♪ ♪ ♪ >> just a moment or two away from paul ryan making remarks about his vision for america. >> c-span2. >> more, on the speaker in just

a moment. i would like to welcome you all for prep club. i'm an editor, 111th president of the club. before we get into the program, let's recognize the members of the headliners team. they made the events possible. if you are in the room, please stand up. martin, lisa, laurie, tamara, danny, bill, lizzie, laura coker who manages, executive director bill. thank you all. [applause] thank you. so paul ryan has been characterized as the reluctant speaker. after giving up his beloved chairmanship of the committee, he took over the speakers gavel

in late 2016 when john left the post. now, after two decades, mitt romney's vice presidential, speaker ryan is free to return home to wisconsin where he has lived his entire life and be known as just paul. or, he could fall a trail, his predecessors or he could run for president. [applause] >> thank you. >> i would like to take a moment to.out any of the people who are watching online, or c-span, not all of, it's open to the general public. you may not be from the working press. we are most fortunate to have speaker ryan at the chess club. especially with 29 days to go before one of the more interesting midterm elections in history.

paul ryan, run for office again. will he take on donald trump? with his congressional seat, will be go back to cutting one's? >> i did last sunday. >> this may answer that question. mr. speaker, you have the floor. there is no need to revise. we are rolling tape. >> that was nice. thank you very much. i really appreciate that. it's great to be back here. it's been a while. i was hoping to see craig here. make sure you give him a hard time for me. i want to start by saying, one of the most valuable things that we have in a democracy is a

spirited change of ideas. by so the rating the first amendment's, this organization plays a vital role in civic dialogue. i want to thank each and everyone of you for your part in that role. i mean that syria seriously. as you mention it, i more of a policy guy. ideas are what draws me into this line of work. i love taking an idea, putting it on paper, going through the debate, tweaking and improving it, then seeing it come to fruition. most important of all, watching it actually improve people's lives. that is what drew me into public services in the first place and it has always been my motivation for being in public life. as we enter a political season, i think it's a good time to fi find, kind of a step back from

the noise we are hearing, and reflect on where we are. what ideas have taken root, are on display, and are working in this country. two years ago, we faced a very daunting challenge in this country. our nation was on the wrong path. our economy was still muddling through the worst recovery since the great depression. our military, was in the throes of a severe readiness crisis. big challenges were going on. so we as house republicans, one of their conditions in which i took this job, we had to in the country with an agenda. we couldn't just be the anti- obama party. we had to have solutions and ideas. we offered the country a better way. and optimistic, very detailed policy agenda. we have been delivering on that agenda consistently since.

today, our country is turning a corner. american families are better off now. the economy is growing. the economy is growing at more than twice the rate it was growing two years ago. wages and benefits are up, they are growing at their fastest rate in ten years. job openings are at a record high. consumer confidence is near record high. productivity, manufacturing, retail sales, wholesales, all of these things are up. the nation's unemployment rate just dropped to a 49 year low. there is much more. to tax reform alone, nine out of ten workers will see more take-home pay. at least 6 million workers have received raises, bonuses and benefits since this law passed. people in at least 49 states are seeing lower utility bills.

more take-home pay. 57% of americans say things are going well in the country today. this is great progress. we did not just set out to clean up a mess. we set out to build the country's resilience. we set out to restore that sets americans apart. that is how we deliver on these big things. we did not just cut taxes, we went from having one of the most burdensome tax codes to one of the most competitive in the world. through new opportunities, now just being deployed across the communities in america, distressed areas will be able to draw in new investments if not years, decades. with that new investment, comes revitalization, and transformation for those communities. overall, recently signing a law, it will be easier for students and workers to build their skills and find good jobs and careers.

he did not just undo the military cuts. we wanted to equip the armed forces with resources they needed to addressed the readiness crisis. the women and undertrained troops to monitor dilation and buildup. we gave the pentagon a full year of military funding on time for the first time in ten years. it comes to the biggest pays raise in nine years. secretary is getting what he needs to build a more agile, lethal 21st century fighting force. a new defense strategy to keep us safe and that is now in law and funded. we did not just rollback red tape. which is helping smaller businesses hire bigger jobs. administration that has kept our resources under lock and key to

putting america on the path to being a net energy exporter in the next five years. already, just this year, america became the world's leading oil producer. all of these things are great turnaround stories. but we also in this congress, we have taken on the challenges that had closest to home. human trafficking, for one. human trafficking is one of the worlds fastest growing crimes. this spring, congress passed a new law cracking down on websites that make it far too easy to sell women and children's within the community. already, we are seeing rate results. between april and july alone, there was a 62% reduction in the advertising of this kind in north america. posting fewer ads, tracking fewer buyers, this is a salvaged in the right direction. look at what happened to the veterans administration on ago. we've now started implementing serious reforms in the va so

that we can fix the mess. member the va not too long ago? the patient at the va, our heroes, they were dying while bureaucrats did. so this congress has passed reforms to hold be able officials accountable. we've improved community care programs. so veterans will get better care when they need it. we have a choice program in law now. and we have delivered a major expansion of the g.i. bill. veterans can now use their education benefits whenever they choose no time limits. here too, there are signs of progress. the va just recently announced, it has surpassed its goals from the year on delivering appeals for disability claims. we've a long way to go but we are in the right track. this is one of the things we worked on the most, these cases

for the veterans who have been stuck in the bureaucracy of the va. that has turned a corner. we've acted to make our schools safer. we have stepped up the fight against ms 13. expanding resources for local law enforcement in gang activity. congress just set president's desk. opioid addiction. this epidemic affects all of our communities. this epidemic claims lives of roughly 115 people each day in this country. it's not just about the numbers, it's staggering as they are, though. is probably likely that you know somebody or a family that is going through this. so you know how this is leeching the life out of so many people. with this legislation, we are taking on the synthetic drugs making their way across the boards. we are expanding and creating new centers. we are improving access to treatment and putting resources

into the community on the front lines. there's a lot more to do. this is the most significant congressional efforts in history to fight a single drug crisis. we hope and we know that it will save lives. these are all big things that we have delivered. big promises that we have kept. if you want to learn more, please go to better.gop. we showed you two years ago, what it would look like, we are now showing that with this agenda in place, it is making is better. this is the better way that we offered two years ago. going bold, staying focus on the things that actually matter to people, staying focused on the things that people care about. pursuing policies that improve people's lives. i know this approach seems obvious but it becomes even more evident by the day because the democrats, while they thought

this, they don't see things in the same way. they have made it very clear. there are only response to the noise washington is more disorder, may more chaos. instead of offering the debate on tax reform, they said it would lead to again. instead of welcoming or acknowledging, they dismiss it all as crumbs. we want to make the tax cuts for individuals and families permanent. they want to repeal tax reform and raise taxes on hard-working americans. how much do they want to raise them? that's the thing, they won't say. you have to wonder how that uncertainty feeds for a family, how it feels for a family that is counting on upcoming credits. the small business finally getting relief. we just spent two years getting out of the economy and now they want to bring it back. while we worked to secure the

borders, immigrants actually want to abolish the the agency for response for keeping us safe. while we worked on lower healthcare costs, they are proposing to abolish our healthcare system as we know it and it is in the best representation of how far the democratic party has gone off the rails in my opinion. they now call it, medicare for all. because it sounds good but in reality, it's actually ends medicare in its current form. it ends private insurance altogether. including for the roughly 180 million people who count on health insurance coverage through their employer. everyone. no matter how much you liked your plan, what have their plan taken away. instead, he will be put in a government run plan for you have no say in the cost or coverage. there was fewer choices. medicare for all means no choices. no competition.

how much do you get charged for this? that's a good question. a nonpartisan study found that a single program like this would cost the government $32.6 trillion over the next ten years. a price tag on this idea in perspective. we could double all of federal taxes. yours, mine, families, businesses, everyone's taxes. still not be able to pay for this. the only way you could control cost would be to ration care. restrict access to doctors and treatments. all of these decisions would be made in washington, of course. so even after the failures of obamacare, this is the direction the left want to take our country. taxpayers paying more to get less. fewer choices. if any choices at all. all while having the government control this huge part of our

lives, such as printable personal intimate thing for us. a single-payer system is a singular we bad idea. it all brings to mind, as she described the problem with socialism. eventually, you run out of other people's money. it just shows how today's democratic party has gone further left to the fringes. further back to discredited ideas. we don't do these jobs to be fashionable, we don't do these jobs to be popular. believe me, nobody understands that better than i do. we do these jobs because we believe in ideas that solve problems. we do these jobs so that we can improve people's lives. we do it by thinking about the long haul. we do it, not by making false promises and shortcuts that are

only dead ends, we don't just try to clean up messes fix problems, we set out to build something better. so we have planted the pillars a confident america with this agenda. an economy on the move again. the best military in the world. workers back on the path of life. communities back on the rise. improving people's lives. that's where all comes down to for me. that's what it all comes back for me. that's what it has always been. i want to thank you for being here and i look forward to taking your questions. thank you. [applause] >> so the format today, i'll take the first question in the last question. in between, we will open up to the room for questions. my first question is, are you done with politics? >> never say never to these things. i'm obviously going to be a cause guy.

i want to spend 2019 reconnecting with my family. reconnecting with my home and then i'll figure out what the next chapters. i don't know what the next chapter is, politically speaking. for now, i'm happy. >> how would you describe your political legacy today? >> a policymaker who came in a political leadership. the idea that i've been fighting for my entire career, much of which you have gotten through tax reform, opportunities, re- building the military, economic growth policies that i learned under reagan, are the kind that we've been putting into places your. they are making a big difference. the one thing i think we need to do more on, i'm proud of the fact the house has consistently voted on paying off the debt. happy the house past the reform, it hasn't gone to the president. one thing more to do.

but what i'm most happy about, the fact that we organized our conference around an agenda based on our pencils. we showed with the policies looked like. then when we won the election and have the ability to put them in the place, we did. so to me, that's exactly the what you had to put in with your constituents. say what you will do, x line writes better than if you get elected, do it. that's exactly what we've done. the entire house republican, is very proud of this. we are gratified by the fact that our policies are making a big difference. >> it's going to be interesting to see how this is played out in 2019. >> it will be. >> now we will open up to the room for question. >> since i don't all of you, i know you guys, to mine introducing yourselves?

>> also, wait for the mic. introduce yourself and your organization. >> met, abc news. i was wondering your take out as far as brett kavanaugh. how it will affect midterms. >> i'm not going to get into all of that. it still 29 days away. that's a long time away. i think the analysis that the republican base is very much activated as a result, i think the democrat base was already there. so i think if anything, in the wash of it all, this definitely -- i can see from traveling around the last country, the last few days, the republican base is animated. we for the mic and introduce yourself. >> scott with the hill newspaper. mr. speaker, i know you didn't get a vote on the kavanaugh confirmation, but how engaged

were you in the process? were you speaking with mr. mcconnell or trump everyday? if you did, do you have an advice? >> actually i wasn't. i haven't speak spoken with him since the beginning. so i haven't but in the senate thing. the house doesn't get involved. i told the president after the confirmation about that in a number of other issues. so i haven't been involved. i thought her speech was tremendous. i thought susan really with her analysis, i think she showed the right analysis. the right tone. >> bloomberg news. you are critical of medicare for all, i was wondering if you think the a hca is the best way to fix -- >> the bill that we passed? >> yes.

>> i think the house bill was the right way to go because the house bill says, do but what you want to buy, here's the tax credit to purchase a plan of your choosing. i think it's important to go back to the states, that's the better way in my opinion, to guarantee people with pre-existing conditions, not just get covered but get affordable coverage, have more choices. what it does, the insurance market for everyone else, so they get lower prices and choices. in wisconsin, when we had a pool, the 10% of wisconsin, could go to any dr. wanted to, any hospital, good affordable rates. the other 90%, had many choices to choose from and much lower rates than they have today. i think there is a way. the false choice here, in this debate, everyone is in favor of supporting and protecting pre-existing quest. the question is what's the best way to do that? if you do that, at over 200

million people to medicare itself, he will collapse the medicare system. bankruptcy. deny choices, drive up prices and enforce rationing. that is not -- i don't think the country would take that. so i do believe, given the fact that we spent two and a half more times on. person, we can have a world-class health care system where people can get access to affordable healthcare, especially people with pre-existing condition. without having the government tell us where to get our healthcare. without having the government rationing our care, without bankrupting the country. that's what we did pass with respect to the bill in-house. but work has to get done. >> my question is, i noticed in the gop, the president of the

united states talking about help returning sister citizens, every speech he makes, he's talking about opportunity, the lowest unemployment and black america is a raise of prices on lower drug prices, he seems to be closest, your legacy, you also mention david, the $620 -- this message, how much will have an impact going forward in 2020? seems to be hitting the democratic base pretty hard. >> that wasn't my motivation. i've been working on this since my early 20s. which called them opportunity zones. i never considered the political effects of it. so i don't know the answer to that question. but some people know what we're talking about, they are in the tax law that we passed. 25% of the lowest income now in

america, our opportunity zones. that means, anybody can take investments, sell an investment, not pay on it, poor and out of opportunity zone, put people to work fix housing and keep your investment there for at least ten years. so what we're trying to do is tap into that $6 trillion that is out there. we think that combined with evidence based efforts of ours, combined with other efforts, that we have a full frontal assault on attacking the root causes of poverty by long believe, this is something i want to spend time on when i'm done with this job, i believe that we haven't measured our success on outcome. this is an outcome based approach. not make it government, to make

it private sectors as well. i think that's one of the proffers -- we've told taxpaying americans, this is government's job to solve. you don't have to do anything, don't get involved. it's not true. i think that message was the wrong message. these ideas, to fight poverty, to restore parts of america, i think we'll take fruit, i think they'll work but it's going to take time. the regulations aren't even done yet. so it's too soon to say with the effexor, whether the economic effects. i'm excited about the idea though. >> was wondering if you have any thoughts on kavanaugh in the court and if it should be involved the traditional system?

>> first amendment is first amendment. something which regulated like somebody suggested. i didn't vote for his campaign, i think the campaign ynez law killed the parties. i would rather have had a system where the parties are more in control of their own campaigns and then people, you can hold them accountable. but that's not the case these days. i think that law, i know it wasn't the intention, but i think have the effect of killing the parties which are accountable to electable officials. >> things for coming today. things for all your work on the veterans issues, it means a lot to a lot of people. the best fundraisers we've ever had.

are you planning on staying involved in that? >> i was more of a policy guy. i became more of a national figure because i was on the ticket, it's what made it so i could do that. that comes with this job. when i'm done with speaker, i'm planning on not much of that. we'll see. the lady back there? spam. >> the reason you one report, the report that says faster than we anticipated, the most catastrophic impacts, 12 years, how do you own your party reconcile? >> i read about it. i think the answer is, better investments in technology, the kind of thing. to deal with these issues. i would say, we as a developed

country are as clean as a gets. has to do with the developed world. again, china developing countries, the developing world, excuse me. i think that's where most of the pollution could be dramatically improved with better technologies. i think sharing the technology with allies in helping conversions, i think -- we just passed legislation as part of our bill to modernize the financing system to help developing countries finance their infrastructure like power and the rest. that is also a strategy but i think it's also a strategy that can help us around the world to help them convert to clean up sources. have a this? >> bob, former house staff for

16 years. you have been in a very big box with the politics of condemnation coming from the white house. you have spoken against it periodically. do you think that here to stay, is at a model that is going to stay with the knowledge no policy? what can we do about it to make it not happen? >> that's also something i want to spend some time thinking -- i haven't had a lot of time to think about these bigger things. i worry about this a lot. just the last two weeks, the politics, the incentive politics is outrage, history. the 21st century, technology system that we are experiencing, with social media, cable news, readings. if you is identity politics. as conservatives, we are poured identity politics. we still think it was a thing to the left, now the right is. so it's being prejudiced on both

sides. what that is doing is dividing our country more than we've seen and a long time. we've had divisions, go back to the, we've always had divisions. i think it's seeping into our society deeper because of technology and because of the proof tribalism and identity politics. i think what we as conservatives believe is, i can see for myself on this, we have to find a political strategy and tactics that make it more successful and more appealing to have aspirational inclusive politics. the kind i was talk by jack. i just went off on a pair. i think it's terrible idea. that the bill, that's a person, the character trait, that's automotive, that's a really bad idea and rather have a really vigorous vibrant debate on ideas.

and talk about an agenda that is uplifting, inclusive, aspirational which is what this country has shown for so long. this is the greatest challenge i've seen in my lifetime. >> thank you. and the headliners community. thank you for being here. in hundred and 40 places across the country, postal workers spent their day off protesting a proposal from the trump administration that would kill off the postal service and possibly end universal service where people get their mail six days a week all at the same price. regardless of where they live.

if we got rid of it, would it be a severe harm to, lacking broadband, higher transportation cost? >> i can't speak to the trump proposal, i can speak more about the mark proposal. that's the one moving through the process in the house. i believe they support it if i'm not mistaken. there's a challenge with funding of pension, obligations, it's effect on medicare. that's what holding it up at the moment. the goal of that bill, which i'm more familiar with is to get the postal service to be able to cash flow itself. operating like a business but understand there are some goals for universal services as an example, i think that meadow bill, strike that balance but we've got a few funding tech

mechanisms that would got to deal with. how about this guy? >> i throw in a question? president trump has said he has commitment when he shut down the government in december, to secure more funding? >> we wouldn't shut down the government, the republicans wouldn't. >> so the question is -- did you make that commitment? >> we do not think a fight over the wall made a lot of sense at the time. before the fiscal year. because what we saw, which, myself, chuck and nancy, we saw a chance of getting the processes to work more than we have in a long time. we passed 75% of the spending before the fiscal year, for the

first time in 22 years. we did not want to have a wall fight in the way of achievement. it is important for us to first of all, a lot of people don't cover this, the wall is being built right now. 80 miles, the construction is ongoing, it's an annual, the president wants to do is get a bigger down payment for it being built faster. there is a serious need for border control. i was talking about drugs like that no. we intend on having a full fledged discussion about how to complete this mission, securing our border and we will have a big fight about it. the outcome of all those things? we have a commitment to fight for securing the border and getting this policy objectives achieved.

we are going to do it. we will figure out how too do it in december. i can't say what the outcome will be. the effort is there. you talk about pride, the ease of controlling the human trafficking. but in terms of moving people across borders with ease, the number of immigrant, refugees on the fear of death, is reduced. do you think it -- he talked about pride about slowing down human trafficking but in terms of moving people across borders with ease, the number of refugees with the fear of death is reduced, doctor has punish people who has never made conscious decisions, and all efforts to increase the capacities of immigration courts to safely move people to the cases, has been blocked by the executive and the legislative -- in these times of, what you say

to the immigrants that they commit more crimes than the population then you speak for them as well? >> try to bring them through the congress in july. we had -- the good but to bill, was one, mice that i brokered with all of our various members. it had a solution for doctor, a solution for the border, a solution for a lot of our problems. not every problem but we propose and brought to the floor and i voted for, more than -- doing in my head, i think 22 republicans, and one bill or another voted for a doctor solution. we have shown that we wanted to solve the dock problem. while also addressing the root cause of the dock a problem. it was loose borders.

so we have taken a balanced approach, put on the floor, we offered the democrats back in may, a solution with border security, combined with a darker relief bill. that was not taken by the other side. we have shown time and again that we want to solve the problem, there are people living in limbo, living in fear. we don't want that to continue. but why we do this, we don't want to fix a problem without addressing the underlying cause of the problem. both at the same time. this the right way to do it. >> i think this is the last question. >> i did calling you but -- sorry man. >> i want to follow on bob's question. about the division in society.

within some criticism, you did not stand up forcefully enough to some of trumps rhetoric, maybe even a few of his policies. how do you respond to that? >> i will be criticized the matter what i do. i was a look at the results. what i described, our parties are very different. i think the left is moving far left, i think they've just jumped on ideology and i think they moved off the mainstream, but having said all that, about 80% of what we do is bipartisan. it doesn't get covered, no offense, but it doesn't get covered. the opioid bill was passed, the most comprehensive attack on the appointed problem bipartisan. our aviation system, bipartisan. overhauling the water

infrastructure, bipartisan. funding the military, better since, bipartisan. some was the what we do is actually bipartisan. there are those flareups on the big issues that we don't agree on, like healthcare or taxes or what happened in the senate with this up in court. that really flareups but underneath, those polarizing moments, a lot of bipartisan production. that's the first. there is a lot of divisiveness in the country today. it is coming from both sides and it is disheartening and i think the best thing that people like me can do, help with policies in place that deny the option for this kind of politics. what i mean? grow the economy, yet people out of poverty, help people get better jobs, better wages so they are not salacious. if you can reduce the economic society, exciting in america, you can reduce the oxygen that

feeds these politics. i think that is something that, given what i get to do, it's unique, write and pass laws, that is in a norma's contribution. it's in respect to the criticism, i found this far more successful, far more productive to have a good relationship and have private conversations, i get so much more done with that approach than going out and being another person on tv. >> so, thank you. i am going to ask the final question at this conference. going to say thank you and tell the audience of the bit about what is coming up. so you know, here at the national club, one of the most important things we do, is push for freedom. i think the, everybody here in this room has been following the news about the journalist and washington post, jamal --

>> how do you pronounce that? >> not a native-language for me. i wanted to ask you, what are your thoughts about the disappearance of -- >> i think it's very disturbing. it's very unnerving, we need to get clear facts from both governments. the church, an interesting question. but from the church and the saudi's. let me say this, as elected leader, we stand with you in the media and solidarity to making sure that this does not go noticed and that we stand and fight for answers so we can play transparency and accountability to this kind of thing. >> i appreciate that. thank you very much. [applause] we have a gift.

so we hope you can throw it in the micro, the dishwasher, so we help you use it in a good health. >> thank you. >> thank you. i would like to ask everybody to stay seated. while speaker ryan makes his way out of the club. i would like to highlight a couple of upcoming events. we have a national press club event called, the big game. it's coming up on october 11. i'm not sure, the screening of the upcoming, nicole, boy erased. october 22, we are going to have a luncheon with museum director,

alan. i want to say thank you to all of you for being here today. [applause] >> coming up, joe donnelly debates republican challenger and 30 pollard -- in indiana.

live at 7:00 p.m. eastern. tomorrow, between massachusetts governor, charlie and his democratic challenger, jake and that's for governor. that starts at 8:00 p.m. eastern life i hear on c-span2. with only 29 days until the election, c-span is your primary source. for campaign 2018. tonight, he covered the 2008, 2012 and 2016 presidential campaigns. they'll share some of their favorite images. here's a look. >> again, this is senator mccain. this is an plant city, florida along the eye 40 quarter which stretches from orlando over to tampa. it bisects the state. if you want to win the white house, you half to win florida. if you want to win florida, you half to win the quarter. this is a famous, a farm stands

but they are also famous for making these incredible strawberry shortcake. i'm trying to remember the name of the place. barksdale farms. on the side of the highway. every presidential candidate if they want to win, they stopped here and ordered a giant pile of strawberry shortcake and they eat them. [laughter] >> you can watch the full conversation tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. we joined the senate health education committee for the look at the help cost of healthcare. this runs about an hour and 40 minutes.