April 25, 2025 • 9 mins
Mike Lawler speaks with Mendte in the Morning about the first 100 days in congress and what they have been able to accomplish already.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, since the one hundred and nineteenth Congress was sworn
in on January third, they have been in for one
hundred days, and I think everybody focuses on the big,
beautiful bill that Donald Trump wants and why hasn't that
been introduced yet? But Congressman Mike Lawler representing New York
seventeenth District does remind us, and he put out a
(00:21):
press release to this effect that they did get a
lot done. Congressman Lawler is here with us now. Thanks
for joining US representatives, Thanks for your.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Time, appreciate it. Thanks for having me, Larry talk.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
About the first hundred days. Because there's been so much
attention on the Trump Reconciliation bill, I think people have
a tendency to forget all the things you've gotten.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Done, no question, you know. I think obviously, starting with
the border, we've seen a significant progress there, the President
shutting down the border effectively, border crossings for the month
of March down to just over seven thousand, which is
the lowest recorded and in forever. And you know, obviously,
(01:08):
as we look at what happened over the four years
under Joe Biden, it was a disaster, and so what
the President has done to effectively stop this flow of
migration has been critical, coupled with obviously the deportation process
(01:29):
of criminal aliens and those who have previous orders of
deportation against them. You know. Obviously, you see the media
doesn't even talk about it anymore, right, because they've done
such an effective job with respect to stopping the flow
of migration. Obviously, you know, the economy is critically important,
(01:54):
and the work that the administration is doing with respect
to energy prices, grocery prices, uh, that is, that is
a big focal point. Obviously the tariffs, uh, you know,
have caused some consternation, but I think in the in
the long run, what you're going to see here, UH is,
(02:14):
you know, a big part of what the administration focused
on is how we get better and terrier trade deals
which in the long run are going to benefit Americans
and uh and reduce overall costs while bringing back jobs
to the US and bringing back manufacturing to the US,
and taking on China and their trade practices which have
(02:39):
been destructive to the country. Obviously, maximizing pressure on Iran,
the greatest state sponsor of terror, getting the hostages home,
you know, really working to end these conflicts around the
globe is paramount, and then of course, obviously reining in
(03:00):
the size and scope of the federal government. And we've
already seen significant progress with respect to ending the waste,
fraud and abuse across the system, and that obviously needs
to continue as we work through all these challenges. And
from the standpoint of reconciliation, you know, I'm in the
(03:22):
process of working on what we need to do to
make sure that we lift a cap on salt as
part of the tax bill and address the immediate tax
needs of middle class and working class families across our country.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
What is the hold up on the reconciliation bill in
your caucus?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's got a hold up so much as it's just
obviously a very extensive process more than anything else. You know,
we have a very large bill that encompasses a lot
of different things, including obviously taxes, border defense spending. So
(04:13):
there's a lot of work that goes into it, and
that's what's taking, you know, the most amount of time
as we work through it. So we passed the budget
resolution just two weeks ago, and now you know, the
committees are going to be in the process of going
through the work on the actual legislation.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
So you're saying, the votes are there, the votes are
there for whatever is what you come up with in
the end.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Well, ultimately yes, and it's just it's a process of
negotiating within the conference on the final contents of the bill. Okay,
And so that's what we're in the process of doing.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
There seem to be some concern about the number of votes.
But I'm glad you're saying that's cleared up. Gusman Lawyer
are Lawler? Are you? Are you running for governor?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
We're we're still in the process of working through that. I,
as I've said previously, expect to make a decision by
June as to whether or not I'm going to run
for governor. But you know, I think at the end
of the day, New Yorkers deserve a choice, uh, And
they deserve a choice as to as to who best
(05:29):
to lead the state and get our state on the
right track. We lead the nation and out migration. We
have the worst business climate, the worst tax and regulatory climate,
and so you know, a lot a lot of work
ahead to fix the state.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Does a least of phonics interest in getting in the
race change your calculation?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You know, at least is a good friend, and I
certainly I think she's been a great leader in Congress.
But I'll make my decision solely based on whether or not,
you know, I think I have the ability to win
and the ability to offer New Yorkers an alternative. At
(06:17):
the end of the day, if we're going to win
in New York, you need to be able to pull
together the coalition necessary. I've done that now three times
in two to one Democratic districts. You know, the state
is two and a half to one Democrat to Republicans,
and so you need to be able to build a
winning coalition, and I certainly think I've proven the ability
(06:41):
to do that. The question is in the state whether
or not there's really a viable path there.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Yeah, that's interesting, and it'll be my last question on this.
Because you were talking about a viable path and you
have to work together, Does that mean one of the
two of you are going to run but you both
won't run again gainst each other.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Look, I'm sure at some point Elise and I will
will talk. But again, my my determination is not going
to be driven by her determination at all. So whatever
she decides, that'll be her decision. But you know, to me,
the question is who who is best poised to win
a general election, uh and defeat Kathy Hopel And and
(07:27):
that's really what it boils down to.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Let's talk about congestion pricing a little bit. It seems
like the Justice Department again accidentally put out a memorandum
saying that there is some problems going forward and defeating
congestion pricing in New York does Does that hurt your fight?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
No, not at all.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Obviously, this is this is a process. Anytime you're dealing
with government bureaucracy, it's never quite as simple. But you
got to keep pressing ahead. And so you know, that's
what we're in the process of doing. I still fundamentally
believe that congestion pricing is nothing but a scam. It's
(08:10):
a fleecing of hardworking New Yorkers. And they can show
me all the numbers they want that traffic is down
and you know, put traffic is up. But the reality
is they're simply raising a billion dollars to borrow fifteen
billion dollars more. This is an entity that has eighty
billion It has more depth than eighty percent of the
(08:34):
states in the country. They're projecting more deficits in terms
of their spending and more inability to.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Fund their capital program. So you know, there are real
challenges here and.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
You know, frankly, the MTA doesn't have a plan for
how to fix it.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Congressman Mike Lawler, thanks so much for your time today.
Appreciate talking to you.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Thanks Larry
Well, since the one hundred and nineteenth Congress was sworn
in on January third, they have been in for one
hundred days, and I think everybody focuses on the big,
beautiful bill that Donald Trump wants and why hasn't that
been introduced yet? But Congressman Mike Lawler representing New York
seventeenth District does remind us, and he put out a
(00:21):
press release to this effect that they did get a
lot done. Congressman Lawler is here with us now. Thanks
for joining US representatives, Thanks for your.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Time, appreciate it. Thanks for having me, Larry talk.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
About the first hundred days. Because there's been so much
attention on the Trump Reconciliation bill, I think people have
a tendency to forget all the things you've gotten.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Done, no question, you know. I think obviously, starting with
the border, we've seen a significant progress there, the President
shutting down the border effectively, border crossings for the month
of March down to just over seven thousand, which is
the lowest recorded and in forever. And you know, obviously,
(01:08):
as we look at what happened over the four years
under Joe Biden, it was a disaster, and so what
the President has done to effectively stop this flow of
migration has been critical, coupled with obviously the deportation process
(01:29):
of criminal aliens and those who have previous orders of
deportation against them. You know. Obviously, you see the media
doesn't even talk about it anymore, right, because they've done
such an effective job with respect to stopping the flow
of migration. Obviously, you know, the economy is critically important,
(01:54):
and the work that the administration is doing with respect
to energy prices, grocery prices, uh, that is, that is
a big focal point. Obviously the tariffs, uh, you know,
have caused some consternation, but I think in the in
the long run, what you're going to see here, UH is,
(02:14):
you know, a big part of what the administration focused
on is how we get better and terrier trade deals
which in the long run are going to benefit Americans
and uh and reduce overall costs while bringing back jobs
to the US and bringing back manufacturing to the US,
and taking on China and their trade practices which have
(02:39):
been destructive to the country. Obviously, maximizing pressure on Iran,
the greatest state sponsor of terror, getting the hostages home,
you know, really working to end these conflicts around the
globe is paramount, and then of course, obviously reining in
(03:00):
the size and scope of the federal government. And we've
already seen significant progress with respect to ending the waste,
fraud and abuse across the system, and that obviously needs
to continue as we work through all these challenges. And
from the standpoint of reconciliation, you know, I'm in the
(03:22):
process of working on what we need to do to
make sure that we lift a cap on salt as
part of the tax bill and address the immediate tax
needs of middle class and working class families across our country.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
What is the hold up on the reconciliation bill in
your caucus?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's got a hold up so much as it's just
obviously a very extensive process more than anything else. You know,
we have a very large bill that encompasses a lot
of different things, including obviously taxes, border defense spending. So
(04:13):
there's a lot of work that goes into it, and
that's what's taking, you know, the most amount of time
as we work through it. So we passed the budget
resolution just two weeks ago, and now you know, the
committees are going to be in the process of going
through the work on the actual legislation.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
So you're saying, the votes are there, the votes are
there for whatever is what you come up with in
the end.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Well, ultimately yes, and it's just it's a process of
negotiating within the conference on the final contents of the bill. Okay,
And so that's what we're in the process of doing.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
There seem to be some concern about the number of votes.
But I'm glad you're saying that's cleared up. Gusman Lawyer
are Lawler? Are you? Are you running for governor?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
We're we're still in the process of working through that. I,
as I've said previously, expect to make a decision by
June as to whether or not I'm going to run
for governor. But you know, I think at the end
of the day, New Yorkers deserve a choice, uh, And
they deserve a choice as to as to who best
(05:29):
to lead the state and get our state on the
right track. We lead the nation and out migration. We
have the worst business climate, the worst tax and regulatory climate,
and so you know, a lot a lot of work
ahead to fix the state.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Does a least of phonics interest in getting in the
race change your calculation?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You know, at least is a good friend, and I
certainly I think she's been a great leader in Congress.
But I'll make my decision solely based on whether or not,
you know, I think I have the ability to win
and the ability to offer New Yorkers an alternative. At
(06:17):
the end of the day, if we're going to win
in New York, you need to be able to pull
together the coalition necessary. I've done that now three times
in two to one Democratic districts. You know, the state
is two and a half to one Democrat to Republicans,
and so you need to be able to build a
winning coalition, and I certainly think I've proven the ability
(06:41):
to do that. The question is in the state whether
or not there's really a viable path there.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Yeah, that's interesting, and it'll be my last question on this.
Because you were talking about a viable path and you
have to work together, Does that mean one of the
two of you are going to run but you both
won't run again gainst each other.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Look, I'm sure at some point Elise and I will
will talk. But again, my my determination is not going
to be driven by her determination at all. So whatever
she decides, that'll be her decision. But you know, to me,
the question is who who is best poised to win
a general election, uh and defeat Kathy Hopel And and
(07:27):
that's really what it boils down to.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Let's talk about congestion pricing a little bit. It seems
like the Justice Department again accidentally put out a memorandum
saying that there is some problems going forward and defeating
congestion pricing in New York does Does that hurt your fight?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
No, not at all.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Obviously, this is this is a process. Anytime you're dealing
with government bureaucracy, it's never quite as simple. But you
got to keep pressing ahead. And so you know, that's
what we're in the process of doing. I still fundamentally
believe that congestion pricing is nothing but a scam. It's
(08:10):
a fleecing of hardworking New Yorkers. And they can show
me all the numbers they want that traffic is down
and you know, put traffic is up. But the reality
is they're simply raising a billion dollars to borrow fifteen
billion dollars more. This is an entity that has eighty
billion It has more depth than eighty percent of the
(08:34):
states in the country. They're projecting more deficits in terms
of their spending and more inability to.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Fund their capital program. So you know, there are real
challenges here and.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
You know, frankly, the MTA doesn't have a plan for
how to fix it.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Congressman Mike Lawler, thanks so much for your time today.
Appreciate talking to you.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Thanks Larry
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