Republican Senator Fires Off at Own Party
BERMAN: All right. This morning Senate Republicans are at a bit of crossroads on health care. The question is, move on or try to push ahead with possible fixes to the current system despite the failed repeal efforts. This is one of the many issues that could come up today when Senate leaders meet for their weekly luncheon. And will some Republicans say, move on, now. We have tried this. Other Republicans do want to go back to the drawing board.</s>SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI), BUDGET COMMITTEE: Well, we can't move on from health care because Obamacare is a mess.</s>MICK MULVANEY, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET: You have the political consideration that you promised folks you would do this for seven years. You cannot go back on that. So, yes, they need to stay. They need to work. They need to pass something. And I think that's not only official White House position on this right now. It's sort of the national attitude towards it.</s>HARLOW: Let's discuss. Republican Congressman Leonard Lance of New Jersey is here with us in the flesh, nice to have you here, not remotely somewhere. So, regardless of what you guys, what Congress does, what the president may do very shortly is threatening about five to six million Americans. And that is if you pull these subsidies from insurance companies that are part of Obamacare. They actually go to making health insurance somewhat affordable for five to six million Americans. He has threatened to do that. He has threatened to pull the funding away from you guys and Congress as well. What would you do if the president makes that choice?</s>REP. LEONARD LANCE (R), NEW JERSEY: I think we should fund that through the appropriations process. And I did not like the fact in the Obama administration it was not done through the appropriations process.</s>HARLOW: Which got a caught up in the courts.</s>LEONARD: And that is being mitigated in the courts. And I'm a member of the first branch of government, article one. And I think this involves the appropriations process. And we should appropriate the funds.</s>BERMAN: So, you will try to get the money if he pulls the money?</s>LEONARD: That's correct.</s>HARLOW: OK.</s>BERMAN: Let me ask you in general for health care right now. Because we set it up there, there is this discussion about whether or not Republicans should move on, you know go on to tax policy, go on to something else or you know dig in again and try to fix health care right now. Where are you?</s>LEONARD: I think we can do both. I want to move to tax reform. And I think in September, we should move to tax reform, John. However, I'm a member of what's known as the Problem Solvers Caucus. And we have put out a plan regarding the individual market. It's not a complete plan. But I hope that we examine that and it's completely bipartisan in the House of Representatives.</s>BERMAN: And it does, by the way, include these subsidies he's talking about right there, which is significant.</s>LEONARD: Yes.</s>HARLOW: So, I'm sure you read the front page of "The Washington Post" this morning and the story that the president himself dictated on Air Force One, this completely misleading statement about that meeting that his son Don Jr. had with the Russian attorney. Your response to that? Troublesome to you? If so, what level?</s>LEONARD: I was the first Republican on Capitol Hill to call for Jeff Sessions to recuse himself regarding the Russian matter. This is not being investigated by two very confident committees in Congress, the Senate Intelligence Committee, the House Intelligence Committee, and of course, obviously by Mr. Mueller as well. And I'm sure that we will get to the bottom of all this.</s>HARLOW: Yes but isn't that Jeff Flake just called out those kind of answers in his op-ed. Today, as you know, he said that sort of as Republicans not calling out the president on things that you do not agree with cannot continue. He said he's done it. So, how do you feel, personally, about the president dictating what we now know from this reporting that the White House is not countered - is misleading to the American people?</s>LEONARD: I try, Poppy, to lead by example and I always try to be truthful with the press.</s>HARLOW: You wouldn't do it?</s>LEONARD: I don't think I would do it, no.</s>BERMAN: Poppy brought up the Jeff Flake piece that was in "Politico" today, part of an essay, and he's running a whole book also, really which seems to setup questions as he has or Republican senator has right now about the Trump presidency. Let me just read you something that he writes. "Too often, we observe the unfolding drama along with the rest of the country, passively, all but saying, 'Someone should do something!' without seeming to realize that that someone is us." "And so, that unnerving silence in the face of an erratic executive branch is an abdication, and those in positions of leadership bear particular responsibility." You were talking about your role and the first branch of government as you put it. Do you think you and your fellow Republicans need to do more to stand-up to this White House?</s>LEONARD: We should stand-up where we think it's appropriate and we should support the president and we think that's appropriate as well. And I'm comfortable in doing both. I've indicated where I disagree with the president and I've indicated where I agree with him. But certainly, we are an independent and separate branch of the government. And we have constitutional responsibilities. And for example, we passed overwhelmingly last week the sanctions bill against Russia and Iran and North Korea. And I hope and expect the president will be signing that even though he indicated perhaps he would examine it. But I think Congress really stood up and indicated this is the policy that should exist here in the United States.</s>HARLOW: You say -- quickly to wrap up, it's appropriate. We should stand-up where appropriate and -- we're not appropriate. Where is it inappropriate for members of Congress to stand-up?</s>LEONARD: I agree with the president on certain of his policies, for example, on tax reform, I think we should move forward and other areas as well. I favored the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. And where appropriate I will support the president and where inappropriate, I will not.</s>BERMAN: Has his six months and I guess we're what, just short of 200 days in office for the president, has it gone like you thought it would?</s>LEONARD: I think that it's been a very challenging time. However, I do think that General Kelly will be excellent as chief of staff, so long as everyone in the White House can report to him. I think there can only be one chief of staff and that should be General Kelly.</s>BERMAN: Think or hope?</s>LEONARD: I think that General Kelly will be successful.</s>HARLOW: Thank you.</s>LEONARD: Thank you.</s>BERMAN: Congressman, great to have you here with us. Really appreciate it. All right, just days after its latest missile test, North Korea engaging with USS is highly unusual submarine activity. So, what does this mean for the president's vow to quote, "Handle North Korea." Stay with us.