOST THAT. AND SO I WOULD DO IT A COUPLE OF WAYS, AND I WOULD START EARLY ON THIS AND STARTING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. WE HAVE NOT MET OUR RECRUITING LEVELS FOR THE MILITARY, BY THE WAY, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT’S THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE ARMY DIVISION NOT RECRUITED. THINK OF THAT. THINK WHAT CHINA IS DOING. THINK WE’RE WE’RE AT THE LOWEST RECRUITMENT LEVEL WE’VE EVER HAD. AND SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THIS. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO IN THE ARMY OR THE NAVY OR THE AIR FORCE AND THE MARINES. THAT WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE FOR YOU TO. AND BY THE WAY, I BELIEVE IN THE GI BILL AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. BUT HOW ABOUT A READING CORE? AND I’M NOT I’M READING CORPS THAT THE GOVERNMENT MANAGES, BUT A READING CORPS THAT IS NOT FOR PROFITS MANAGE. SO YOU’RE GOING TO GO INTO PRISONERS AND YOU’RE GOING TO TAKE AN HOUR A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK. YOU WANT $10,000 OFF OF YOUR STUDENT LOAN. THAT’S GREAT. BUT YOU HAVE TO VOLUNTEER TO DO IT. AND YOU CAN SHOW UP AND YOU CAN GIVE SOMEBODY THEIR DIGNITY BACK BY WORKING WITH PRISONERS TODAY SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO GET THEM BACK FROM COMING BACK TO PRISON BECAUSE WE’RE GOING TO GIVE THEM TO READ. SAME WITH HIGH SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THINK OF THIS. THIS PROBLEM GOES THROUGH EVERY LEVEL OF EDUCATION, WHICH GRADUATED HALF OF ADULTS CAN’T READ AT SIXTH GRADE LEVEL OR GRADUATED LAST YEAR. THINK OF THAT. YOUNG ADULTS, WE’RE GOING TO TRY TO RECLAIM THEM. SO I DO I WOULD DO ALL OF THIS ALL AT THE SAME TIME. AND THESE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO. AND I’M POSITIVE WE CAN DO. AND I THINK MOST AMERICANS CAN GO, YOU KNOW, I COULD BE FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, I’M A DEMOCRAT AND I HATE REPUBLICANS. I COULD BE FOR THAT. I’M A REPUBLICAN. I HATE DEMOCRAT. I THINK I CAN BE FOR THAT. WE NEED A LITTLE MORE OF THAT IN AMERICAN POLITICS VERSUS I CAN’T WAIT TO SCORE A POINT AND MAKE A BUMPER STICKER AND THROW IT ON THE BACK OF MY CAR. RIGHT NOW, POLITICS HAS NOT SERVED US WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. COMES FROM KAREN ELMENDORF. HI, KAREN. HELLO, CONGRESSMAN. THANK YOU FOR BEING IN OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL STATE. WE HAVE GORGEOUS WE HAVE LEGIONS OF FAMILY MEMBERS TODAY WHO ARE CAREGIVER FAVORS FOR THEIR ELDER PARENTS OR THEIR GRANDPARENTS OR THEIR SIBLINGS OR THEIR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. IT IT GOES ON. AND IF YOU WERE ELECTED PRESIDENT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO. WHAT MEASURES WOULD YOU TAKE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAVING OUR NATION? $600 BILLION ANNUALLY? YEAH. AND HERE’S THE SECOND PART OF THAT, IF I MAY. IT TENDS TO BE WOMEN. WOMEN ARE CAREGIVERS. WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE YOUNG AND THEY’RE CAREGIVERS FOR THEIR PARENTS. I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT MY GENDER, BUT IT IS THE PREDOMINANTLY THAT BURDEN IS SHIFTED TO WOMEN. AND ONE OF THE OTHER. IT’S REALLY INTERESTING, WE’VE BEEN READING SOME OF THROUGH SOME OF THESE STUDIES ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THIS ECONOMICALLY, WHICH IS WHY IF YOU ARE A SINGLE WOMAN THAT’S IN YOUR 60, 7080S NINETIES, YOU’VE YOU HAVE REMOVED YOURSELF FROM THE WORKFORCE IN MANY CASES TO CARE FOR YOUR PARENTS, RIGHT? OR GRANDPARENTS OR YOUR OTHER SIBLINGS. AND IT’S HAD A HUGE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE FINANCES OF WOMEN IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS, IF I MAY. AND SO WE DON’T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE I DON’T HAVE THE ANSWER SITTING HERE FOR YOU TODAY. BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS WE’RE GOING TO CONVENE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST CLOSE TO THIS PROBLEM AND FIND A SOLUTION FOR THESE WOMEN. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR SAVINGS, YOU CAN YOU COULD DIRECTLY TIE IT TO SOME FAMILY EVENT THAT CAUSED THEM TO EITHER LEAVE THE WORKPLACE OR NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT GET ENOUGH SOCIAL SECURITY HOURS, WHATEVER THAT IS. AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR THEIR FINANCES GO DOWN. IT’S QUITE STARK. AND I’M A DATA DRIVEN GUY. MY ARGUMENT IS IF WE HAVE DATA THAT WE CAN SHOW THIS, WE WILL FIND A SOLUTION FOR IT. RIGHT. IT’S WE HAVE TO GET OVER THE EMOTION OF WHAT IT IS AND GET TO THE DATA OF IT. HOW DO WE DO THAT? I’M NOT AGAIN, I’M NOT SURE YET, BUT I KNOW THAT WE GET THE RIGHT DATA. WE’RE GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM LEONARD MORELL. HI, LEONARD. HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD, SIR. GREAT. MY QUESTION IS THIS. EVERY CANDIDATE STATE FOR THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS, WE’VE ALWAYS STARTED THIS WAY. TOO MANY EXECUTIVE ORDERS BEING USED. WE ARE AFRAID. YET THE FIRST THING THEY DO WHEN THEY GET IN OFFICE IS ISSUING EXECUTIVE ORDERS. ONE PRESIDENT MORE THAN NIXON. WHEN WAS THE FIRST EXECUTIVE ORDER YOU ISSUE? WELL, IT WOULD BE TO OPEN AGAIN. GETTING BACK TO THAT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, THEY CLOSE OFF A LOT OF THE ABILITY FOR THESE COMPANIES TO GET LEASES. I DON’T DO THAT. THAT WAS ALL DONE THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER. AND I’LL TELL YOU WHY THEY DO EXECUTIVE ORDERS. AND I’VE WATCHED EVERY PRESIDENT DO IT. EVEN WHEN I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. THEY GET SO FRUSTRATED WITH HAVING TO WORK WITH CONGRESS THAT THEY GO, F THE HECK WITH THIS. I KNOW I’M NOT GOING TO DO THIS AND I’LL DO THIS AND I’LL HAVE THIS IMPACT. AND THAT HAPPENS. I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN SEE THAT CHANGING ANY TIME SOON. OTHER THAN THIS. I THINK CONGRESS HAS ABDICATED ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR 30 YEARS. THEY KEEP DOING A LITTLE BIT OF BILLS AND THEN THROWING IT OVER TO THE RULES AND REGULATORY RIDERS. RIGHT. AND SO THE BILL IS TEN PAGES. THE RULES AND REGULATION ARE A THOUSAND PAGES. RIGHT. AND I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO READS ALL THAT. AND SO MY ARGUMENT IS CONGRESS NEEDS TO GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND. AND IF WE DID THAT, I THINK THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY BE PART OF THE SOLUTION VERSUS NOW I THINK THEY’RE PART OF THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHAIRMAN SHOULDN’T BE CHAIRMAN IF YOU CAN’T DO AN AUTHORIZATION BILL FOR WHATEVER DEPARTMENT YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. YOU GO DOWN THE LIST OF CHAIRMEN THAT ACTUALLY HAVE DONE AN AUTHORIZATION BILL, AND IT’S KIND OF THIS IS INSIDE BASEBALL. BUT IT MAKES CONGRESS RUN BETTER. IT MEANS YOU HAVE TO SIT IN A HEARING VERSUS GOING ON TV. BUT SITTING, HEARING AND YOU HAVE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY’RE ASKING THE SPEND THE MONEY ON, WHERE THEY’RE SPENDING, THE MONEY. AND SHOULD THEY BE SPENDING THE MONEY ON IT. THAT REALLY DOESN’T HAPPEN, THOUGH. IT ALL GETS PUSHED TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND THEY JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED? AND THAT’S WHAT THEY GIVE YOU. WHEN I DID THIS, I WAS THE FIRST AS THE CHAIRMAN. WE HADN’T HAD A REGULAR OPERATING BUDGET. IT WAS $78 BILLION. CAN YOU IMAGINE DOING THIS IN A BUSINESS AND YOU WOULDN’T BE IN BUSINESS VERY LONG, RIGHT? THEY DIDN’T HAVE A AN AUTHORIZATION BUDGET FOR THIS. SO WE WENT THROUGH WE WERE ABLE TO FIND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND WE DID THIS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY. BY THE WAY, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE WAR ON TERROR IN MONEY WE THOUGHT THAT WE COULD SAVE AND NOT NICK ANY MUSCLE OR BONE. RIGHT. BECAUSE REMEMBER, AT THAT TIME WE WERE JUST POOR. AND IF YOU SAID THE WORD TERRORIST, YOU GOT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SHOWED UP WITH WHEELBARROWS FULL OF CASH. RIGHT. AND IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION. RIGHT. WE WANTED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT WE WERE WASTEFUL. SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD DO IS TRY TO REENGAGE CONGRESS AND DOING THEIR JOB. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MANY BILLS THAT THEY ACTUALLY VOTE ON, THAT THEY’VE WORKED THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE PROCESS, NORMALLY IT’S THESE BIG GIANT, THEY CALL THEM OMNIBUS. I CAN EVEN SAY IT. THAT’S HOW CONFUSING IT IS. THESE MASSIVE BILLS, SPENDING BILLS, THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S IN THERE BECAUSE IT’S NEVER GOING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, REALLY. AND SO I WOULD I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU CAN’T YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THEY’RE THEIR OWN BRANCH. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING, SIT DOWN WITH THE DEPARTMENTS. THAT’S WHAT ACTUALLY HELPED THE PRESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES. IF YOU DO IT RIGHT. AGAIN, IF NOT, EVERYTHING IS I GOT TO CHOKE YOU OUT OVER EVERY POINT. BUT HEY, WE’RE GOING TO GET GOVERNMENT WORKING THE WAY IT’S SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR PEOPLE, NOT AGAINST PEOPLE. I BET YOU’D BE SURPRISED NOW. BEING A LEGISLATURE SHOULDN’T MEAN THAT YOU’RE ON TV THAT MUCH. YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY BE IN COMMITTEES. IT SHOULDN’T BE ALL THAT EXCITING. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE AND ARGUE OVER T’S AND PARAGRAPHS AND HOW MUCH AND WHEN AND NOT. THAT’S NOT AS EXCITING AS, YOU KNOW, GETTING A SAYING SOMETHING OUTRAGEOUS ON TWITTER AND HAVE A NEW, YOU KNOW, 100 NEW PEOPLE JUMP ON MY TWITTER ACCOUNT. BUT WE GOT TO GET BACK TO THAT AND WE REASON WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THAT AGAIN. WE HAVE THIS NEAR-PEER ADVERSARY MOVING OUT AND SAYING, I WANT A PIECE OF YOU. THAT’S CHINA. THEY WANT A PIECE OF OUR ECONOMY GOING FORWARD. WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THAT. SO THAT BEING SAID, I MIGHT SIGN ONE OR TWO EXECUTIVE ORDERS. WELL, CONGRESSMAN MIKE ROGERS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. YOU’RE HITTING THE 30 MINUTE MARK ON THE NOSE HERE, JUST LIKE THE OLD TV GUY THAT USED TO HOST THE SHOW. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. SO THANK YOU TO CONGRESSMAN ROGERS. THANK YOU TO YOU. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WATCHING ON OUR MOBILE APP AND WEBSITE. THIS HAS BEEN CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE WITH FORMER CONGRESSMAN MIKE ROGERS. YEAH. THANKS, EVERYBODY. THANKS FOR SPENDIN