North Carolina People; Sen. Richard Burr, US Senate, R-North Carolina

And evening ladies and gentleman recently in North Carolina people had the great good fortune of having a chance to sit and talk with our United States Senator Richard Burr. He was in Chapel Hill. I'm so pleased to have him in our program again. We will talk with him just a few seconds sponsored in part by walkover helping North Carolina people realize their financial goals. Since 1879 and through the financial contributions of viewers like you who invite you to join them in supporting U.N. see TV. Well it's certainly good to see you again and thank you for sitting down and joining us one more time but I do have a back career.

The United States Senate is often characterized as the world's most exclusive club and all is safe. Go to the House of Representatives there's where afraid of a democracy raise it. And this surprises to you. I think there have been some surprises it was a fairly easy transition from the house over to the Senate. But I never envisioned how much time the Senate spent on the nominations of the president for his Cabinet and all the secretaries and undersecretaries of the judicial nominees that come through the United States Senate work that the House of Representatives was never involved in I think in my first year I spend 50 percent of my time just with this confirmation process. But clearly there are other changes in the United States Senate. We can only consider legislation when it's unanimously agreed to and I think that's one of the things the American people really don't understand. That's right. Because it's a slow process at it. Makes you do a lot of homework then. If you're a very conscientious person you you study these things I'm sure. Well I think knowledge is the most valuable tool we can have in Washington. And

clearly that knowledge requires a discipline to go out and talk to the individuals who you truly trust to be accurate on the information. But at the end of the day we can never forget the United States Senate that one member can delay or kill a piece of legislation. So without making your case not just within the institution years itself but across America it is very difficult for big things to happen in the United States Senate. Ever watch the out of C-SPAN when I'm home that I see you sitting up there presiding over this august body. How about you and the Roberts Rules of Order. That took a lot of work to study it on your part did. Well I've I've spent a lot of time in the chair about my choice and I've been scared to ever open the book that says the rules of the Senate because I'm convinced that the pages are blank and convinced that precedent is what the parliamentarian rules by and that things

are exactly the case that the last time they had a ruling is what sets what the next ruling will look like. But I've been fortunate in the fact that I set the record for the Senate since they've kept the records for the first hundred hours completed in the earliest time ever. And just a month ago I got my second golden gavel which means my second hundred hours completed all in the first session and all in the hundred one Congress which is the fastest second gavel in the history. Richard does most of the work get done in the committee. Well it's interesting that I could always say that about the House of Representatives because the American people could count on the fact that in the house we had had an opportunity to scrub and amend the bill five times before it passed in the Senate I find that legislation almost is created by macular conception. You wake up one day and all of a sudden there's a bill.

It just so happens that the chairman and ranking member are supportive of the legislation. What we've tried to do over the last two years is to institute some of the things that I think are healthy from the house having hearings that are open making sure that members are invited with their input for what should be in a bill. I found it to be just as difficult quite honestly to get a bill passed. But I believe that the product that we end up with is a product that is less likely to be changed as you conference between the House and the Senate and probably less likely for America to wake up one day and be surprised with what's in it. Yesterday the president and the commanding generals told us we may need more troops in Iraq. It's going to take maybe 18 months more. You were recently on the scene. What thought Would you share with us as to where you think our country needs to go on this very pervasive issue.

Well I came back six weeks ago with two other members of the Senate. We said at that time that Iraq's future is in their hands. It's not in the hands of America or the military of our country. It's in the decisions of the newly elected representatives of the Iraqi parliament make as it relates to the division of of oil revenues and whether in fact the steps that they take are going to make the Sunni's feel part of a unity government or feel that they need to in the unity government. The General Casey's plans for security in Baghdad were absolutely essential if in fact we want to hope that democracy could withstand the insurgency. We've been set back on that security plan but I think that the announcement this week was a recommitment to the need for that security. And the last thing we said was that the Iraqi people especially in Baghdad neighborhoods needed to see the infrastructure begin to to be put in place the water the

sewer the electricity that we take for granted in the United States has not been in place in in large measure because McCotter al Sadr controls three of the ministries of the parliament. Those ministers choose not to extend services to the Iraqi people because that's their contribution to making sure that chaos prevails over stability. There's no no doubt in my mind. That we have to be successful in Iraq and in Afghanistan because we need of an area of stability if in fact we expect Israel and Palestinian to come to a peace table and talk honestly. If in fact we believe that we can come to a diplomatic solution with Iran we've got a lot of problems around the world right now. I don't think they're reflective of anything that America has initiated. If anything I think it's reflective of the fact that they're in the US in many

cases of the stability and the growth and and what we have here. But I think we also have an obligation to be that world leader. My hope is that more countries follow us in the future as we try to root the world of dictators and to end genocide whether it's in Iraq or quite honestly whether it's in Darfur where X exists today. We have to play an active role and we need a United Nations that is engaged with us versus fighting against us. Do you worry about the threat of Iran. Oh I think anybody that doesn't in concern today about Iran has made a real mistake because Iran is currently controlled by elements of this alarming radical segment that really has spurred terrorism around the world. I remember in the late 90s or Iran had their democratically elected process and many members in their parliament were young 32 33

34 years old. And they called us and wanted members of the United States Congress to come over and actually guide them on where to go. Well the next time they came up for election the clerics in the Willows made sure they weren't on the ballot. They knew what was getting ready to happen so I truly believe that there is a real thirst in Iran also for democracy and for the freedoms and and for this free economy that we have. We're going to have to make sure that we're able to nurture that. And right now the best way to do it is through diplomacy. One of the reasons true or false that always brought up about all of this is our dependency on oil. You were involved in the energy committee subcommittee chairman diligent good work here. We read about Brazil's independence and I learned yesterday from President both his wife had just been down there that this is ethanol utilization and the accommodation of motors used to fuel. What do you think. Where are we

and what's going to happen in our country. Wade passed an energy blueprint an energy plan for the next 10 years in August of last year took effect this January I think to some degree the stability that we see today is somewhat the result of that plan. But we're still in a very much a supply and demand market as you begin to see the potential of the growth in China in India in African nations that will become developing countries over the next 20 years. I think we have to wake up and and realize that our use of petroleum as a fuel for cars or trucks just can't continue with the rate without an expectation of shortages and high prices. We've brought to the table new alternatives ethanol because we've seen what Brazil has done. Methanol. We talked about hydrogen technology. But there's there's nothing in that list that we see that's a replacement for petroleum. I believe that it's time to start the debate on what the replacement products are going to

be. It will be a healthy debate for the country but I think it's also a necessity for the world to begin to look at with a limited supply of petroleum and we need that product for plastics and for other products that are in the marketplace. As these countries develop the pressures that will be placed on that commodity are so great that our need is going to be to switch fuels. And I believe that will focus on that more electricity than we do today. My hope is that we really invest in battery technology and charging technology. I just proposed a piece of legislation before we left open new exploration in ANWAR. But to use 100 percent of the federal royalties to to invest in the future replacement fuels that we might be able to utilize in this country. I think that the the debate is healthy for start now. Are there automotive companies just sensitive to this as you obviously are. You think they really realize what's happening here.

Well when you see the the profits or lack there of the General Motors and Ford I think they're searching for anything in design and and in specifications that might meet the demands of the market in the future. It's difficult to look at the advances that Toyota has and others who have made on hybrids and to realize that with U.S. technology that made its way from General Motors to Japan we should be a leader in all new advances. It will take a federal commitment and a national commitment to return to that role again in this context. Yesterday you and I both read the story of Exxon to said ten billion dollar profits this quarter. Our president says we are at war with World War 2 we regulated such things but the U.S. further decline in gas prices to get at this problem in our country I think is going to.

Well in the last 45 days we've seen gasoline fall about 85 cents a gallon at the pump. Part of that is the the natural end of summer of the summer. And we now go to a fuel that's a not oxygenated where the cost of production is a little bit less. But I think we have to look at our policies in this country and realize that we make a hundred twenty five different boutique fuels. We allow every governor in the country to decide what formula they're going to sell in their state. And that's not efficient from of production standpoint from a refinery standpoint. I'd like to see us adopt a 15 fuels and they can be the higher more environmentally friendly blends. But I think that we ought to do that in this country so that we can maximize our refinery capacity. We can make sure that we're not producing fuels in California that they're selling in North Carolina and that we've got to undo the transportation cost involved. But I also believe that the oil companies have to be a partner a

partner in what the future holds for us so it's not just in the acquisition of new fields and new refinery capacity it's in investing in alternatives and potentially replacements for gasoline. Let's shift over to something else I know you work hard at. That's this whole question of the delivery of health care in this country. We try a lot of things some are good some haven't really been tested yet. Where do you think we need to go to get to get a better grip on this problem. The cost factor the delivery factor the senior citizen is a very complicated issue. I know and you certainly work on this a lot more than most of us where are we. Well we're we're in a very difficult situation right now and I'm going to call it a quagmire but some days it seems like that we need several initiatives today. Prevention and wellness needs to be the centerpiece of all the health care in this country whether you're self-insured

your employer provides insurance whether you're on Medicaid whether you're on Medicare or whether you're uninsured. There's no substitute for the ability to access primary care to have a relationship with a health care professional. As we look at the challenges that we have in health care that really do drive the cost up. It's disease management it's our ability to teach people one to make the right health decisions to to do the things that they need to make sure that they don't visit the emergency room or that they're admitted into the hospital. That's an impossible thing for us to accomplish without an individual having a relationship with a health care professional. It could be a community health center it could be a primary care doc it because be a registered nurse a clinic or a hospital. We're making great strides in North Carolina to reform Medicaid. And I believe that with a little bit of federal help we can be the model in the country for how we transition Medicaid hopefully through that that has an influence on the private insurance products that we

have. It has some affects on Medicare but those would be slight and it gives us a better understanding of what we need to do and as a country to deal with the uninsured population that some estimated 45 million today. Clearly that in combination with accelerating the research and development of new drugs and devices. Sometimes the the bull's eye of the political rhetoric in Washington the pharmaceutical companies and device companies but they're actually a key to our success to cure people versus to spend a lifetime just with maintaining a disease. We've gone through an era where we have transitioned one of millions of Americans away from bypass surgery at $75000 a procedure to a daily dose of some type of cholesterol lowering drug. On the surface that's very expensive but

when you look at it from a standpoint of what you save and the effects on the quality of life of the individuals all of this is the type of breakthrough that we continually need to make. We just need to make it at a faster pace right now. Speaking of prevention earlier you told me that your dad and I were both 86 and he goes to the gym two hours a day you look on usually healthy you get a workout as much as he does. I wish I did but I also understand that if it's not genetic then you better take things into your own hands. And I think that more and more Americans are realizing that exercise is an absolute key to good health and what we need is we need those who are genetically in good health to stay in good health. Those individuals that genetically will be again will have some type of disease. We've got to free up that money to make sure that we can treat that disease that they can overcome just by good

decisions. You know your view our mutual friend the late Archie Davis used to tell me that you get to be 85 it's genetics and chemistry and exercise and take your joy and you know the realities are there to sit down with somebody 86 years old is a normal thing today. So you know so it's not an exception and I think that's one of the the items that we have to look at is the aging of America and the health of America and the realisation that there are funding formulas that deal with entitlement program in this country that were never designed to be placed in the situation. We've got to make some modifications. If we want the next generation. To enjoy the security of the programs we have in place and it's my hope that the next two candidates that run for president will take those issues on head on and that we can get some real reforms that allow us security on both ends those who are in the later years of life but also those who are being

warned of the particularly true for our state. You know with the great influx of retirees in North Carolina it's a huge industry in this state now. And it's not just retirees. Lots of this excitement that North Carolina's population will increase 53 percent over the next 18 years. That is a lot of this it will be were jobs are created it will be more prosperity hopefully comes first. You know in the Indian Affairs Committee what about I love the friends dad and Roberson Katty where our way while we continue to try to bring their recognition to the Senate floor. And as I said when you have one senator that objects legislation and consider other tribes around the country that have been recognized that don't want to see that pie split any additional ways and for that reason they object to that legislation coming forward so we'll continue to fight for it we'll continue to make their case. North Carolina recognizes alum bees and have for years. It's my hope that as we move forward we'll be able to bring that legislation up.

Let's go back now to the city of Washington the minute lots of stories are written today about the political to business in our nation's capital not just on party lines but many other ways people get divided in their opinions. But it's it seems to be a more mean spirited more divisive more angry. Is this a case of fair reading of what you see. Oh I think it is a fair hareem I think there are some words that we could make up that wouldn't even describe it better. The reality is the politics has become a contact sport. And I think where we used to see it limited only to one's view on the issues. Now it's become very personal personal and my concern is that if we don't change it. Good people won't run. It's not as much the effect that it has on the candidates themselves. It's the effect that it has on families and friends. And it's my hope that this election cycle might be the peak of that.

This of necessity as we move towards 2008 that calmer heads will prevail and the candidates will see that even though they believe that this is what they need to do America does not deserve for this to be the face of politics in this country. Some blame it on the amount of money that that's not the problem. The problem is the decisions that individual campaigns make in what they're willing to do to win win it in any cost is not healthy for America particularly in influencing young people and. I know you've noticed that the number of people voting that as declining year by year and this is one of the most one of the factors that motivates staying away. I think it is a factor too and I think we also leave that age group of voter out of our solicitation which is a huge mistake on the part of individuals running for elected office we have to give them a first hand reason to

be involved and to be active. I spend a lot of time in schools. I believe that it's important for those kids in primary education to understand who their representatives are and understand better what it is we do and why they should care about it. Now I won't succeed 100 percent but I believe as more and more take that on we will have an impact. I'm sure their colleagues will in the United States Senate that you find a very thoughtful hardworking very attentive people to the needs of this nation. And let's be rather they're exciting to be associated with some of those men and women. Well as you said some call it is an exclusive club. There are unique individuals with great talents and they bring so much to the leadership of this country. The challenge is to learn the things that you should learn from them and to realize that America asked Congress to reflect the American people all

535 of us with that comes some bad apples. And we've certainly seen this year the personal responsibility lapses of members of Congress. America needs to understand that they should judge your summer ability to to remove those individuals. But that as America is more reflective in all ways in Congress. We have to expect the fact that we will not have 100 percent of the members of Congress making the right decision every day. You get enough time to visit around home like you want to. Oh I was a busy person. I would always love to be home more but I think I had forty two roundtrip trips to Washington this year and a few more yet. That nice was a little bit of vacation gives me about seven full weeks to work the state. You know better than I do just how large the state is. But I believe it's my responsibility to visit every county as often as we can and in the first year after

the election of visited 87 of the hundred counties in North Carolina and I continue to set that as a goal on an annual basis. When you travel abroad do you find some people say that our country is not viewed the way it used to be in the sense of warmth and acceptance. I don't want to accept that point of view yet but you run into hostility. I think that we do run into some hostility. But make no mistake about it. Even when they're aware they're hostile. Their dream their ultimate dream is to be just like us and to come here if in fact they have that opportunity. We may not always look at ourselves and see how great we are but from the outside of they understand just what's so special about us. Ronald Reagan used to say that he never could understand what was so special about the U.S. Constitution. Everybody had one. He said it wasn't until I read theirs that I understood what was so special about ours.

There was always started with the government and our starts with the We The People. Quite a difference. Well I just want to tell you that it's been a real pleasure to sit here and visit with you again Richard and thank you for what you do for North Carolina up there in that wonderful United States Senate and godspeed in all your undertaking to benefit the people who need so much help in our country today and I hope you come back and visit with us again soon and ladies and gentlemen I hope you've enjoyed this visit with our senator and till next week then goodnight sponsored in part by walkover via helping North Carolina people realize their financial goals since 1879 and through the financial contributions of viewers like you who invite you to join them in supporting you and CTV.