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Biden To Outline Part One Of $3 Billion Infrastructure Plan Tomorrow; Funeral For Slain Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley Is Today; Ghislaine Maxwell Faces New Sex Trafficking Charges. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired March 30, 2021 - 07:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[07:30:00]

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST, FORMER PHILADELPHIA POLICE COMMISSIONER, FORMER WASHINGTON, D.C. POLICE CHIEF (via Cisco Webex): So that's going to be interesting. And again, the body-worn camera footage is going to give us a lot more insight, but it's unfortunate that no one did step in and intervene.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Absolutely.

Charles Ramsey, Paul Callan, thank you both very much.

So, President Biden is going big with his next plan, looking for more than $3 trillion. What we know about his infrastructure ideas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN AVLON, CNN ANCHOR: President Biden will lay out details tomorrow of a massive plan focused on infrastructure, climate change, and jobs. The price tag, at least $3 trillion.

Joining us now to talk about it, CNN White House correspondent John Harwood, and CNN chief business correspondent Christine Romans. It's great to have you both here --

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT, ANCHOR, "EARLY START": Good morning.

AVLON: -- for this important conversation.

John, first, just lay out why and how the White House is dividing this bill between what's traditionally been considered infrastructure with what they're calling social infrastructure.

[07:35:00]

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, what they're doing is trying to make a stab at getting Republican support for part of this agenda. The most popular part across both parties of the infrastructure and human capital Build Back Better agenda is the physical infrastructure part -- roads, bridges, ports, highways, airports. So that is the focus. It also includes the -- a lot of infrastructure to advance climate goals. But as the nation shifts -- as the auto industry, for example, shifts to electric cars and charging stations around the country -- that sort of thing.

So that's the focus, initially. They're going to see if they can get Republican votes. It's going to be a big challenge because they've got tax increases to finance this spending.

And then the second package is going to focus more on the human infrastructure -- things to help families up the economic ladder in every way from free community college, universal pre-kindergarten, to childcare tax credits and that sort of thing.

AVLON: But, Christine, one of the things that's happened is the price tag of this has grown in recent --

ROMANS: Yes.

AVLON: -- days from the expected, but so has the revenue side of the equation.

ROMANS: Yes.

AVLON: And it's a much more diverse array of specific revenue proposals that they say will pay for a lot of this.

What's your take on that?

ROMANS: Well, what you're going to hear from Republicans is that you can't just raise taxes on the rich and companies. That it'll raise taxes on everybody. And so that's going to be the messaging war that this White House is going to have to engage in.

But just look at the corporate tax rate, for example. It was 35 percent before those Trump tax cuts in 2017. Thirty-five percent was too high. Everyone agreed with that.

Companies were asking for a 25 percent corporate tax rate. The Trump administration and Congress gave them 21 percent. In many cases, companies didn't know what to do with all the money they got back from the tax code and they actually just started buying back shares, giving it to their shareholders.

So you'll see the White House trying to frame this as raising taxes on companies but you're still going to be below where you were before 2017, and that's an OK thing. Companies can pay a fairer share.

You're going to hear a lot about fairness as well, especially in that second part of the -- of these -- of this change -- of this infrastructure -- human infrastructure part of it about finally using an economy that's recovering and with the wind in its sails to be able to make fairness and equality part of the American -- the American economy. And I think that's a real big part of it.

The government can work for you. That's what they're trying to sell here.

AVLON: And I think it's an important point to highlight. The raised corporate rate would still be lower than --

ROMANS: Yes.

AVLON: -- it was before the Trump tax cuts.

ROMANS: Yes.

AVLON: And they would be closing some of the loopholes that were left open --

ROMANS: That's right.

AVLON: -- in the previous rate.

John Harwood, I want to take you in the way-back machine with me, OK, because we have talked about infrastructure reform a lot. It was infrastructure week like a dozen times under Trump.

But this goes back also to the Obama era, and some of the scar tissue around that debate I think still lingers in the White House strategy because it was ugly in 2011 -- President Obama trying to bring the country out of the Great Recession.

He pursued just a $60 billion infrastructure plan. It seems modest by today's standards. Had 51 votes.

Couldn't get to 60 because of the filibuster threshold, and so it went nowhere, which raises the question will the specter of the filibuster haunt this as well? What lessons is the Biden White House taking and how can they pass it?

HARWOOD: Well, the filibuster does haunt this process. However, Democrats have a way out, which is this reconciliation process -- the special budget rules that let them pass it and avoid a filibuster and do it with Democrat-only votes.

And the failures of the Obama administration to achieve this because of Republican resistance is one of the things uniting the Democratic Party to act this time. There's a lot of pent-up demand for infrastructure. Yes, both parties have talked about it but fundamentally, there's a difference between the two parties.

Democrats are much more aggressive about wanting to use the power of government and government spending to lift the economy. Republicans favor a smaller government. The money that they want to spend typically is tax cuts that will shrink the size and scope of government.

So there's a very fundamental divide. That's one of the reasons why even though President Trump talked big about infrastructure, Republicans were not behind him because they didn't want to lay out a whole lot of money for infrastructure, and that's the challenge. Democrats have got taxes to pay for it and what Republicans are going

to say is you want to raise the corporate tax, that's going to cost jobs. You want to tax rich people, that's going to end up affecting you, the average taxpayer.

And Democrats are going to have to get over that. Not easy because Republicans have had, traditionally, a presumptive advantage on taxes. Voters are inclined to believe them.

AVLON: Well, John Harwood, Christine Romans, big plans ahead and nobody better to explain it than you. Thank you for the light --

ROMANS: Infrastructure week is here. Infrastructure week is here.

AVLON: Infrastructure week is finally here. That's the headline from Christine. Thank you both.

All right.

[07:40:00]

One week after the massacre in Boulder, Colorado, the officer who lost his life is being laid to rest today. A look at how he's being remembered -- that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: In Colorado today, a public memorial for hero police officer Eric Talley, killed in the grocery store massacre in Boulder last week.

CNN's Lucy Kafanov is live in Boulder with more for us -- Lucy.

LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, good morning.

More than a week after Officer Eric Talley rushed into that King Soopers grocery store behind me, his body will be laid to rest in Lafayette, Colorado today. There's going to be a funeral procession to bring his body to the church.

We understand that the Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation has taken responsibility and the lead in planning the service. They've been working closely with the Boulder Police Department and Officer Talley's family.

[07:45:00]

His father actually described watching the news and hearing about the shooting happening, hoping that his son wasn't involved. He missed a phone call from Officer Talley's family, then phoned back. Take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHAY TALLEY, FATHER OF BOULDER POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN MASSACRE: My 16-year-old granddaughter answered. I said what's going on and she said dad's dead. And I said what? She said it again.

He told me I'm trying to wait for back-up and Papa, I don't think -- I don't think I can do that. I don't think I can stand around and wait for someone else to get there when people need help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAFANOV: So this funeral will honor a man who gave the ultimate sacrifice -- a family man, a father of seven. We understand that there will be police officers from multiple states attending.

It will be a mixture of traditional service events. For example, we understand that there's going to be a flag-folding ceremony. There will be the playing of Taps. There will be the last radio call ceremonial playing of that.

Boulder city offices will actually be closed today in honor of Officer Talley.

And in terms of updates on the trial, we don't know when that will actually take place. We know that the defense has asked for extra time to assess their client's mental state. The prosecution said that they'll be filing additional charges in the weeks to come.

The judge has agreed to set a hearing -- a status conference about 60 to 90 days from now, and the suspect will remain in jail without bond until then -- John.

AVLON: Just heartbreaking. Thank you, Lucy.

All right. The surge in coronavirus cases in France could soon overwhelm hospitals, forcing doctors to choose who they have the resources to treat as the number of patients in intensive care hits a new high.

CNN has reporters covering the pandemic around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Jim Bittermann in Paris where the COVID-19 infection numbers continue to head in the wrong direction. ICU usage in France, for example, now surpasses that of the second wave of the epidemic back in November.

After weeks of lockdown life here as the government tried to balance COVID restrictions with keeping the economy going and schools open, there's a growing expectation that President Macron may be forced to impose tougher constraints this week, perhaps making a decision as early as tomorrow at the weekly health defense meeting.

The morning newspaper here had a very apt headline over a picture of President Macron -- "What is he waiting for?"

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER (on camera): I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London. Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a press conference after stay-at- home orders were lifted in England on Monday. He said these new freedoms would be prized by those who made sacrifices under months of lockdown. But it's unclear what the U.K.'s defense is -- fortifications are against a new wave, if there is a new wave of this pandemic.

He said the authorities would work flat-out to continue to vaccinate people as quickly as possible and called on everyone to remain disciplined and remain vigilant.

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN JOURNALIST (on camera): I am Stefano Pozzebon in Bogota, Colombia.

And in Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro replaced six cabinet members on Monday -- a move aimed at putting more loyal figures into key positions. Among the ministers replaced were Brazil's defense minister, the foreign affairs minister, and the country's attorney general.

It's understood that Bolsonaro intends to put more loyal and closer advisers into these key positions to try to direct the country as Brazil struggles to contain a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Fred Pleitgen in Belgrade as Serbia has put together an impressive vaccination rollout. In fact, things are going so well here that the country is even offering free vaccinations to foreigners, making it a regional vaccination hub.

Now, most of the folks who are coming here are coming from neighboring countries, but there are also people coming from E.U. countries as well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

AVLON: We want to remember some of the more than 550,000 Americans lost to coronavirus.

Sergeant Shane Owens served nearly 30 years in the detentions department of the Broward County, Florida sheriff's office. Colleagues called him a no-nonsense supervisor who taught his officers how to be the best. He was just 48 years old.

Dr. Michael Bennett pushed hard for mask-wearing and social distancing in his tiny town of Greenfield, Missouri over the resistance of some residents. His ex-wife said his patients loved their doc who hunted, fished, and raised cattle -- because he was a good old boy.

Antoine Murray and his husband Mark Collins loved casinos, cooking, and Mark's nephew, Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA. Jason credits the men as guides and advisers who played a crucial part in his coming out. He tells "The New York Times" for a confused young boy, I can think of no better role model of love and compassion.

[07:50:13] We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

AVLON: The number of unaccompanied migrant children in border facilities has reached its highest level. As of Sunday, 5,767 children were in Customs and Border Protection custody. But the overall number of unaccompanied migrant children in U.S. government custody ticked down slightly from more than 18,000 last week.

The latest data points to the Biden administration's struggle to reduce the number of accompanied children in its care.

CAMEROTA: Federal prosecutors have filed sex trafficking charges against Jeffrey Epstein's alleged co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. Prosecutors say Maxwell recruited and groomed a 14-year-old girl to engage in sex acts with Epstein as recently as 2004.

[07:55:04]

The new charges were filed Monday in a superceding indictment. Maxwell was previously charged by New York prosecutors with conspiracy and enticing minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.

AVLON: A bill in Arkansas that would ban gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies for people under 18 is headed to the desk of the state's Republican governor. If he signs it into law it will be the first anti-transgender measure of its kind.

The legislation is the first to pass among a series of similar bills introduced by Republican lawmakers in more than 17 states so far this year, aimed at restricting the rights of transgender youth.

CAMEROTA: The mother of one of the D.C. police officers badly injured in the U.S. Capitol insurrection tells CNN she is outraged at former Trump -- at former President Trump's lies that his supporters were, quote, "hugging and kissing police" during the riot.

Officer Michael Fanone was tased and beaten with a flagpole during the insurrection. He even heard rioters screaming, quote, "Kill him with his own gun."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERRY FANONE, MOTHER OF CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER: What goes through my mind was -- is really outrage that not only the 850 MPD officers were -- that were there, but officers from different jurisdictions, as well as Capitol Hill police.

It's diminishing, it is devaluing. It -- the thing that is so profound is after he made those statements, the silence that followed, and where was the outrage from other people who were there -- from congressmen who were there?

For me to say anything to Trump would be -- it wouldn't matter because he just can't hear. It's all the other people that are so complicit in this. That's who I would speak to -- is that how dare you -- how dare you -- how dare you take advantage of these people who were defending and fighting for their lives that day to save these people, preserve democracy civility, to restore the Capitol to what it's supposed to be.

Where are you? All of these officers stood with you. Why don't you stand with them?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Those are excellent questions.

Officer Fanone suffered a heart attack, a concussion, and he is still dealing with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD. One man has been charged with his assault.

She makes such a good point. Those officers were not just protecting their own lives once they were under siege, they were protecting the lawmakers who were inside.

AVLON: Of course.

CAMEROTA: And she's just saying where are you, lawmakers? Where are the thanks? Where are you standing with the officers now?

AVLON: How dare you -- how dare you -- how dare you enable and excuse this big lie that President Trump is repeating again by trying to spread this fiction that the protesters were kissing and hugging police officers when we've seen with our own eyes the violence.

And the fact that it takes an officer's mother to try to perhaps bring some shame, some backbone, some resolve to these lawmakers who are so willing for political expediency to buy into the big lie still, how dare you?

CAMEROTA: It sickening. It's really sickening, actually. You don't show up in tactical gear and helmets if you're just going to go hug and kiss people. They brought flagpoles, they brought bear spray. They came armed with weapons.

AVLON: Yes.

CAMEROTA: And NEW DAY continues right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Prosecutors opened their case seeking justice for George Floyd, playing in full the nine-minute video.

ERIC NELSON, DEREK CHAUVIN'S ATTORNEY: And there is a growing crowd and what officers perceive to be a threat causing the officers to divert their attention.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: America is on trial right now. We're tired of people being killed and slaughtered. DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND

PREVENTION: We have so much to look forward to but right now, I'm scared.

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: COVID-19 cases are again on the rise in more than half of states.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is deeply concerning because every time we've seen it in the past it's led to another surge.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.

CAMEROTA: And good morning, everyone. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY.

John Berman is off. John Avlon joins me. Great to have you.

AVLON: Good morning, all right.

CAMEROTA: An emotional warning from the director of the CDC as the U.S. surpasses 550,000 American deaths. Dr. Rochelle Walensky says she sees trouble ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALENSKY: Now is one of those times when I have to share the truth and I have to hope and trust you'll listen. I'm going to pause here. I'm going to lose the script and I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom.

We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are, and so much reason for hope. But right now, I'm scared.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Here's what she's seeing.