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Immigration Order Challenged; Congress Seeking Changes to Post- 9/11 GI Bill. Aired 8:30-9a ET
Aired April 15, 2016 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ALISYN CAMAROTA, CO-HOST, NEW DAY: The states have thus far successfully blocked the President's plan from being implemented, and all eyes will be on the high court with its current roster of only eight justices.
So joining us now is Texas attorney general Ken Paxton. He is leading the charge in this case.
Mr. Paxton, thanks for being here.
KEN PAXTON, TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL: Great to be here. Thanks for having me on.
CAMAROTA: So you're leading these 26 states to fight President Obama's executive action. What are you trying to accomplish?
PAXTON: Well, we believe that he's violated the constitution, that his job is to enforce the law under Article 3 Section 2 of the constitution and that its Congress' duty to pass laws. And so we feel like for six years when he started campaigning, he said the he didn't have the ability to change the law, he was not a king, that it was up to Congress to change law, and then in November of 2014 he came out and said I'm changing the law.
CAMAROTA: Correct me if I'm wrong, but part of what you're fighting is the President's plan to give 500,000 illegal immigrants drivers' licenses in Texas. You say that that would hurt your state. It would cost money. How?
PAXTON: Well, so Texas has a cycle, a two-year legislative cycle, and they budget for everything. So drivers' licenses, this new executive action will increase the drivers' licenses costs that we have to issue in Texas was not accounting for in our budget. No one voted for it. Congress didn't vote for it. Our legislature didn't vote for it, so it's just not accounted for in our budget.
CAMAROTA: But President Obama also -- his plan would also give undocumented workers work permits and thereby would make them pay taxes. So people who are currently working in Texas and not paying taxes and sending money back to Mexico would have to pay taxes to Texas. Wouldn't that bring in millions of dollars?
PAXTON: Well, you know, this issue isn't really about immigration policy for us. It's really about the process of following the Constitution. We feel like Congress has a duty to basically make law and that that the President's job to enforce the law, that he can't come out and just change the law.
And obviously, think about this. We've got 26 states involved in this lawsuit. It's remarkable and unprecedented that this many states agree on that issue.
CAMAROTA: You're embroiled in your own legal issues. You were indicted last year on state securities the fraud charges. Then, this week, federal regulators accused of misleading investors in a technology company. How do you think all of this will affect the case?
PAXTON: I don't think it will affect it at all. It's not the issue. We're focused on our constitutional argument. We think we've got a really good chance of being successful at the Supreme Court.
CAMAROTA: Despite what's going on with you personally?
PAXTON: Absolutely. Absolutely.
CAMAROTA: You have not endorsed anybody in this presidential race, though, of course, the senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, is running. Why not endorse him?
PAXTON: I'm a huge Ted supporter. I am supporting Ted Cruz. I will say this, though. I'm still going to buy Donald Trump ties.
CAMAROTA: Is that right?
PAXTON: Yes.
CAMAROTA: So you're having it both ways?
PAXTON: I'm supporting Ted Cruz for president.
CAMAROTA: You are endorsing him though?
PAXTON: Yes, absolutely.
CAMAROTA: So you're endorsing Ted Cruz, but what do you like so much about Donald Trump's ties?
PAXTON: I love them. I've been wearing them for years. They're awesome.
CAMAROTA: Why not --
PAXTON: Ted Cruz doesn't have any ties, but Donald Trump does.
CAMAROTA: Why not support Donald Trump?
PAXTON: Well, you know -- you know, we'll see what happens in the end, but I'm -- right now, I've been a supporter of Ted Cruz for years. And he's done a great job for Texas, both as a senator and a solicitor general in my office.
CAMAROTA: All right. We'll be very interested in watching what happens at the Supreme Court on Monday. Ken Paxton, thanks so much.
PAXTON: Hey, thanks for having me on. Appreciate it.
CAMAROTA: Let's go to Chris.
CHRIS CUOMO, CO-ANCHOR, NEW DAY: All right, speaking of bringing that Republican Party together, Senator Ted Cruz getting a little advice as he hits the late-night circuit from Donald Trump. Sort of. You can't miss it.
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CO-HOST, NEW DAY: And this Sunday night at 10 Eastern on CNN, Bill Weir captures a rare glimpse of one of the world's last black rhinos on "The Wonder List." Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL WEIR, HOST, THE WONDER LIST: These guys can somehow track a beast across what looks like naked rock through the characteristics of sand particles looking through the slightest little variation disruption.
Oh, I think we're close. Oh, there it is. There it is.
This is pretty incredible. That's a -- one of the world's last truly wild rhinos.
There are so few, they know them by name. This one is called "Don't Worry." And as a deterrent to poachers, game wardens have removed his most distinctive feature.
If a poacher follows this guy three days and finds out you guys took the horn off as a deterrent, isn't he just going to shoot it anyway and take whatever's left of the nub?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's definitely evidence that supports that, which is heartbreaking.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PEREIRA: It is Friday, and here's your Friday edition of the Five Things to Know for your New Day.
Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, brawling in Brooklyn. The candidates tangling on trade, gun control and foreign policy in a fiery CNN debate four days out from the New York primary.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump's war with the GOP intensifying. Trump slamming Ted Cruz and the Republican Party's delegate rules in a new op-ed. He also let loose on Cruz for trashing New York values during a gala for the GOP on Thursday.
Search crews continuing to look for survives of a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in southern China. That quake killed at least 9 and injured nearly 800 others.
And the infamous Charles Manson family member has recommended for parole. Officials say Leslie Van Houten is a model prisoner and apologized for the notorious murder of a couple back in 1969.
Somber day today. It marks three years since the Boston marathon bombings. The city's mayor calling for a moment's silence at 2:49 p.m. when the first of two bombs detonated. Three people were killed. More than 260 wounded in those attacks. This year's marathon will take place on Monday.
And for more on the Five Things to Know, be sure to visit Newdaycnn.com.
Alyson?
CAMAROTA: All right. So while the Democrats clashed here on CNN, Michaela, the Republicans took their fight to late night. Ted Cruz was Jimmy Fallon's guest, but "Donald Trump" tried to steal the show. Here are you late night laughs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hello?
JIMMY FALLON, HOST, THE TONIGHT SHOW (as Donald Trump): Congratulations. You've just been called by Donald Trump.
CRUZ: Oh, hello, Donald. What a pleasant surprise.
FALLON: Are you watching the Democratic debate?
CRUZ: Nope, I'm watching "The Princess Bride" for the 843rd time.
FALLON: Inconceivable. Well, you're missing some great stuff. They just nailed Hillary for flip-flopping on trade. She was going back and forth, this way, that way, this way, that way. It was like watching her swipe a metro card at the subway.
CRUZ: OK, Donald, well, you know, I've got to run now.
FALLON: Wait, wait. Look, I know you're about to be a guest on "The Tonight Show." I've been on that show many times, so I thought I'd help you out and do a little pre-interview.
CRUZ: Well, that's a very generous offer, Donald. I appreciate you being the bigger man.
FALLON: Oh, I'm the bigger man with the bigger hands.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CUOMO: Oh, I'll tell you, I never got the whole big hand thing.
CAMAROTA: Wow, you're delirious at this point.
PEREIRA: He is.
CAMAROTA: You've been staying up way too late.
PEREIRA: I know.
CUOMO: Who's the -- who's the best Trump? Fallon or Darrell Hammond?
CAMAROTA: I like Darrell Hammond. I mean, I think --
PEREIRA: They did great.
CAMAROTA: -- Fallon is funny, but I like Darrell Hammond.
PEREIRA: Darrell's been making his life's work out of this.
CAMAROTA: Yes, he embodies Donald Trump.
CUOMO: The material or the impression or both?
CAMAROTA: The impression. He just -- he has it. Like you don't know that Donald Trump has certain quirks until you see Darrell Hammond do them.
PEREIRA: Right, and when Jimmy does it, it just sort of seems like he's doing it just for fun, but nails it, too, which I don't know.
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: The material, Hammond. The mimicry, Fallon.
PEREIRA: All right.
CAMAROTA: You think?
CUOMO: And I'm not one to hedge.
CAMAROTA: Interesting.
CUOMO: I really believe that's the right apportion.
PEREIRA: Can I tell you about some heroes?
CAMAROTA: Please.
CUOMO: Please.
PEREIRA: Allow me, please. A woman from Georgia,fighting to help refugees coming to the United States from their war-torn countries. This CNN hero is teaching them life-saving goals, and it all begins with soccer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's so many things stacked against them. For you to be successful, you're competing against all of these other people that are already like 10 steps ahead of you. So how are you going to catch up? How are you going to stand out? And how are you going to contribute successfully?
We're getting people from all over the world, from all different faiths to come together, to do something great.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PEREIRA: You can watch Luma's full story at cnnheroes.com. While you're there, be sure to nominate someone you think should be a 2016 CNN hero.
CUOMO: I'm going to nominate you. And you.
PEREIRA: Thank you.
CAMAROTA: Very nice.
CUOMO: Speaking of heroes, lawmakers consider cuts to a GI Bill. OK? The men and women that we all say we support, we all hold out as heroes, we have an advocate coming up who is determined to make a dedication to the troops real and a lifetime promise.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PRES. BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Every day that I have left -- that I have left in this office, I'm going to keep doing everything I can to make sure that we serve you as well as you've served us.
I hope all of America -- all of the American people along the route will come out and show their support for these heroes, not just today but every single day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
There's President Obama pledging support for veterans during the annual wounded warrior bicycle ride. This as the U.S. Senate considers massive cuts to the post-9/11 GI Bill that would target housing benefits for veterans, spouses and children.
This is a very simple issue. Everyone in politics is united. Maybe the only thing that unites them is their alleged dedication to the troops. They all say it all the time.
This is a chance for them to act on it, and we have a man right now who says they are getting it wrong. The founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Paul Riekoff.
Paul, good to have you here.
PAUL RIECKHOFF, CEO, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA: Good to see you, man.
CUOMO: This bill, OK, is pitched as, "so da voce," low voices in Congress. No, no, no. We're going to take money that we don't need, right, in this program that takes money that veterans don't use and they used to give to their dependents, they don't need that. We're going to take that money and do what they need to have done. This is good for veterans.
You started jumping up and down saying, don't let them do this. Don't let them do this. Why?
RIECKHOFF: Because that's spin. This is a whole new level of stupid in Congress. What they're doing is cutting the new GI Bill for the first time in history. Our organization and members nationwide in 2008 fought hard to create the post-9/11 GI Bill. It sent over one million vets to college. All right?
People who served in Iraq and Afghanistan served nobly. They're coming home, they're doing well, and they're going to college. And Congress wants to save money by cutting the GI Bill. They didn't even do a voice vote, so they couldn't be counted on this.
Now it's going before the Senate. Our members -- and we hope all Americans will stand up and say, no, the GI Bill is off limits. It's not a piggy bank for you to save dollars and cents. If you want to find money, find it elsewhere.
If you ask the American public to do a bake sale, they would do it to raise money for the GI Bill. At a time of war, when people are fighting and dying right now in Iraq and Afghanistan, we should not be cutting the GI Bill. It's garbage. It's off limits.
CUOMO: So we made phone calls, and people are saying what you are saying, that we shouldn't be doing this, it's a tricky time, there are a lot of -- we're trying to get a budget done. It's very tricky.
One case was made, though, that -- what do you say to these moms who are vets and moms of spouses of vets who say, well, they want to use this money for something else? They want to have access to that. What do you say to that argument, that this is, if you don't let this bill happen, you'll deprive them?
RIECKHOFF: You don't rob Peter to pay Paul. That's a Washington game, right, where you ask widows to compete against kids. Right? That's a Washington insider game that they've tried for years.
We're not going to let them rob Peter to pay Paul. All veterans are united on this. The GI Bill works. It's the best investment our taxpayers, maybe, we've ever had.
And all the presidential candidates need to stand up, too. Not a single one made a statement on this.
CUOMO: Have you gone to them?
RIECKHOFF: We have. We're on Twitter right now. We're talking to you, right? Every single presidential candidate in America should say -- should say don't cut the GI Bill.
CUOMO: None of the candidates responded?
RIECKHOFF: Not publicly on this issue specifically. They say that they want the cuts out of the veterans' omnibus bill.
We're also calling or the chairman of the senate veterans affairs committee, Johnny Isakson from Georgia, Senator Blumenthal from Connecticut. They all need to stand up today and say they will not support cuts to the GI Bill now or ever.
CUOMO: How often have you found that the promise to support the troops falls short?
RIECKHOFF: How many times have you covered it on CNN? Right? For the last decade you all have been covering it.
Suicide issues, unemployment, the VA scandal, it goes on and on. A lot of politicians in Washington and now on the campaign trail say they support the veterans. But when it comes down to it, many of them are AWOL. We need them to step up, and if they won't, we need people to organize, pressure them, make them stand up now in a time of war.
This impact morale. It impacts retention. It impacts recruiting. Right now, our members are in Iraq and Afghanistan hearing that Congress is cutting their GI Bill benefits. What kind of message does that send to our people in inform? It's outrageous, and it's the one that might actually unite everybody from all political stripes in a campaign season.
CUOMO: Well, they say that, right?
RIECKHOFF: Yes.
CUOMO: And when there are big meetings of our leaders, they bring veterans there, especially those who have paid the price in an extreme way, and then everybody stands. Everybody's joined.
RIECKHOFF: Yes.
CUOMO: We all support the troops.
RIECKHOFF: Yes.
CUOMO: But then what happens?
RIECKHOFF: Well, we make good window dressing. Right? I mean, veterans are very popular. We've had a saying a long time. Babies, puppies and vets. On the political campaign trail, babies, puppies, vets, are an automatic home run.
It's an ultimate pander line. Everybody can say, I support our veterans, or I'm going to clean up VA. It's like the old way of saying, I'm going to clean up Washington. Everybody used to say it. Sounds great. But actually, getting it done is very hard.
But it's not harder than being in combat. And when you're in combat, you should know you come home, your GI Bill benefits are going to be there for your spouses and for your kids.
CUOMO: Four-hundred and fifty-thousand plus you represent now, right?
RIECKHOFF: Yes, sir.
CUOMO: What's the bracelet?
RIECKHOFF: This is for awareness of IAVA. Folks can see it online at iava.org. Also, you can take action. You can buy gear, obviously. This is run by a veteran-owned small business called Oscar Mike. A paralyzed veteran named Noah Courier started on the company.
CUOMO: On the Move, OM?
RIECKHOFF: OM, On the Move. It's a military parlance for on the move, and that's who we are. Veterans are on the move. We're not victims. We're not a charity. We're leaders, and we're going to take the lead now, and we're going to push the country forward. But it starts with education, too.
CUOMO: You buy this stuff, and it supports the movement? It supports the vets?
RIECKHOFF: Absolutely.
CUOMO: I'm in.
RIECKHOFF: Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.
CUOMO: Paul Rieckhoff, thank you very much for being with us.
RIECKHOFF: Thank you.
CUOMO: We'll make you promise we will ask each of the campaigns to respond to this issue.
RIECKHOFF: Thank you.
CUOMO: We'll get it done next week.
RIECKHOFF: That's what we need. Thank you, sir.
CUOMO: All right. Alisyn.
CAMAROTA: OK, Chris, the bravery of a former Boston police officer forced to retire after the marathon bombings. We'll tell you how he went beyond the call of duty. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMAROTA: Today we mark a somber anniversary, three years since the Boston marathon bombings. The explosions, of course, changed Boston and its people.
Among them, transit cop Dic Donohue. He was involved in the shoot-out that stopped the Tsarnaev brothers, but he very nearly lost his own life in the process.
CNN's Brynn Gingras spoke with him about going beyond the call of duty. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BREN GINGRAS, REPORTER, CNN: The Boston marathon finish line signifies a new start for Dick Donohue.
DIC DONOHUE, INJURED DURING FIREFIGHT WITH BOSTON BOMBERS: Pride and perseverance.
GINGRAS: Each day an opportunity for a man, who by all medical standards, shouldn't be alive.
DONOHUE: I bled out on scene. I lost something like over 90 percent of the blood in my body.
GINGRAS: It was the early morning of April 19th, 2013, just days after these explosions changed the city.
DONOHUE: I partnered up with another transit police officer, and we began the hunt, and we eventually heard a call for assistance from the Watertown police officers. We happened to be a couple miles away in Cambridge, and we went to their assistance.
GINGRAS: He was out of his jurisdiction and just learned his academy classmate, MIT officer, Sean Collier, had been killed. That didn't stop Donohue from responding. Though what happened next, he says, is a blur.
DONOHUE: I remember being on-scene just briefly, and the next thing I remember is really kind of waking up and this just incredible fight inside me, and there I am in the hospital.
GINGRAS: That's where doctors told him he had been in a massive shoot-out with the Tsarnaev brothers, who carried out the bombings. The DA's report says he was probably shot by another officer.
DONOHUE: I sustained a gunshot wound to my right leg. It severed the right femoral artery, and I had over 40 minutes of CPR, 46 blood products, and I had six to eight hours of surgery.
GINGRAS: So if they hadn't gotten you to the hospital, like, fast enough, would you even be here?
DONOHUE: I would not.
GINGRAS: Donohue spent two months at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, determined to rehab and heal. Nearly two years later, he put his uniform back on. The transit officer was promoted to sergeant, but his injuries began to take a toll.
DONOHUE: And I'm in pain all the time.
GINGRAS: It makes it hard to do your job.
DONOHUE: It does. It does. It makes it one step slower, and I wouldn't want to put anybody's life or safety in danger.
GINGRAS: He's since retired.
DONOHUE: I can't look at the past with bitterness and regret. I can only move forward.
JANGESS (ph): And that means embracing each day with his family, his three-year-old son and a second son due on the anniversary of when he almost lost his life.
Bren Gingras, CNN, Boston.
CAMAROTA: My gosh. What a hero.
PEREIRA: What a story, what a tale. And they have a baby they're expecting now. That's so great.
CAMAROTA: That is great.
PEREIRA: That's magical.
CUOMO: Beautiful example of Boston strong.
PEREIRA: Absolutely.
All right, that's it for us on "New Day" this week. Time for "Newsroom" with Carol Costello. It's her favorite day.
CUOMO: Here it is.
CAMAROTA: It is.
(CROSSTALK)
CAROL COSTELLO, HOST, CNN NEWSROOM: It is. Happy, happy Friday, all of you. Have a great weekend.
PEREIRA: You, too.
COSTELLO: Newsroom starts now.
