Trump makes BOMBSHELL Iran claim as weekend deadline closes in. *YT Vid at link**

Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss President Donald Trump’s Iran talks, the Strait of Hormuz deadline and GOP support for a $200 billion Pentagon funding push.

Transcript (reformatted using a couple of different online gizmos)

Chapter 1: Trump’s Nuclear “Red Line” with Iran

>> President Trump: We’re in negotiations right now. They are doing along with Marco JD. We have a number of people doing it, and the other side I can tell you they would like to make deal number one, two, three. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. And in the going to have a nuclear weapon talking about that I don’t want to say in advance but they’ve agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon. They agreed to that.

Maria: Touting negotiations with Iran saying regime agreed to key demand will not overstep have a nuclear weapon. U.S. Iran preparing for round of negotiations with Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan taking the lead on efforts to broker a peace deal. This morning Pentagon announcing new defense deals aimed at ramping up U.S. munitions, agreements with BAE, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell to boost output. Plans reportedly underway to deploy troops to the Middle East from the 82nd Airborne Division. This Friday, a rapid response unit expected to arrive Friday with Mariners. Friday is President Trump oppose deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz. Michigan Congressman Lisa McClain, chairman House Respect Conference, good to see you.

Chapter 2: Rep. Lisa McClain on the $200B Pentagon Request

As you so much for being here, what are your thoughts on the status of this war? Are you going to support that Pentagon ask of 200 billion dollars to fund the operation?

>> Well, first of all, yes, I will support the ask. You know I will see it first, but as it stands, we have to support our troops. We have to support our men and women putting their lives in danger to keep Americans safe every day, so that is an easy one for me. I hope we don’t get boots on the ground. I think President Trump is peace through strength, and if anyone can broker a deal, it is President Trump. Just you look at what we’re talking about right now. We’re in the middle of peace talks. For 47 years, everyone says my goodness, stakes Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon, and everyone tiptoed around it. This president does anything but tip-toeing around. Look what he set out to do: military 47 ships at the bottom of the ocean, make sure they don’t have ballistic missile launchers. Pretty much decimated those. Look at MILS launched down dramatically. Third, make sure they don’t have a nuclear weapon. If anybody is going to get that done, I will. If you feel confidence, it’s going to be President Trump.

Maria: The administration sent a 15-point plan to Iran.

Chapter 3: The 15-Point Plan: Reopening the Strait of Hormuz

Now Israel’s Channel 12 is reporting that U.S. negotiators are working on a one-month ceasefire with Iran during which Tucson, Arizona held on 15 points. What else do you expect to happen to actually get the Strait of Hormuz open again? And feel like this weekend is going to be, I mean, interesting, given that we’re talking about Marines, 82nd Airborne troops going there to assist in opening the Strait.

>> Yeah. Look. I am proud to say some of our allies are actually helping out. I hope it doesn’t get to boots on the ground; that is a big hope. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to make sure that we can have trade through the Strait of Hormuz. Look at what is happening. The world is coming together for the very first time in a long, long time against terrorist states like Iran. It’s a good thing. If we want economic prosperity in that region, you had Jamie Dimon on your program; we have to have stability in that region. And I think this is one of the biggest steps that we’ve seen in a long time to have stability in that region. Maria: For sure. Yeah.

Chapter 4: Budget Reconciliation: Funding the Military & Border

Using a Second Reconciliation Bill to Fund Pentagon Request of 200 Billion Dollars Supplemental Money for Conflict
I want your take on the reconciliation conversation. You are also talking about potentially building legislation around new funding for immigration enforcement, and potentially the SAVE Act. What is the conversation right now about the reconciliation plans?

Yeah. All actions are on the table. Reconciliation is, as you know, really a tool for the Senate to make sure the Senate can pass a conservative agenda. I think all options are on the table. If the Senate is going to put us in a box, we are going to do reconciliation, and Chairman Arrington is working on that. Remember, we have a one-seat margin. It’s going to be a really narrow needle to thread, but we’ve been able to do that in the past. I am optimistic by nature, so listen, I think everybody wants to do the right thing to keep America safe, Americans safe, and put more money in their wallets at the same time. So I am optimistic we can get this done.

Maria: I know that in doing a reconciliation, it is about budgetary items. To put the SAVE Act in as a reconciliation plan doesn’t appear to fit the bill, but I am wondering if there are ways to do that. Your colleagues with me yesterday, Andy Barr said when talking about giving money to states to secure their elections, or Joni Ernst says you could put that circumstantial in a square. Your reaction, watch.

>> We do need to use the tool of reconciliation for all issues. I think we do have the makings of a potential deal to fund partial DHS.

Chapter 5: The SAVE Act: Using Budget Tools for Voter ID

Maria: You can’t put the Save America Act into the reconciliation plan, can you?

>> You have to recast it. You have to change it and make it into a budgetary issue.

>> How?

>> Obviously, it relates to funding of states to implement the provisions.

Maria: Oh, okay, there’s a way.

>> I think there are potential ways to get creative. If there is a way, we should procure the Save America Act, but we need to put Democrats on record.

Maria: There is an argument to be made if you are going to give money to states to institute secure elections, is that a budget item?

>> An interesting take. Part of the argument from democrats as well. People can’t afford to go through the process to get these ideas, blah, blah, you know, all the same old excuses. What if the federal government was to fund a voter id for them, a government issued id? So there are a number of ways we can be creative with this, and I am willing to explore those opportunities. Because I think this is that important.

Chapter 6: McClain Slams Hakeem Jeffries on Election Security

>> Congressman, what can you tell us?

>> I agree with both of my colleagues on that. We have to figure out a way to get the Save America Act through the Senate. We know the Democrats don’t want voter ID; they want illegals to vote. Hakeem Jeffries said that himself. Don’t put ICE agents at the polling stations. Well, why without ICE agents at polling stations? Hawk, keep in mind illegals don’t vote. Right? Hypocrisy!

What Americans are trying to do with the Save America Act is explore every option on the table to put this in reconciliation, because we know not getting any Democrats to say come our way. It’s an 80% issue for the American people. Figure out how to get to yes opposed to why we can’t do it. Put every option on the table.

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