Trump Backs Immigration Plan; Bill Significantly Flawed
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer. It's 1:00 p.m. here in Washington, 6:00 p.m. in London, 8:00 p.m. in Moscow. Wherever you're watching around the world, thanks very much for joining us. Up first, President Trump tackled some major issues, including new sanctions leveled against Russia and a new plan to limit legal immigration into the United States. The president has just signed a bill to impose additional sanctions on Russia, but it also restricts his ability to ease those sanctions against Moscow. And just a little while ago, the president announced a plan to dramatically overhaul the immigration system in the United States. It's called the RAYS Act. The president says it would give priority to highly-skilled workers and limit the number of unskilled immigrants.</s>DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This competitive application process will favor applicants who speak English, financially support themselves and their families, and demonstrate skills that will contribute to our economy. The RAYS Act prevents new immigrants and new immigrants from collecting welfare and protects U.S. workers from being displaced.</s>BLITZER: And the Trump administration hasn't given up trying to repeal and replace Obamacare but some Republicans are now breaking with the president on health care and other issues. But let's begin with Russia sanctions. The bill passed by Congress by an overwhelming margin. And it gives lawmakers, not the president, the power to ease those sanctions on Russia. Let's bring in our Senior White House Correspondent Jim Acosta and our Congressional Correspondent Ryan Nobles, he's up on Capitol Hill. Jim, the president signed the bill but he certainly didn't celebrate the event. Tell our viewers what he's saying about this new sanctions' law.</s>JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. And we should point out, unlike other acts that the president has taken here at the White House, this did not happen in front of the cameras. He signed this behind closed doors and then issued a couple of statements. One of those signing statements that accompanied the signing of this legislations which imposes some new sanctions on Russia's energy industry. Also limits the president's ability, as you said, to lift sanctions on Russia. You'll recall, after the 2016 election, the Obama administration slapped sanctions on the Russians, ejecting them from those diplomatic compounds on the Maryland eastern shore in New York. But the president, along with that signing of the legislation, issued a statement that he disagreed with portions of it. And we can put this on screen. He's essentially saying that it's not constitutional. And here's what he has to say in one of these statements. It says, while I favor tough measure to punish and deter aggressive and destabilizing behavior by Iran, North Korea and Russia, this legislation is significantly flawed. In its haste to pass this legislation, the Congress included a number of clearly unconstitutional provisions. So, that is a suggestion there, Wolf, that even though this bill has become law, the president has signed it, the president does intend, the administration does intend to exercise its authority, in terms of the implementation of this law. And we should also point out, Wolf. There was another statement that was put out by the White House from the president on all of this. And it said that he signed this bill for the sake of national unity which is a very interesting statement, Wolf. Because it obviously acknowledges some of the deep concerns that exist, not only on the Democratic side, but even on the Republican side, about the Russia investigation. About what's going on over here at the White House. If you'll recall, it was just yesterday when Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House Press Secretary, acknowledged that the president helped craft that misleading statement from his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., about that meeting he had with Russians during the campaign. And so, it appears in the signing of this legislation and the statements that went along with it, that the White House is trying its best to move on and deal with some of the fallout, the public relations fallout, P.R. fallout, of this Russia investigation which is ongoing -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: You know, Ryan, you're up on Capitol Hill. The bill passed by a vote of, what, 98 to two in the Senate, 419 to three in the House of Representatives. So, Congress would have been able, clearly, to override a presidential veto. There was no veto. He signed it into law. But the he's message he sending lawmakers is very clear. This is significantly flawed, he says, and contains unconstitutional provisions.</s>RYAN NOBLES, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf. And I think, by the margins that you talked about there that this passed by so overwhelmingly, it's, quite frankly, the bipartisan thing that this Congress has done in 2017. It shows that both Republicans and Democrats don't necessarily trust the White House all that much as it relates to Russia. And even Bob Corker from Tennessee, who's largely been supportive of the administration, and he was the lead negotiator in the Senate and was in open conversations with the White House about this particular bill. He said publicly that the fact that the White House has not really given strong statements, as it relates to Russia, is one of the reasons that this bill had to be passed. And provide more controls by the Congress, as it relates to the implementation of sanctions like these. So, this is another indication, Wolf, of, kind of, the rocky relationship between Capitol Hill and the White House right now. And it's not just Democrats. There are more and more Republicans that are uncomfortable with that relationship. It even tracks back to the health care debate. So, this was a loud and clear message from this Congress that they are a co-equal branch of government and part of their job is to keep the White House in check.</s>BLITZER: Yes, the president clearly does not believe that. We're going to get into that a little bit more. Ryan Nobles, Jim Acosta, guys, thanks very much. Let's discuss all these late-breaking developments. I'm joined by Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Senator, thanks so much for joining us.</s>SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R), LOUISIANA: Thank you, Wolf. Thanks for having me.</s>BLITZER: So, you were a part of the 98 who voted in favor of the Russia sanctions legislation. You know President Trump, he just signed the sanctions bill into law but he also said it was significantly flawed, contains clearly unconstitution -- a number of clearly unconstitutional provisions. And he then added this to the statement and let me read it to you because it's very significant. My administration will give careful and respectful consideration to the preferences expressed by the Congress in these various provisions and will implement them in a manner consistent with the president's constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations. He seems to be suggesting, Senator, he's going to decide what is constitutional, not constitutional. He's not simply going to implement what you guys on Capitol Hill wanted. Your reaction?</s>CASSIDY: So, there's always been tension between the executive and the legislative when it comes to -- when it comes to foreign affairs. It goes back to at least Henry Cabot Lodge and Woodrow Wilson. On the other hand, we, as a legislative body, wanted to clearly say that Russia's recent actions are beyond the pale and that they deserve some response. If the president decides to have something which is a half measure, then obviously Congress has their own tools. But I'd rather think that the president and Congress will work together with each other, as opposed to against each other.</s>BLITZER: Yes, he clearly has that threat in there. He will decide how to implement it, not you guys. And then, he goes one step further, Senator, and he really slaps the U.S. Congress in a separate statement, personal statement he released. Quote, "The bill remains seriously flawed, particularly because it encroaches on the executive branch's authority to negotiate. Congress could not even negotiate a health care bill after seven years of talking. By limiting the executive's flexibility, this bill makes it harder for the United States to strike good deals for the American people." And then, he adds this. I built a truly great company worth many billions of dollars. That is a big part of the reason I was elected. As president, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress. He's really giving Congress a slap right there. I want you to react to that.</s>CASSIDY: I'm kind of chuckling. That's such a Trumpian statement. The fact is, though, is if the legislative branch has a role in this, we're exerting that role. If the president comes up with a better deal, I'm sure Congress will be open to that. On the other hand, we felt there had to be a response to some of the actions that Russia has taken recently. And I'm glad we passed the agreement.</s>BLITZER: Yes, he basically suggesting what you passed and what he actually signed, even though he says it's unconstitutional and significantly flawed. He's basically suggesting he will decide how to implement it, whether to implement it, and he's not going to really pay that much attention to it. But let's get on to some other critically important issues, Senator, while I have you. As you know, he's had a series of meetings with some of your Republican colleagues. Later today, he's extended an invitation to Senator Portman to come over. Has this outreach worked so far? Because increasingly, we're hearing a lot of grumbling from Republican senators.</s>CASSIDY: Well, the president clearly still wants to replace Obamacare and that's a good thing, from my perspective. And I think we've made some progress. But we're doing it differently. We're bringing in governors, hearing from their Medicaid directors, finding out what would make a bill work for them. If you look at the data, if you look at a state which increases coverage, it has much more to do with the actions of a governor than it does with the individual mandate. So, if you really care about coverage, we need to get the governors engaged. The president's doing that. I'm working with the White House as well. I think it's a really good direction to go in.</s>BLITZER: Let's talk about the immigration policy that he unveiled today. He announced that the United States would like -- he wants the U.S. to switch to what he called a merit-based system. Do you -- giving preference to skilled workers to come to the United States, entrepreneurs, people who speak English. Do you think this is something that could work and do you think the votes are there to make a significant change like that?</s>CASSIDY: You know, I think that's been proposed in the past and absolutely I think that that would be well received. I'm not -- I don't have a clear read of what Democrats would say about that. But we want folks who will make our economy more prosperous. And the folks that will are those that come with skillsets or with capital that can, again, create jobs for Americans who are already here. That is the sweet spot in immigration policy. If the president advances that, I would like to think there'll be bipartisan support for that.</s>BLITZER: Because a lot of Democrats and some Republicans are already saying what he announced today goes against the tradition of just to welcome in rich people or people who speak English, but welcome immigrants of all types and give them an opportunity to experience the American dream. What do you say to that?</s>CASSIDY: Because this is not just about those who are coming, it's also about those who are here. And those who are here will be more prosperous, if an entrepreneur comes into their depressed community, creates a business which then creates thousands of jobs. We have to consider not just those coming, but first those who are here. I think the president is doing that. I think that's the better way to go.</s>BLITZER: You're a physician. A final question on health care right now. You're a member of the Senate Health Committee as will. The chairman of that committee, Lamar Alexander, a man you know well, he announced that the committee will hold bipartisan health care hearings. He really wants to work with the Democrats now, now that repeal and replace has failed in the Senate. Do you believe there is an opportunity now to come up with some bipartisan legislation that will fix many of the problems of the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare?</s>CASSIDY: Well, already, I think the chairman has an agreement with the ranking member to work on the cost sharing reduction payments, at least through 2018. Those families who are looking at 40 percent increases in their premiums, Republicans tried to address that recently. We failed, unfortunately to get 50 votes. Nevertheless, that would address this issue through 2018. So, it's a -- if you will, already a bipartisan solution for an immediate problem. Going forward, I've always been about, personally, getting something bipartisan. I think it's the better way to go and I continue to work to that end.</s>BLITZER: Senator Cassidy, thanks for joining us.</s>CASSIDY: Thank you, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Good luck. Up next, President Trump says his Mexican counterpart called him to praise his work on border security. But guess what? Mexico's president says that call never happened. We have new information. Plus, the U.S. says it's successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile today. As tensions with North Korea escalate, this comes as one key U.S. senator says war with that rogue nation is now inevitable. Stay with us.