1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,866 JUDY WOODRUFF: Few Republicans publicly disagree with President Trump on issues critical to 2 00:00:04,866 --> 00:00:06,933 his agenda. 3 00:00:06,933 --> 00:00:11,300 One of that very small group is Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has stood apart on 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,466 health care, one Supreme Court appointment, and the environment. 5 00:00:16,466 --> 00:00:21,133 Last week, she announced that she would not support the president's emergency declaration 6 00:00:21,133 --> 00:00:23,433 to fund a southern border wall. 7 00:00:23,433 --> 00:00:28,233 I sat down with Senator Murkowski earlier today, and began by asking her, why not? 8 00:00:28,233 --> 00:00:30,233 SEN. 9 00:00:30,233 --> 00:00:33,033 LISA MURKOWSKI (R), Alaska: So, the president has gone above and beyond what Congress has 10 00:00:33,033 --> 00:00:36,233 clearly indicated that they are willing to do. 11 00:00:36,233 --> 00:00:41,200 I have not supported the designation of a national emergency that would allow the president 12 00:00:44,500 --> 00:00:49,466 to basically go around the will and the intent of the Congress just laid out a matter of 13 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:54,566 weeks ago. 14 00:00:54,566 --> 00:00:58,500 I do think that there are sources that he can turn to that do not require emergency 15 00:00:59,866 --> 00:01:03,733 declaration, such as the Treasury Asset Forfeiture Fund. 16 00:01:03,733 --> 00:01:08,433 There is some ability within the counterdrug fund he can tap into. 17 00:01:08,433 --> 00:01:13,433 But when you use the National Emergencies Act to effectively expand executive powers 18 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:23,600 by legislative acquiescence, I think that sets a dangerous precedent, and I don't think 19 00:01:24,733 --> 00:01:26,700 that it's a path that we should take. 20 00:01:26,700 --> 00:01:29,766 JUDY WOODRUFF: But the president is saying it's entirely within his right as president 21 00:01:29,766 --> 00:01:31,866 of the United States to do this. 22 00:01:31,866 --> 00:01:35,800 In addition to that, he points to the fact that the number of people crossing that border 23 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:40,566 has more than doubled just in the month of February from what it was a year ago. 24 00:01:40,566 --> 00:01:43,833 It is something that's literally out of control. 25 00:01:43,833 --> 00:01:45,866 SEN. 26 00:01:45,866 --> 00:01:49,800 LISA MURKOWSKI: My concern is that, because the National Emergencies Act doesn't clearly 27 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,833 define the criteria, there is a gray area. 28 00:01:53,833 --> 00:01:57,533 So we know that this is going to be contested in the courts. 29 00:01:57,533 --> 00:02:02,500 And so the question is probably not, can he do it, but should he do it? 30 00:02:04,900 --> 00:02:09,433 Again, is this an expansion of that executive authority by way of encroachment on the legislative 31 00:02:14,100 --> 00:02:19,100 branch, which has those appropriating powers specifically designated to them? 32 00:02:21,633 --> 00:02:25,100 So, I think we can address fairly and honestly the issue, the crisis, as the president describes 33 00:02:27,966 --> 00:02:32,966 it, at the border using available funding opportunities without overstepping the constitutional 34 00:02:38,500 --> 00:02:40,533 lanes that have been very clearly defined. 35 00:02:40,533 --> 00:02:44,833 JUDY WOODRUFF: I want to broaden this out for a moment, because you -- not supporting 36 00:02:44,833 --> 00:02:46,933 the president on this. 37 00:02:46,933 --> 00:02:50,833 You have supported him this term, I guess, two-thirds of the votes that came up. 38 00:02:52,866 --> 00:02:55,433 Overall, I read it was 80 percent of the time you voted with President Trump, but you have 39 00:02:55,433 --> 00:03:00,433 also opposed him on significant moves, the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme 40 00:03:01,833 --> 00:03:04,300 Court, the attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 41 00:03:04,300 --> 00:03:06,866 There have been other important votes. 42 00:03:06,866 --> 00:03:11,400 You have carved out a place for yourself as a moderate Republican. 43 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,500 How hard is it to be a moderate Republican right now? 44 00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:16,033 SEN. 45 00:03:16,033 --> 00:03:19,700 LISA MURKOWSKI: I come from a pretty independent state. 46 00:03:19,700 --> 00:03:24,700 Alaskans are pretty opinionated, and we're not afraid to share our opinions. 47 00:03:26,633 --> 00:03:31,266 But we are a state that is very conservative, but also very, I think, broad and expansive 48 00:03:36,033 --> 00:03:41,033 in our way of thinking, a very diverse, eclectic, independent people. 49 00:03:43,033 --> 00:03:47,166 JUDY WOODRUFF: What do you think when you hear the criticism of many, if not most Republicans 50 00:03:49,100 --> 00:03:50,366 that they just don't have the backbone to stand up to this president? 51 00:03:50,366 --> 00:03:51,900 Do you think there's something to that? 52 00:03:51,900 --> 00:03:53,433 SEN. 53 00:03:53,433 --> 00:03:56,866 LISA MURKOWSKI: I can't put myself in the shoes of others. 54 00:03:56,866 --> 00:04:01,833 I do know that it is hard to go against your party, because you have folks that say, you 55 00:04:03,866 --> 00:04:08,700 are a Republican, you should always act as a Republican. 56 00:04:08,700 --> 00:04:13,233 My rejoinder to that is, I represent all Alaskans. 57 00:04:13,233 --> 00:04:18,233 It's a challenging thing to do, to try to represent that eclectic and very independent 58 00:04:20,666 --> 00:04:25,666 constituency, but I try to do what I believe is best, and to have that backbone to stand 59 00:04:30,433 --> 00:04:32,966 up to whomever or whatever. 60 00:04:32,966 --> 00:04:36,533 JUDY WOODRUFF: I want to ask you about something that is in the news right now, and that is 61 00:04:36,533 --> 00:04:41,533 this rapidly expanding congressional investigation into President Trump, his potential Russian 62 00:04:42,866 --> 00:04:47,033 ties, his businesses, potential obstruction of justice. 63 00:04:47,033 --> 00:04:52,033 The House Democrats have issued requests, summons for documents from scores the president's 64 00:04:55,533 --> 00:04:57,700 associates, even family members. 65 00:04:57,700 --> 00:05:00,200 Is it within their purview to be doing this? 66 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,366 Is this something that you think is appropriate? 67 00:05:02,366 --> 00:05:04,766 SEN. 68 00:05:04,766 --> 00:05:08,366 LISA MURKOWSKI: I understand full well that, when you have one body that is consumed, occupied, 69 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:16,800 to the exclusion of all else, on an effort to bring down a president, we don't get any 70 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:21,733 business done. 71 00:05:21,733 --> 00:05:26,733 And, in the meantime, the country suffers. 72 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:29,600 So we have got a job to do here. 73 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:34,333 Part of our job -- and I clearly respect the role of the oversight, but I also don't want 74 00:05:36,333 --> 00:05:40,533 us to lose sight of our obligations and our responsibilities as lawmakers to be ensuring 75 00:05:45,233 --> 00:05:48,766 that the business of the country is conducted. 76 00:05:48,766 --> 00:05:53,066 JUDY WOODRUFF: Should the White House be cooperating, or should they be, as they are, calling this 77 00:05:53,066 --> 00:05:54,066 a big fishing expedition? 78 00:05:54,066 --> 00:05:56,033 SEN. 79 00:05:56,033 --> 00:06:00,133 LISA MURKOWSKI: Well, I think if you have efforts by committees that are chasing things 80 00:06:02,233 --> 00:06:06,600 down a rabbit trail just to be obstreperous, just to frustrate and delay, that's not productive. 81 00:06:11,566 --> 00:06:12,733 JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, they argue it's legitimate. 82 00:06:12,733 --> 00:06:14,733 SEN. 83 00:06:14,733 --> 00:06:18,733 LISA MURKOWSKI: Keep in mind the authorities within certain committees. 84 00:06:20,166 --> 00:06:23,100 Does every committee need to be involved in this? 85 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:27,633 JUDY WOODRUFF: The last thing I want to ask you about is this -- your legislation dealing 86 00:06:27,633 --> 00:06:32,633 with public lands in this country, designating wilderness, addressing water conservation, 87 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:39,200 promoting purchasing of public lands, access to open spaces. 88 00:06:40,366 --> 00:06:43,400 It passed overwhelmingly just a few weeks ago. 89 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,900 What difference is it going to make with regard to public lands in this country? 90 00:06:46,900 --> 00:06:48,900 SEN. 91 00:06:48,900 --> 00:06:51,500 LISA MURKOWSKI: On the policy side of it, I think it's important to recognize that, 92 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:56,500 from the perspective of a conservation piece, permanent authorization of the Land and Water 93 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,900 Conservation Fund is significant, not only in how it will help to facilitate our federal 94 00:07:04,233 --> 00:07:09,233 lands, but also with the support that goes to the stateside programs, very significant 95 00:07:11,233 --> 00:07:14,000 for a place like Alaska, where we already have our share of federal lands. 96 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,866 But that support for stateside funding is very, very significant. 97 00:07:18,866 --> 00:07:23,866 So many parochial, small matters that would be considered so minor to us here in Washington, 98 00:07:27,300 --> 00:07:32,300 D.C., and yet for a small -- a small community in South Dakota, you're able to convey certain 99 00:07:34,633 --> 00:07:38,366 land, so an airport can have a small expansion. 100 00:07:38,366 --> 00:07:43,366 These allow for economies to thrive, for opportunities in places where opportunities are perhaps 101 00:07:46,233 --> 00:07:47,500 limited. 102 00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:49,533 It helps with our parks and access. 103 00:07:49,533 --> 00:07:51,466 It helps with sportsmen's issues. 104 00:07:51,466 --> 00:07:55,700 It helps with water management issues. 105 00:07:55,700 --> 00:07:57,800 It's pretty significant. 106 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:01,333 JUDY WOODRUFF: And how big a shift is it, in the sense that Republicans, who traditionally 107 00:08:01,333 --> 00:08:05,633 vote against expansion of public lands, voted for this? 108 00:08:05,633 --> 00:08:06,633 SEN. 109 00:08:06,633 --> 00:08:08,666 LISA MURKOWSKI: Fair enough. 110 00:08:08,666 --> 00:08:12,633 But, again, this is the beauty of something that is constructed in such a highly cooperative 111 00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:16,000 manner. 112 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,633 You have what is called compromise, the good old-fashioned legislative term of compromise. 113 00:08:21,166 --> 00:08:24,766 JUDY WOODRUFF: Senator Lisa Murkowski, thank you very much. 114 00:08:24,766 --> 00:08:25,966 SEN. 115 00:08:25,966 --> 00:08:26,100 LISA MURKOWSKI: Good to be with you.