Grassley unpacks the first week of the Trump administration with Maria Bartiromo

WASHINGTON .

Audio and excerpts of Grassley’s remarks follow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4M2MEX7IYC

VIDEO

On Trump’s actions to unleash American energy:

“I could say that all of (President Trump’s) actions in his first 48 hours (in office) are like a tornado through Washington, D.C. This city needs a shake-up, and I think he’s doing it.

“For decades I’ve always said, ‘The best energy program is everything above.’ “That means all the fossil fuels we need, all the alternative energy we can have, conservation and nuclear. And I think (Trump’s) went in that right direction. It’s going to have a very strong ripple effect through the entire economy …

“Every service, every product we buy has an energy component. If we have cheaper energy, we will be paid cheaper prices for almost everything. “

During the confirmation process:

“If (Democrats) don’t agree to unanimous consent to get a nomination, you have to have a separate voice to tell it and then you have unlimited debates. You must have 51 votes to stop the debate, and even after you have 51 votes to stop the debate, 30 hours of debate are possible afterward. If people don’t give that time back, most nominees extend to a two or three day process…

“This president has a popular mandate and an electoral mandate (that) he must (continue to deliver). Democrats should recognize this and let the Cabinet people get set up so that this mandate can get started very quickly. Until you get these closet people in their positions, this city isn’t moving as fast as it usually does.”

Upon reconciliation:

“If we have two big, beautiful bills, (President Trump) will still use the same adjectives, just one number will change. We’ll get the job done either way. I saw the president on Fox News (with Sean Hannity) and he made it clear he likes a bill, but he says, “One or two bills, as long as we get the job done, I’m fine with him.” … Our meeting at the White House with the Republican leadership of the House and Senate (this week) was a very productive meeting and helps take things very well. And that’s why I’m very confident that we can get this mandate delivered very quickly. “

On renewing the 2017 Trump tax cuts:

“I think the tax expansions will take a little longer. Of course, we in the Senate have to wait until the House passes a bill, according to the Constitution (approaches) tax laws. But we won’t sit around and wait for the house. We go back to September expecting a big Trump victory and have set up six working groups within Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee and we are doing well on the goals we want to achieve in the Senate bill. “

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