WEBVTT 00:02.000 --> 00:04.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: We return now to the negotiations over border security spending and another 00:04.300 --> 00:06.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% looming federal government shutdown. 00:06.833 --> 00:11.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% For that, I spoke just a short time ago to Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota. 00:13.866 --> 00:17.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% He is the Senate majority whip, his party's second highest ranking position. 00:18.700 --> 00:20.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Senator Thune, thank you very much for joining us. 00:20.700 --> 00:24.733 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% So, first of all, how confident are you that President Trump is going to seen on to this 00:24.733 --> 00:25.733 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% agreement? 00:25.733 --> 00:27.200 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 00:27.200 --> 00:29.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% JOHN THUNE (R), South Dakota: Well, Good evening, Judy. 00:29.133 --> 00:33.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Pretty confident, but,you know, of course, until we actually have the final text, and 00:35.366 --> 00:37.400 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% the president comes out and says something definitively, I think we're just going to 00:37.400 --> 00:42.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% wait and let him make that announcement himself, but the indications are positive. 00:44.333 --> 00:47.666 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% I think that he probably realizes this is the best deal he could get under the circumstances. 00:48.833 --> 00:50.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And the negotiations have concluded. 00:50.900 --> 00:55.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% We have got to avoid another government shutdown, which would happen at midnight Friday, if 00:55.600 --> 00:57.733 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% this deal isn't agreed to. 00:57.733 --> 01:01.633 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% So I'm hopeful that the president will come around and at some point announce his intention 01:03.633 --> 01:06.366 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% to get behind this, but, like everybody else, he wants to see the details. 01:06.366 --> 01:10.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, as we all know, the president didn't get as much money as he wanted for 01:10.900 --> 01:14.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% a physical barrier, a wall. 01:14.133 --> 01:16.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And he's saying he's going to find that money elsewhere. 01:16.200 --> 01:20.200 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% How much other money is available to him, and from where? 01:20.200 --> 01:22.300 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 01:22.300 --> 01:24.933 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JOHN THUNE: I think that what they're talking about doing -- and, of course, this would 01:24.933 --> 01:29.933 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% be not in the context of an emergency declaration, which would be a different, entirely, conversation, 01:32.266 --> 01:35.466 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% but I think in terms of unobligated balances, reprogramming that could occur, that the administration 01:37.366 --> 01:40.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% could find, the dollars that they could move around a little bit, I'm not sure exactly 01:40.300 --> 01:42.400 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% what that number is. 01:42.400 --> 01:45.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% We have heard estimates, but I think it would significantly increase the amount that he 01:45.466 --> 01:47.566 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% could put toward border security. 01:47.566 --> 01:51.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% How much would go toward a wall, I don't know, but I think the hard number that we know about 01:51.600 --> 01:53.666 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% is the one that's in there. 01:53.666 --> 01:57.866 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And that's the 1.4 or thereabout billion dollars that he can use for the physical structure 01:59.000 --> 02:01.066 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% that would be along the border. 02:01.066 --> 02:03.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% But there's more to it, obviously, than that. 02:03.900 --> 02:07.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And I know that he's interested in getting as much funding as he can to build as much 02:07.833 --> 02:09.900 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% of that structure as possible. 02:09.900 --> 02:13.366 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, we have been hearing perhaps as much as a couple of billion dollars 02:13.366 --> 02:14.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% the president would be trying to find elsewhere. 02:14.966 --> 02:18.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Do you have any idea where the money could come from? 02:18.533 --> 02:20.500 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 02:20.500 --> 02:23.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JOHN THUNE: Well, there are several accounts that have been mentioned, and -- but, you 02:23.833 --> 02:27.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% know, I don't know exactly where they're talking about going to get it. 02:27.533 --> 02:32.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% There, of course, has been some talk about Defense Department dollars and perhaps being 02:33.500 --> 02:35.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% able to reprogram some of those. 02:35.766 --> 02:40.766 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% I think, in the end, to get significant amounts of money, he would probably use the emergency 02:41.500 --> 02:42.966 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% declaration. 02:42.966 --> 02:44.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I don't know exactly what he's going to do at this point. 02:44.333 --> 02:47.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And I think it's probably anybody's guess. 02:47.866 --> 02:51.833 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% But I know that his administration is looking carefully at these various accounts to try 02:51.833 --> 02:55.866 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% to determine if there are additional dollars that could be added to the amount that's going 02:55.866 --> 02:57.900 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% to be appropriated by Congress. 02:57.900 --> 03:02.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% How much that is and where exactly it comes from, I hate to at this point speculate about 03:02.533 --> 03:04.566 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% that. 03:04.566 --> 03:05.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Is that something congressional Republicans would support? 03:05.266 --> 03:07.333 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 03:07.333 --> 03:11.200 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JOHN THUNE: It depends a lot on where it comes from, and, again, and which authority he would 03:11.200 --> 03:13.300 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% use. 03:13.300 --> 03:16.066 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% A lot of our colleagues are very sympathetic to what the president's trying to accomplish. 03:16.066 --> 03:21.066 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They want to ensure that he has dollars to allocate to border security and to deal with 03:21.800 --> 03:23.833 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% the crisis there. 03:23.833 --> 03:27.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But, at the same time, you know, what authority gets used, where the dollars might be moved 03:29.500 --> 03:32.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% around from will have a lot to do with, I think, the kind of support that he might enjoy 03:33.466 --> 03:34.633 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% among Republicans in the Senate. 03:34.633 --> 03:37.100 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: Separate question, Senator. 03:37.100 --> 03:41.100 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% Do you see this agreement as expanding ICE detention, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 03:42.533 --> 03:44.300 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% and, if so, by how much? 03:44.300 --> 03:46.366 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 03:46.366 --> 03:49.966 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JOHN THUNE: I think -- and, of course, there have been a lot of discussion about the numbers, 03:49.966 --> 03:54.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% and both sides have talked about a slightly different number, but I think it's all in 03:54.300 --> 03:59.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% the ballpark of the 40,000 to 50,000 bed range, which would be comparable to what we have 04:01.233 --> 04:04.800 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% today, with some flexibility to go up maybe a little bit beyond that. 04:04.800 --> 04:07.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I have seen numbers in the range of 58,000 or so. 04:07.833 --> 04:12.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% I think the flexibility is important, but I think in terms of the overall amount that 04:15.366 --> 04:19.133 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% would be allocated toward detention of illegals who are here and criminal aliens in some cases, 04:21.033 --> 04:23.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% it is comparable to what we're looking at today. 04:23.400 --> 04:26.300 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: How much of a priority is that for you, Senator? 04:26.300 --> 04:27.833 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 04:27.833 --> 04:30.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% JOHN THUNE: Well, I think it's important that we not cap it. 04:30.233 --> 04:35.066 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% I was very concerned about the proposal the Democrats put forward that would have, in 04:35.066 --> 04:36.966 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% law, capped that amount. 04:36.966 --> 04:41.333 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% I think previous administrations have had the flexibility, based upon what the need 04:41.333 --> 04:46.333 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% is, to be able to move some money around and make sure that there's enough, you know, detention 04:47.200 --> 04:49.533 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% beds for that population. 04:49.533 --> 04:52.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And I think it's an issue that's a part of this discussion. 04:52.600 --> 04:57.600 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% I think, for a lot of our members, the physical structure, the barrier, is probably the number 04:59.533 --> 05:03.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% one priority, but this obviously is a close second in the minds of a lot of people. 05:03.466 --> 05:07.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Senator, still another subject, and that is Democrats are saying 05:07.033 --> 05:12.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% they would like to find money to give back pay to federal contract employees who were 05:13.233 --> 05:15.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% affected by the government shutdown. 05:15.833 --> 05:17.266 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% They are pushing for this. 05:17.266 --> 05:19.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Where do Republicans, where do you stand on that? 05:19.033 --> 05:21.066 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 05:21.066 --> 05:23.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JOHN THUNE: Well, I -- what I have maintained throughout this entire process is, when you 05:23.266 --> 05:26.633 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% have a government shutdown, nobody wins, and there are a lot of people who are harmed by 05:26.633 --> 05:28.733 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% that. 05:28.733 --> 05:30.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And you want to make sure that you do everything you can to make them whole. 05:30.233 --> 05:34.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And I guess I would include contractors in that group. 05:34.166 --> 05:37.700 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% The question, I guess, is how best to do that. 05:37.700 --> 05:42.700 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% People who enter into contracts with the government aren't always working, and would they have 05:43.400 --> 05:44.633 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% been working? 05:44.633 --> 05:46.633 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% What's the duration of some of those contracts? 05:46.633 --> 05:49.700 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% There are a lot of questions that I think have to be answered to figure out how you 05:49.700 --> 05:53.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% would reimburse or make whole government contractors. 05:53.566 --> 05:55.433 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% There is a reason they're contractors. 05:55.433 --> 05:57.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% They're not as federal employees. 05:57.000 --> 05:58.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% They're not full-time federal workers. 05:58.933 --> 06:02.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They are working on contract, and sometimes those contracts go in spurts. 06:02.833 --> 06:07.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% There may be times when they're heavily engaged in some activity on behalf of the federal 06:08.933 --> 06:11.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% government, but at other times they're not. 06:11.000 --> 06:13.700 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% So I think making those determinations makes this a little bit more this a little bit more 06:13.700 --> 06:18.700 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% complicated, but I think there is an interest certainly among a lot of members on both sides 06:20.666 --> 06:24.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% of the aisle in seeing that people who are - - depend upon the federal government and 06:25.500 --> 06:27.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% were harmed by the shutdown, that they be taken care of. 06:27.600 --> 06:29.566 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: So, Republicans would be open to the idea, you think? 06:29.566 --> 06:31.533 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 06:31.533 --> 06:32.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JOHN THUNE: Well, I think there are -- yes, I think there are Republicans who are open 06:32.600 --> 06:35.100 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% to that idea, yes. 06:35.100 --> 06:37.366 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And, finally, when do you think this could pass the Congress, if -- assuming 06:37.366 --> 06:38.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% it keeps moving as it is? 06:38.766 --> 06:40.800 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 06:40.800 --> 06:44.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JOHN THUNE: If we get the paperwork filed by late this afternoon or early evening, it 06:44.600 --> 06:47.766 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% would set up, I think, potentially votes tomorrow in the Senate. 06:47.766 --> 06:49.100 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% We could move first. 06:49.100 --> 06:50.366 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% The House could move first. 06:50.366 --> 06:52.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I don't think that's been determined yet. 06:52.400 --> 06:56.700 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But if the Senate did move first, you know, we have to have consent to do that. 06:56.700 --> 06:59.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And if we have consent, we could move fairly quickly and send it to the House, and they 06:59.900 --> 07:02.133 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% could process it sometime tomorrow. 07:02.133 --> 07:07.133 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But that assumes, again, that the paperwork gets wrapped up, and that they get the details, 07:09.133 --> 07:11.333 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% the actual legislative text, made available to members for them to have an opportunity 07:11.333 --> 07:12.566 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% to review. 07:12.566 --> 07:14.100 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And, hopefully, that will happen soon. 07:14.100 --> 07:15.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And then we wait to see what the president does. 07:15.733 --> 07:16.966 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 07:16.966 --> 07:18.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% JOHN THUNE: And then we will wait and see. 07:18.900 --> 07:19.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: All right, Senator John Thune, thank you very much. 07:19.600 --> 07:20.600 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% SEN. 07:20.600 --> 07:20.733 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% JOHN THUNE: Thanks, Judy.