WEBVTT

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JUDY WOODRUFF: Few Republicans
publicly disagree with President
Trump on issues critical to

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his agenda.

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One of that very small group
is Senator Lisa Murkowski of
Alaska, who has stood apart on

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health care, one Supreme
Court appointment,
and the environment.

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Last week, she announced
that she would not
support the president's
emergency declaration

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to fund a southern border wall.

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I sat down with Senator
Murkowski earlier today, and
began by asking her, why not?

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI (R), Alaska: So,
the president has gone above
and beyond what Congress has

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clearly indicated that
they are willing to do.

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I have not supported
the designation of a
national emergency that
would allow the president

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to basically go around the will
and the intent of the Congress
just laid out a matter of

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weeks ago.

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I do think that there are
sources that he can turn to
that do not require emergency

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declaration, such as the
Treasury Asset Forfeiture Fund.

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There is some ability
within the counterdrug
fund he can tap into.

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But when you use the National
Emergencies Act to effectively
expand executive powers

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by legislative acquiescence,
I think that sets a dangerous
precedent, and I don't think

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that it's a path
that we should take.

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JUDY WOODRUFF: But the president
is saying it's entirely
within his right as president

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of the United States to do this.

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In addition to that, he points
to the fact that the number
of people crossing that border

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has more than doubled just
in the month of February
from what it was a year ago.

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It is something that's
literally out of control.

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI: My concern
is that, because the National
Emergencies Act doesn't clearly

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define the criteria,
there is a gray area.

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So we know that this is going
to be contested in the courts.

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And so the question is
probably not, can he do
it, but should he do it?

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Again, is this an expansion
of that executive authority
by way of encroachment
on the legislative

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branch, which has those
appropriating powers
specifically designated to them?

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So, I think we can address
fairly and honestly the
issue, the crisis, as
the president describes

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it, at the border using
available funding opportunities
without overstepping
the constitutional

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lanes that have been
very clearly defined.

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JUDY WOODRUFF: I want to
broaden this out for a moment,
because you -- not supporting

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the president on this.

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You have supported him this
term, I guess, two-thirds
of the votes that came up.

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Overall, I read it was
80 percent of the time
you voted with President
Trump, but you have

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also opposed him on significant
moves, the nomination of
Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme

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Court, the attempt to repeal
the Affordable Care Act.

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There have been other
important votes.

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You have carved out a
place for yourself as
a moderate Republican.

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How hard is it to be a
moderate Republican right now?

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI: I come from
a pretty independent state.

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Alaskans are pretty
opinionated, and we're not
afraid to share our opinions.

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But we are a state that is very
conservative, but also very,
I think, broad and expansive

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in our way of thinking,
a very diverse, eclectic,
independent people.

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JUDY WOODRUFF: What do you think
when you hear the criticism of
many, if not most Republicans

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that they just don't have
the backbone to stand
up to this president?

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Do you think there's
something to that?

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI: I can't put
myself in the shoes of others.

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I do know that it is hard to
go against your party, because
you have folks that say, you

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are a Republican, you should
always act as a Republican.

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My rejoinder to that is,
I represent all Alaskans.

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It's a challenging thing to
do, to try to represent that
eclectic and very independent

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constituency, but I try to do
what I believe is best, and
to have that backbone to stand

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up to whomever or whatever.

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JUDY WOODRUFF: I want to ask
you about something that is in
the news right now, and that is

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this rapidly expanding
congressional investigation
into President Trump,
his potential Russian

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ties, his businesses, potential
obstruction of justice.

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The House Democrats have issued
requests, summons for documents
from scores the president's

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associates, even family members.

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Is it within their
purview to be doing this?

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Is this something that
you think is appropriate?

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI: I understand
full well that, when
you have one body that
is consumed, occupied,

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to the exclusion of all else,
on an effort to bring down a
president, we don't get any

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business done.

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And, in the meantime,
the country suffers.

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So we have got a job to do here.

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Part of our job -- and I
clearly respect the role of the
oversight, but I also don't want

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us to lose sight of
our obligations and
our responsibilities as
lawmakers to be ensuring

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that the business of the
country is conducted.

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JUDY WOODRUFF: Should the
White House be cooperating,
or should they be, as
they are, calling this

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a big fishing expedition?

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI: Well, I think if
you have efforts by committees
that are chasing things

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down a rabbit trail just
to be obstreperous, just
to frustrate and delay,
that's not productive.

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JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, they
argue it's legitimate.

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI: Keep
in mind the authorities
within certain committees.

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Does every committee need
to be involved in this?

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JUDY WOODRUFF: The last thing
I want to ask you about is this
-- your legislation dealing

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with public lands in this
country, designating wilderness,
addressing water conservation,

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promoting purchasing of public
lands, access to open spaces.

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It passed overwhelmingly
just a few weeks ago.

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What difference is it going
to make with regard to
public lands in this country?

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI: On the policy
side of it, I think it's
important to recognize that,

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from the perspective of
a conservation piece,
permanent authorization
of the Land and Water

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Conservation Fund is
significant, not only
in how it will help to
facilitate our federal

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lands, but also with the support
that goes to the stateside
programs, very significant

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for a place like Alaska,
where we already have our
share of federal lands.

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But that support for
stateside funding is
very, very significant.

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So many parochial, small matters
that would be considered so
minor to us here in Washington,

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D.C., and yet for a small -- a
small community in South Dakota,
you're able to convey certain

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land, so an airport can
have a small expansion.

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These allow for economies
to thrive, for opportunities
in places where
opportunities are perhaps

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limited.

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It helps with our
parks and access.

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It helps with
sportsmen's issues.

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It helps with water
management issues.

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It's pretty significant.

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JUDY WOODRUFF: And how big a
shift is it, in the sense that
Republicans, who traditionally

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vote against expansion of
public lands, voted for this?

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI: Fair enough.

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But, again, this is the beauty
of something that is constructed
in such a highly cooperative

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manner.

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You have what is called
compromise, the good
old-fashioned legislative
term of compromise.

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JUDY WOODRUFF: Senator Lisa
Murkowski, thank you very much.

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SEN.

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LISA MURKOWSKI:
Good to be with you.