Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss potential permitting reform legislation and government spending in the new Congress. Excerpts and full video are below.
On Senate Permitting Reform Legislation:
“[There’s a] pretty good opportunity to talk about a transaction of some sort between [Senators] Manchin and Capito’s bills. In there, I do think there’s still a bill that’s doable, that’s passable. The problem is always the Majority Leader – in this case, Chuck Schumer – has so much control over the Senate Calendar that even if we were to get 30 Republicans and 30 Democrats to agree, I think that’s plausible… I think it’d be something you and I, we might not love, but we’d like well enough to move forward, particularly in siting and regulatory oversight of building out some real infrastructure to move products to market – like oil, gas, electricity. And again, obviously it would have to be some sort of negotiated compromise. But as long as it’s always going to be built on 51 Democrats and nine Republicans, it’ll never be satisfactory in my view.”
On Government Spending, House Speaker Outlook:
“The House of Representatives still has a clean slate to start with the 2024 Fiscal Year, beginning October 1, and every day they waste fighting amongst themselves is a lost opportunity to present a much cleaner, much better, much more conservative supply-side economic model, an appropriations process, and I wish they’d get after it.
“[…] Once the House does get its act together – and I do believe it will, and I hope Kevin McCarthy is the Speaker when it’s all said and done – once that happens, we have another arrow in our quiver, and that is the ability to stop all spending right in its tracks. Because, say what you want about the awfulbus bill, a [Continuing Resolution] into the future – anytime into the future – that dysfunction creates some sort of choke point. We’re talking about really high-priced [Continuing Resolutions] going forward. So, I think you’re going to see the House eventually get into order here, create that regular order.
“By the way, other things we should do in the Senate: get back to regular order. The House Republicans can force that issue, have 12 separate appropriations bills, have policy bills that are brought to the Floor, and sort of force Chuck Schumer’s hand a little bit, present some stuff in the public arena the public likes. I don’t think they’re liking what they’re seeing right now very much, but once that happens, I think you’re going to see Kevin McCarthy working with Mitch McConnell in their various chambers, with different roles for sure, but to advance a conservative, pro-growth agenda.”