Watch and Learn - Rep. Chris Deluzio & Rep. Pat Ryan on Stronger Dem Leadership & Supporting Veterans

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Thank you for coming. We want to have

Thank you for coming We want to have

you guys on. It's Veterans Day is

you guys on It's Veterans Day is

tomorrow and we wanted to see you guys.

tomorrow and we wanted to see you guys

Uh uh I did also I'd be remiss by asking

you guys uh

the Senate caved. The House Democrats

the Senate caved The House Democrats

did not.

did not

>> No.

>> No

>> Is there any kind of I don't know where

you guys connect in the whatever

representatives gym or that kind of

thing like

When you walk by Schumer, is there ever

When you walk by Schumer is there ever

any, you know, You know,

any you know You know

>> there may be a little more this week.

>> there may be a little more this week

>> All right.

>> All right

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah

>> How now h the House has not been in

session at all since the shutdown?

session at all since the shutdown

>> It's been like seven seven weeks.

>> It's been like seven seven weeks

Pathetic.

Pathetic

>> Have you Have you guys spent your time

in Washington or just back in your

districts?

districts

>> Back and forth. And we're on the Armed

>> Back and forth And we're on the Armed

Services Committee, so we've had some

Services Committee so we've had some

work to do down there, but we haven't

work to do down there but we haven't

had vote since the middle of September.

had vote since the middle of September

No votes.

No votes

>> No votes.

>> No votes

>> And you know, the big obviously the

>> And you know the big obviously the

conspiracy theory is, oh, Mike Johnson

conspiracy theory is oh Mike Johnson

doesn't want to swear in uh the

representative who uh was from Arizona

because that's the vote that uh makes it

so that they have to then vote on

releasing the the Epstein files. Is that

releasing the the Epstein files Is that

I mean that's

or or is that is that pl you don't have

to answer this

>> 100%.

>> 100

>> It's plausible.

>> It's plausible

>> More than plausible. They're waiting to

>> More than plausible They're waiting to

run out the clock. There's another

run out the clock There's another

special election happening in Tennessee.

special election happening in Tennessee

And if that guy gets sworn in with

Adalita Ghava from Arizona, then it

Adalita Ghava from Arizona then it

neutralizes the numbers. So, they are

neutralizes the numbers So they are

running. Yes. Agree. Agree to that.

running Yes Agree Agree to that

>> You guys are like

>> some sort of weird oldtimey Greek

chorus.

chorus

They're like It's like in a a Peanuts

cartoon where every now and then you cut

to the audience and they're like, "Yay!"

to the audience and they're like Yay

Blue. Yeah.

Blue Yeah

I want Let me ask you this.

I want Let me ask you this

How surprised were you? How taken off

How surprised were you How taken off

guard were were you by the developments

of this weekend uh from the Senate? Did

of this weekend uh from the Senate Did

Did it take you off guard?

Did it take you off guard

>> I wish I could say it did. And yet, I

>> I wish I could say it did And yet I

think this is what we've come to expect

from this leadership and from what the

Senate's been doing. They did not stand

Senate's been doing They did not stand

their ground and it's a deal that I

think it's a bad deal. I think it's

think it's a bad deal I think it's

weak.

weak

>> It doesn't even seem like a deal. It

>> It doesn't even seem like a deal It

seems like a nothing.

seems like a nothing

>> It's pathetic. I mean, I literally have

>> It's pathetic I mean I literally have

folks in my district getting uh letters

in the mail. Their premiums are

in the mail Their premiums are

doubling, tripling, and and they are

doubling tripling and and they are

like folks understand actually what's

happening. I've had many folks just last

happening I've had many folks just last

weekend home say thank like hold your

ground,

ground

>> right?

>> right

>> Hold your ground. We know this is hard.

>> Hold your ground We know this is hard

We know it's complicated, but we we

We know it's complicated but we we

literally cannot afford to pay triple. I

literally cannot afford to pay triple I

mean, it's already way too high as it

mean it's already way too high as it

is. So,

is So

>> and what gives them any confidence that

the Republicans will all of the sudden

go like, "Oh, okay. You reopen it. So,

go like Oh okay You reopen it So

now we're going to reach across the

aisle in bipartisan agreement. They

aisle in bipartisan agreement They

haven't done it once. Uh they've run the

haven't done it once Uh they've run the

table. You know, 74 75 million Americans

table You know 74 75 million Americans

voted for the Democrats. They have zero

voted for the Democrats They have zero

representation in Senate, House,

representation in Senate House

Judiciary, and Executive. You guys in

Judiciary and Executive You guys in

the House, it's the closest that I can

the House it's the closest that I can

remember it being. And yet, you're not

remember it being And yet you're not

allowed to bring up any votes, don't

allowed to bring up any votes don't

have any committee chairmanships. It's

have any committee chairmanships It's

unconscionable. And there's not even an

unconscionable And there's not even an

agreement to have a vote in the House.

agreement to have a vote in the House

Even if they had this agreement, there's

Even if they had this agreement there's

going to be a vote in the Senate. It's

going to be a vote in the Senate It's

somehow passed. There is nothing making

somehow passed There is nothing making

Mike Johnson give us a vote on that to

extend the tax credits. To me, I mean,

extend the tax credits To me I mean

that that on its own tells you this is a

weak deal for something we were fighting

for our constituents and their

healthcare. And I think we both learned,

healthcare And I think we both learned

me and the superior service of the army,

me and the superior service of the army

uh, the Navy guy, him and the Navy.

uh the Navy guy him and the Navy

>> You have no idea what was going on

backstage between these two.

backstage between these two

>> We got We got Army giving me swag on

Army. We got Navy giving me swag on

Army We got Navy giving me swag on

Army. I turn around, noogies, headlocks.

Army I turn around noogies headlocks

It was terrible.

It was terrible

>> We both learned when in charge, take

>> We both learned when in charge take

charge,

charge

>> right? And I strongly disagree with

>> right And I strongly disagree with

everything that the Republicans are

doing. But at least they understand when

doing But at least they understand when

you have power, use it.

you have power use it

>> Right

>> now, they're using it for evil. They're

>> now they're using it for evil They're

using it truly for evil,

using it truly for evil

>> right?

>> right

>> But we have to understand, I think we

>> But we have to understand I think we

get this. A lot of our younger

get this A lot of our younger

colleagues, frankly, get this.

colleagues frankly get this

>> When in charge, take charge. Like, let's

>> When in charge take charge Like let's

be clear what we're against, but also

be clear what we're against but also

make clear what we're going to fight for

when we're back. And when it's going to

when we're back And when it's going to

be when when we're going to be back in

charge.

charge

I don't doubt that for a second.

I don't doubt that for a second

The the

what astonishes me I think the space was

created for Donald Trump because of the

disconnect between

the sort of insulated world of

Washington. The disconnect between the

Washington The disconnect between the

lawmakers and the needs of the people

they purport to represent. I think that

they purport to represent I think that

gap is what allowed his rise, that

gap is what allowed his rise that

dissatisfaction.

dissatisfaction

To see these uh folks in Senate

leadership not understand that,

leadership not understand that

honestly, I think might be the most

honestly I think might be the most

shocking part of of this equation and

and does the leadership in the House

understand that? Are do you deal with

understand that Are do you deal with

the Senate at all?

the Senate at all

>> Look, our states are both different,

>> Look our states are both different

right? And so there's some of it.

right And so there's some of it

Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, New York,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania New York

>> but both swing state. You you guys are

>> but both swing state You you guys are

not in deep blue areas.

not in deep blue areas

>> Our districts now we're in some of our

most competitive. Yeah.

most competitive Yeah

>> Right.

>> Right

>> The majority in the House runs through

whether we can hold and win in these

districts. And we do. And by the way, we

districts And we do And by the way we

know how to win in tough districts.

know how to win in tough districts

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah

>> But

they're the the theory of their case, as

they're the the theory of their case as

far as I can tell, is people like you

far as I can tell is people like you

will lose if you stand your ground on

principle. that you have to be the

principle that you have to be the

so-called moderate centrist that is

going to reach across the aisle, not

going to reach across the aisle not

realizing they didn't reach across the

aisle. They surrendered across the

aisle They surrendered across the

aisle.

aisle

>> I don't know any constituents of ours

that want us to just wilt. They want us

that want us to just wilt They want us

to stand our ground for something that

matters and our health care of our of

our region and yours. Like people's

our region and yours Like people's

healthcare is a real thing that is

bankrupting families. They're going to

bankrupting families They're going to

roll the dice on buying a paying for a

policy they may not be able to afford,

policy they may not be able to afford

>> right? or maybe shown up in the

>> right or maybe shown up in the

emergency room because they skipped out

on healthcare, right? That is something

on healthcare right That is something

they want us to fight for and we have

been. And to see what happened on the

been And to see what happened on the

other the other side in the Senate is

just it's it's weak.

just it's it's weak

>> And I think like there's this old theory

of left, right, progressive, centrist,

of left right progressive centrist

moderate. It's

moderate It's

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah

>> People want to know, are you going to

>> People want to know are you going to

actually fight for me when it matters or

are you going to cave? And that that is

are you going to cave And that that is

the thing that matters, especially in

the thing that matters especially in

this moment. But the folks that have

this moment But the folks that have

been in the bubble of DC for longer than

some of us have been around, uh, they

some of us have been around uh they

don't

>> longer than even I've been around.

>> longer than even I've been around

>> I I'll be honest with you, I could go

>> I I'll be honest with you I could go

down there and kick their asses

physically.

physically

>> Well, and

>> Well and

>> many of them are hollow like birds.

>> many of them are hollow like birds

>> If if you'll allow me, I think,

>> If if you'll allow me I think

>> please.

>> please

>> And and you have and I actually like

coming into Veterans Day tomorrow.

coming into Veterans Day tomorrow

>> Yeah. I just want to like personally

>> Yeah I just want to like personally

your fight for the PACE act. You came

your fight for the PACE act You came

down and destroyed Ted Cruz just shamed

shamed those Republicans.

shamed those Republicans

And I'm telling you, I I had not both of

And I'm telling you I I had not both of

us had toxic exposures in our service.

us had toxic exposures in our service

>> Oh, really?

>> Oh really

>> And I had not gone to the VA for over a

decade. And when the Pacted Act finally

decade And when the Pacted Act finally

passed

>> Oh, wow.

>> Oh wow

>> it it it really meant a lot to me. It

>> it it it really meant a lot to me It

meant a lot to you know a million

veterans signed up after that bill and

I'm telling you it would not have

happened. It's a fantastic program and

happened It's a fantastic program and

and are they and thank you both for for

signing up for that good because that's

the thing and veterans I think

understand this in a way that maybe some

of the legislators don't because when

you guys came home the idea that you had

to fight for benefits that you had

earned a lot of Americans are all of the

sudden realizing oh

the government is antagonistic

not just agnostic to my needs,

not just agnostic to my needs

antagonistic.

antagonistic

And that's something that I think I I

found with the veteran communities, it

found with the veteran communities it

was really dispiriting for them. And I

was really dispiriting for them And I

don't know if you guys felt that way,

don't know if you guys felt that way

but that the government's antagonistic.

but that the government's antagonistic

>> Well, and look, it's not just it's tough

>> Well and look it's not just it's tough

to get into the VA and the PAC Act made

that better. And I echo what Pat said.

that better And I echo what Pat said

Thank you for your work to help make it

happen. You know, a lot of politicians

happen You know a lot of politicians

who voted to send guys like us to places

like Iraq

spending trillions all of a sudden want

to count pennies when it's time to care

for the veterans they sent to fight.

for the veterans they sent to fight

>> Man,

>> Man

>> and you know,

>> and you know

>> and it's look, it's a lot of the

>> and it's look it's a lot of the

politicians we are battling with now in

Washington, right, are people who wrap

Washington right are people who wrap

themselves in the flag and they're, you

themselves in the flag and they're you

know, the chicken hawks and the draft

know the chicken hawks and the draft

dodgers vote for a war and then won't

vote to fund the healthcare for the guys

they sent to fight. That's who we're up

they sent to fight That's who we're up

against.

against

>> It's It's wild. It must be frustrating.

>> It's It's wild It must be frustrating

So, and this is interesting for you guys

So and this is interesting for you guys

because you are in those swing

districts. You guys serve the idea that

districts You guys serve the idea that

somehow uh Democrats have to prove their

love of country versus this sort of

paper patriotism that I see on the

right. It's performative oftent times

right It's performative oftent times

and and the idea that the onus is on you

guys. Do you feel that as well?

guys Do you feel that as well

I mean, I I think people on the right

I mean I I think people on the right

who we run against and who fund

elections against us would have that. I

elections against us would have that I

I know both of us, we take no lecture

I know both of us we take no lecture

anyone who number one tried to overthrow

the government in January 6th. Right.

the government in January 6th Right

>> Okay.

>> Okay

>> Sure.

>> Sure

>> I mean, and

>> I mean and

>> a little blip. A little blip.

>> a little blip A little blip

>> Which the vast majority of them did.

>> Which the vast majority of them did

>> Right. Right.

>> Right Right

>> And we serve with people who I think are

are oath breakers who were part of

trying to overthrow the Constitution.

trying to overthrow the Constitution

>> Right. There's a guy in Pennsylvania, a

>> Right There's a guy in Pennsylvania a

member of Congress who was central to

that scheme, voted against certifying

that scheme voted against certifying

the results in Pennsylvania, a

the results in Pennsylvania a

congressman named Scott Perry who went

on some radio interview and said that

Democrats hate the military. Said the

Democrats hate the military Said the

guys and gals who served who then go

into elected office did it for just a

credential is an oath breaker. So we

credential is an oath breaker So we

don't take a lecture from patriotism on

guys like that. No way.

guys like that No way

>> Let me ask you a question.

>> Let me ask you a question

when

when you're on the retreat uh for

Pennsylvania House of Representative

lawmakers and you guys are

in the tents at night

does that h how personal does this get?

does that h how personal does this get

Is it hard when you have somebody that

that's saying something like that along

you and and your feelings about that are

clear? How personal have these divisions

clear How personal have these divisions

gotten?

gotten

I think probably in olden days you'd,

I think probably in olden days you'd

you know, have a scotch and work it out.

you know have a scotch and work it out

Well, I decided I'm going to the guys

Well I decided I'm going to the guys

district holding a press conference and

I'm coming for a seat.

I'm coming for a seat

>> So, that's that's that's the way to run.

>> So that's that's that's the way to run

Now, let's get to some of the

Now let's get to some of the

priorities.

priorities

I'm fascinated now that, you know, so

I'm fascinated now that you know so

much of the talk about these programs,

much of the talk about these programs

whether it be SNAP program or these

things that for the most part are people

that work jobs or are elderly or are

disabled or are children

>> and veterans

>> and veterans. The vast majority are that

>> and veterans The vast majority are that

there's a very small percentage, some

there's a very small percentage some

say 5%, 6% of able-bodied Americans who

say 5 6 of able-bodied Americans who

are getting these things, but we don't

are getting these things but we don't

know what their situation is. It could

know what their situation is It could

be felons who have trouble getting work.

be felons who have trouble getting work

Whatever it is,

Whatever it is

that seems to be for them the core of

their this is the tragedy of this

country is these moochers and this is

the waste, fraud, and abuse in America

the waste fraud and abuse in America

and this is what we have to stop. Yet

and this is what we have to stop Yet

they hand a trillion dollars to a

defense department that's never passed

an audit and the rank and file that you

guys know this suffer from oftentimes

food insecurity themselves that are

serving in the military. How the does

serving in the military How the does

that compute?

that compute

>> It doesn't

>> for veterans. We have tens of thousands

>> for veterans We have tens of thousands

of active duty service members and

millions of veterans on SNAP food stamps

right now in the United States of

America. Number one. Number two, as we

America Number one Number two as we

speak, the president of the United

speak the president of the United

States is actively suing in the Supreme

Court to block food going to those

veterans and 42 million Americans, one

veterans and 42 million Americans one

in eight people.

in eight people

>> And they're the patriots.

>> And they're the patriots

>> They're the ones that stand up for

liberty and justice for all. It is

liberty and justice for all It is

>> Complete

>> The whole thing is so mindboggling.

>> The whole thing is so mindboggling

>> How

what is the pressure, you know, in terms

what is the pressure you know in terms

of that military budget? Like what is

of that military budget Like what is

the where's the pressure come? Is it

the where's the pressure come Is it

defense contractors? Who is it that lays

defense contractors Who is it that lays

the hammer on everybody to get these

things through?

things through

>> Well, look, there's very little

>> Well look there's very little

competition. There used to be 51 prime

competition There used to be 51 prime

defense contractors, but back in the

defense contractors but back in the

90s, there are five now.

90s there are five now

>> Five.

>> Five

>> Five. Okay. And I could cite, we could

>> Five Okay And I could cite we could

spend the whole night talking about

different ways we get gouged. Let's take

different ways we get gouged Let's take

the C17. Okay. Transport aircraft.

the C17 Okay Transport aircraft

>> Sure.

>> Sure

>> Soap dispensers. The report that we saw

>> Soap dispensers The report that we saw

7,900%

7900

markup on soap dispensers. Okay. So,

markup on soap dispensers Okay So

imagine what happened with everything

else.

else

>> I have flown on a C17. My hands were

>> I have flown on a C17 My hands were

never cleaner.

never cleaner

>> But you multiply. Think about the cost

>> But you multiply Think about the cost

that we are all paying for that.

that we are all paying for that

>> Here's the crazy thing about a C7 and

you guys know like it's this giant cargo

plane and you fly in it and there's no

like they didn't put up paneling like

sound. Like we went on a USO tour in a

sound Like we went on a USO tour in a

C7 and they were like, you know, bring a

C7 and they were like you know bring a

a winter coat and shorts. Like they said

a winter coat and shorts Like they said

the weather changes in a C7 depending on

the altitude you're at.

the altitude you're at

>> I never even know you knew you could

actually use the bathroom in a like I

never had. What were you doing? I held

never had What were you doing I held

it. I mean, but you you you hit on

it I mean but you you you hit on

something else though, John, which is

something else though John which is

that it is a corrupt system.

that it is a corrupt system

>> Yes.

>> Yes

>> It there are these five companies have

tremendous power of of their purse uh

after Citizens United in particular.

after Citizens United in particular

They pour money in and both of us have

refused to take corporate pack money for

this exact reason

>> and and it puts you in a disappearance.

>> and and it puts you in a disappearance

>> Well, it doesn't though. Honestly, it

>> Well it doesn't though Honestly it

doesn't because one, we can both sleep

doesn't because one we can both sleep

at night and know we're doing the right

thing, but two, our constituents

thing but two our constituents

actually understand how corrupt the

system is, right?

system is right

>> And they want leaders that are going to

actually stand up to that. So when I

actually stand up to that So when I

mean, I actually remember in the Armed

mean I actually remember in the Armed

Services Committee uh two years ago, the

Services Committee uh two years ago the

F-35 jet program is probably the biggest

boondoggle of my

>> life.7 trillion.

>> life7 trillion

>> It's insane. And their operational

>> It's insane And their operational

readiness rate is like 30%.

readiness rate is like 30

And so a bunch of us younger members and

it was actually it was bipartisan uh all

veterans who had served were saying this

is crazy. We have to get leverage on

is crazy We have to get leverage on

Loheed Martin who's the company. Uh the

Loheed Martin who's the company Uh the

amount of like swarm of lobbyists that

descended on us as we tried to ram

through this amendment and we didn't

succeed in getting it through because we

just got overwhelmed. Now we've

just got overwhelmed Now we've

continued the fight but that's just one

example.

example

>> Now what was the amendment attempting to

do? So it's specifically saying, and

do So it's specifically saying and

this is the crazy part, we pay them

this is the crazy part we pay them

trillions of dollars and Loheed Martin

keeps the intellectual property for the

stuff that our tax dollars pay for. So

stuff that our tax dollars pay for So

all the amendment did was say, we're

all the amendment did was say we're

paying you an ungodly amount of money.

paying you an ungodly amount of money

We Americans should own the intellectual

property that we're paying you for. And

property that we're paying you for And

that was not able to be passed through.

that was not able to be passed through

>> This is it's like the worst episode of

Shark Tank ever.

Shark Tank ever

What What do I get for the trillion? I

What What do I get for the trillion I

I'm asking for a trillion dollars for my

company and you don't get anything.

company and you don't get anything

>> Yeah. Yes.

>> Yeah Yes

>> You get planes that don't actually work

and you don't own them.

and you don't own them

>> And like this problem is a it plays out

on a bunch of systems and you name it

where the troops can't even fix their

own stuff because of these contracts

where it's got to be repaired by the

company or their subcontractor. It costs

company or their subcontractor It costs

the public a lot of money. It hurts

the public a lot of money It hurts

readiness for the troops because they

again they can't fix stuff that they

would know how to do because of these

contracts. So this this Veterans Day

contracts So this this Veterans Day

coming up, instead of anything

coming up instead of anything

performative, what what do you want to

performative what what do you want to

say to the American people? What do you

say to the American people What do you

ask of the American people for for those

that have been uh brave enough to sign

up to take that oath to do that, those

up to take that oath to do that those

who are doing it actively and those who

have have done it in the past? What what

have have done it in the past What what

would you say?

would you say

>> Look, stand solid for a strong and

>> Look stand solid for a strong and

funded VA that is there to take care of

veterans for care that we have all

earned, for those benefits that we've

earned for those benefits that we've

earned. Let's make sure the VA is strong

earned Let's make sure the VA is strong

and there for veterans all over the

country.

country

>> Right.

>> Right

>> And you

agree with that. And I have to say Trump

agree with that And I have to say Trump

ran on

supporting and helping veterans

and on ending the forever wars. Right?

and on ending the forever wars Right

He has done the 180°ree opposite. He has

He has done the 180°ree opposite He has

fired 80,000 people at the VA. in my own

fired 80000 people at the VA in my own

VA, 20 beds closed that deal with mental

VA 20 beds closed that deal with mental

health crisis and addiction recovery

closed that we've been fighting for to

to get reopened. And that, you know, and

to get reopened And that you know and

that happened, I know in Pittsburgh, it

that happened I know in Pittsburgh it

happened around the country. And then I

happened around the country And then I

think the most serious thing I would say

to the country is don't send our most

precious resource, our young men and

precious resource our young men and

women,

women

>> yep,

>> yep

>> into harm's way on some chicken hawk BS

from a fivetime draft dodger who does

not understand what selfless service

means whatsoever and hold them

accountable for that. Let me feel better

accountable for that Let me feel better

myself. Gentlemen, thank you.

myself Gentlemen thank you

Representative Tom Ryan, Representative

Representative Tom Ryan Representative

Chris Delusio.

Chris Delusio

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