1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," A NEW SUNY CHANCELLOR AND ANOTHER SEXUAL HARASSMENT CONTROVERSY.

WE'LL DISCUSS.

THEN CONGRESSMAN-ELECT MIKE LAWLER ON THE BIG UPSET LAST MONTH AND THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

LATER, WHAT'S NEXT FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM?

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M DAN CLARK.

NEW YORK HAS A NEW SUNY CHANCELLOR AND IT'S A FAMILIAR FACE.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER JOHN KING FROM TEN YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS NEW YORK'S EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

HE LEFT TO WORK IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND EVEN SPENT A YEAR AS THE U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, BUT NOW HE'S BACK TO LEAD THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY AND HE SAYS HIS EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING HIS OWN TIME IN PUBLIC GRADE SCHOOL, WILL DRIVE HOW HE DOES THE JOB.

>> I KNOW FIRSTHAND, FROM MY OWN LIFE AND MY CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR, THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF EDUCATION.

AS SUNY CHANCELLOR, I WILL STRIVE EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT WE DELIVER TOGETHER ON THAT 2 PROMISE FOR EVERY SUNY STUDENT.

>> LET'S GET INTO THAT AND MORE WITH KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT.

KESHIA, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO YOU COVER JOHN KING.

YOU WERE NOT AT BLOOMBERG AT THE TIME, BUT YOU WERE COVERING EDUCATION.

WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT JOHN KING, THE BULLET POINTS THAT I'D LIKE TO-- I DON'T KNOW-- REFRESH, HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE ROLLOUT OF COMMON CORE, AND I THINK THAT WAS LIKE THE BIG HEADLINE OF HIS TENURE THERE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE PARENTS WERE KIND OF UPSET THAT THEIR KIDS HAD STARTED IN THE OLD MATH AND HAD GONE TO THE NEW MATH AND ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF.

HOW DO YOU THINK HE WAS RECEIVED?

>> YEAH.

I THINK HE KIND OF JUMPED INTO A VERY TUMULTUOUS TIME IN NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION.

I WAS ACTUALLY COVERING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR OBSERVER DISPATCH.

SO I WAS ON THE GROUND WITH SOME OF THE FIRST TESTING OPT-OUT MOVEMENTS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR PARENTS WAS THAT THESE NEW LEARNING STANDARDS WERE PUT IN PLACE IN SEPTEMBER.

I MEAN, I HEARD STORIES OF TEACHERS LIKE PRINTING OUT THE TEXTBOOKS SO THEY COULD TEACH THEM THE NEXT DAY.

SO IT WAS VERY RUSHED, WHICH I 3 DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN CONTEST THAT WAS A PRETTY RUSHED ROLLOUT, BUT IT WAS TO GET THOSE FEDERAL RACE TO THE TOP DOLLARS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THOSE DOLLARS.

WE HAD TO PUT THIS LEARNING STANDARDS IN PLACE AND THEN THE ISSUE CAME WHEN THERE WAS TESTING ON THAT CURRICULUM IN APRIL AND PARENTS WERE, YOU KNOW, NERVOUS THAT THE KIDS WERE-- THAT THE TEACHERS WERE TEACHING TO THE TEST AND THAT THE KIDS WERE HAVING THESE LEARNING STANDARDS PUT IN PLACE TOO SOON AND BEING, YOU KNOW, GRADED ON IT, AND THEN THE OTHER ISSUE IS AT THE SAME TIME THE TEACHER EVALUATIONS WERE TIED TO THE TESTING.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND SO THAT WAS THE BIG THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, TEACHERS ARE TRYING TO TEACH THIS NEW CURRICULUM AND IT ALSO REFLECTS HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET PAID, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THEIR JOBS SO IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME.

I REMEMBER JOHN KING GOING TO DIFFERENT PUBLIC HEARINGS ACROSS THE STATE.

HE CAME TO THE UTICA AREA, AND IT WAS NOT A NICE SCENE TO BE AT.

I MEAN, THERE WERE PEOPLE JUST SCREAMING.

IT'S THEIR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT GETS VERY HEATED AND THEY'RE SCREAMING AT HIM AND 4 HE, I THINK TO HIS TESTAMENT, IS THAT HE IS A VERY,-LIKE REMAINED VERY CALM AND JUST CALMLY WAS, LIKE, ASK ME YOUR QUESTIONS, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER WHAT I CAN OR REALLY JUST TRYING TO LISTEN AND TAKE THAT AND PUT IT INTO PLACE.

HIS TENURE WAS VERY INTERESTING.

IT KIND OF CONTINUED TO RISE.

THE OPT-OUT MOVEMENTS WERE-- I FORGET WHAT THE NUMBERS WERE, BUT VERY HIGH IN THE STATE.

THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION, ESPECIALLY ON LONG ISLAND, AND THEN HE KIND OF HAD EXITED IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS.

>> SO YOU'VE COVERED SUNY CHANCELLORS, TOO.

IT'S AN INTERESTING TRANSITION FROM STATE ED COMMISSIONER TO U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION TO SOMETHING THAT I LEFT OUT A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT HE ALSO RAN FOR GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND RECENTLY AND NOW HE'S COME BACK TO NEW YORK TO BE THE SUNY CHANCELLOR.

JUST BRIEFLY,THERE ANYTHING THAT WE KNOW HOW THAT MIGHT INFORM WHAT KIND OF CHANCELLOR HE MIGHT BE?

OR, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKING AT SUNY CHANCELLORS IN GENERAL.

>> I THINK HE'S A VERY BIG PICTURE GUY.

SO I THINK HE'LL COME INTO THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND TAKE KIND OF AN OVERALL VIEW OF IT.

HE DOES HAVE THAT K-1CONNECTION, WHICH I THINK ONE OF THE PRIOR CHANCELLORS, NANCY ZIMPHER, HAD REALLY STRESSED WAS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST TAKING 5 THE KIDS FROM K TO 12 AND ENDS AND COLLEGE TO ENDS, YOU WANT IT TO BE THIS PIPE LINE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE JOB THAT THEY EVENTUALLY GET WITH THEIR DEGREE.

SO I THINK THAT HE COULD BRING A VERY INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, OUTLOOK ON THIS POSITION, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

HE'S INHERITING JUST A HOST OF ISSUES.

WE GOT A LOT OF TURNOVER IN THE SUNY CHANCELLOR.

WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, TWO, THREE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HERE.

[LAUGHTER] >> YEAH.

>> COMING AFTER NANCY ZIMPHER WHO WAS THERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND SO HE'S INHERITING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY ISSUES BECAUSE OF HISTORIC UNDERFUNDING OF THE SUNY SCHOOLS AT THE SAME TIME AND KIND OF INTERTWINED WITH THE FACT THAT THEY'RE LOSING ENROLLMENT, WHICH MANY SCHOOLS ARE.

IT'S NOT TO SUNY'S, YOU KNOW, DETRIMENT OR FAULT.

IT'S THE FACT THAT THERE'S JUST FEWER KIDS IN THE STATE.

SO YEAH.

IT'S GONNA BE REALLY INTERESTING.

HE'S TAKING ON A BIG TASK HERE AND WE'LL SEE IF HE'S UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.

>> ANOTHER BIG HEADLINE FROM THE WEEK THAT IS KIND OF A WEIRD-- IT'S COMPLICATED BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DATES INVOLVED, BUT I WILL GIVE OUR AUDIENCE THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT.

THE A.G.'S CHIEF OF STAFF, WE FOUND IT, 6 I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST WEEKEND, WE FOUND OUT HE RESIGNED IN LAST NOVEMBER AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY A PERSON WHO HAD WORKED AT THE OFFICE.

WASN'T WORKING AT THE OFFICE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

ABRAHAM KHAN IS HIS NAME.

HE RESIGNED IN LATE NOVEMBER EFFECTIVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THEN WE ALSO KNOW THAT HE WAS ACCUSED OF BEING INVOLVED IN A SITUATION WITH A WOMAN IN 2014 AS WELL AT THE CITY LEVEL.

HE WAS CLEARED OF WRONGDOING THERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CALLING ATTENTION TO THIS BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF-- MAYBE I'LL CALL IT IRONIC DYNAMIC OF HER DOING THE MAJOR INVESTIGATION INTO GOVERNOR CUOMO WHICH LED TO HIS RESIGNATION, VERY PUBLIC INVESTIGATION, AND THEN HER CHIEF OF STAFF IS ACCUSED-- AND THEY DO AN INVESTIGATION FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS, BUT IT'S RIGHT.

SHE MADE A POINT OF SAYING THIS WEEK THAT WAS THE DISTINCTION IS THAT THIS WAS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATION WITH AN EMPLOYEE AND HAS BEEN HANDLED.

EXCUSE ME.

WHEREAS, THE GOVERNOR WAS THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.

WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON THE SITUATION?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT PEOPLE ARE BRINGING UP IS THAT IT WAS KNOWN ABOUT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

>> OH, RIGHT.

7 >> AND IT WASN'T RELEASED BEFORE THEN OR THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION OF IT, AND I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME QUESTION OF WHERE THE FUNDING CAME FROM FOR THIS INVESTIGATION.

BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE AND ONE OF THE ARTICLES, AT LEAST THAT I READ ON IT, SAID WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT A CONTRACT.

>> I READ THE SAME THING.

>> IT ALMOST HAS-- IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO BE UNDER WRAPS, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A VERY INTERESTING COMPARISON TO HOW CUOMO'S INVESTIGATION WAS HANDLED.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT SHAKES OUT WITH THIS.

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE THE A.G. SAID THERE WON'T BE AN INVESTIGATION OF TISH JAMES SO I DON'T KNOW.

>> DEMOCRATS ARE RALLYING AROUND HER.

YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, MY GUT SAYS THAT IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE, BUT MAY BE SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON IN THE NEW YEAR.

KESHIA CLUKEY FROM BLOOMBERG.

EXCUSE ME.

KESHIA CLUKEY INTEREST BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND MOVING ON TO SOME 8 HEALTH NEWS.

STATE OFFICIALS SAID THIS WEEK THAT THEY'RE WATCHING THE RISE OF WHAT SOME ARE CALLING A TRIDEMIC.

IT'S NOT A REAL TERM BUT REFERS TO THE RECENT SURGE OF THREE DISEASES IN NEW YORK, COVID, THE FLU AND RSV, A COMMON RESPIRATORY VIRUS.

ALL THREE ARE SPREADING HERE AND STATE OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE GOT AN EYE ON HOSPITAL CAPACITY TO MAKE SURE BEDS ARE THERE IF THEY'RE NEEDED.

BEYOND THAT, THE STATE IS URGING NEW YORKERS TO GET VACCINATED FOR COVID AND THE FLU AND TO WATCH OUT FOR ANY SYMPTOMS.

STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DR. MARY BASSETT.

>> SO WE CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE GETTING THEIR SHOTS AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE AS PROTECTED AS THEY CAN BE FROM SERIOUS ILLNESS AND DEATH.

>> AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF WE SEE ANY MAJOR CHANGES THERE.

TURNING NOW TO SOME NATIONAL NEWS FROM RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK.

IN THE LEAD-UP TO LAST MONTH'S ELECTIONS, DEMOCRATS WERE CONFIDENT ABOUT WINNING NEW YORK'S 17th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY.

THEY WERE RUNNING FIVE-TERM CONGRESSMAN SEAN PATRICK MALONEY, WHO IS ALSO CHAIR OF THE D TRIPLE C, THAT'S BASICALLY THE CAMPAIGN ARM FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE.

BUT IN THE END, MALONEY CAME UP SHORT.

MIKE LAWLER, A 9 REPUBLICAN AND FIRST-TIME ASSEMBLY MEMBER, WON BY MORE THAN 2,000 VOTES IN A SURPRISE TO MANY.

SO THIS WEEK, WE SPOKE WITH LAWLER ABOUT HIS ELECTION AND THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] CONGRESSMAN-ELECT MIKE LAWLER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE, ANYTIME.

SO I THINK WHEN YOU ANNOUNCED YOUR CANDIDACY, EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING UP AGAINST SEAN PATRICK MALONEY, THE CHAIR OF THE D TRIPLE C, A VERY POWERFUL POLITICAL FIGURE, BUT YOU PULLED OUT THROUGH AHEAD ON ELECTION DAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR MESSAGE, RESONATED WITH VOTERS?

I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT IN THIS THESE RACES.

ALL POLITICS IS REALLY LOCAL.

>> NO QUESTION.

I THINK THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE HERE.

NUMBER ONE, DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED EVERYTHING IN WASHINGTON, ALBANY AND NEW YORK CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, AND I THINK NEW YORKERS ARE ALWAYS PRAGMATIC AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, AND I THINK A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH TWO MAJOR ISSUES, INFLATION AND CRIME, AND BOTH, YOU KNOW, 10 DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED EVERYTHING AND THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLICIES THAT HAD BEEN ENACTED, AND I THINK ESPECIALLY IN THE SUBURBS OF NEW YORK CITY, THE ISSUE OF CRIME REALLY RESONATED, AND I WAS VERY MESSAGE DISCIPLINED.

I THINK THAT, OBVIOUSLY, HAS SERVED ME WELL IN ELECTED OFFICE, BUT IN THIS CAMPAIGN ESPECIALLY, STICKING TO THE MESSAGE, STICKING TO THE ISSUES THAT MATTERED TO VOTERS AND NOT GETTING CAUGHT UP IN SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES THAT, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY DISTRACT AND DON'T PULL TOGETHER THE COALITION THAT YOU NEED.

>> HOW DO YOU BUILD THAT COALITION GOING FORWARD IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

YOU SEE THE SAME THING WITH THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DIVISION BETWEEN PEOPLE THAT ARE MORE TO THE MODERATE SIDE AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE FURTHER TO THE RIGHT WHAT IS COMMONLY CALLED THE FAR RIGHT.

HOW DO YOU MOVE FORWARD AS A PARTY INTO THAT SPACE OF COALITION BUILDING WHERE WE DON'T SEE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ISSUES THAT REALLY DIVIDE PEOPLE?

>> WELL, LOOK, I FLIPPED A 2-TO-1 DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT TWO YEARS AGO IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY.

I WAS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN PICKUP.

THIS TIME AROUND I PICKED UP A SEAT THAT'S A D PLUS 3.

JOE BIDEN WON BY 10 POINTS AND I'VE DONE IT BY GOING INTO EVERY COMMUNITY, TALKING TO 11 VOTERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, THEIR ETHNICITY, THEIR GENDER, THEIR RELIGION AND FOCUSING IN ON WHAT ARE THOSE ISSUES THAT CUT ACROSS?

I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHETHER YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT OR AN INDEPENDENT, ALL OF US WANT A FEW BASIC THINGS IN LIFE, RIGHT?

WE WANT A GOOD-PAYING JOB TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES.

WE WANT A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN.

WE WANT ACCESS TO HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE, AND WE WANT TO LIVE IN SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND I THINK-- MY FOCUS ON THAT CUT ACROSS.

AS A PARTY, AS REPUBLICANS GOING FORWARD, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LESSONS TO BE LEARNED HERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CANDIDATES THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, FOCUSED ON THE PAST, FOCUSED ON REHASHING THE 2020 ELECTION OR GRIEVANCES, I DON'T THINK FARED TOO WELL AND I THINK THOSE THAT WERE FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO TO ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES WON, AND SO I THINK THE QUESTION GOING FORWARD FOR BOTH PARTIES, FRANKLY, IS HOW DO WE-- HOW DO WE FIND COMPROMISE?

HOW DO WE FIND RESOLUTION TO THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING?

IT CAN'T JUST CONTINUE TO BE A POLITICAL PING-PONG WHERE WE GO BACK AND FORTH AND SWITCH WHO'S IN POWER EVERY TWO TO FOUR YEARS.

I THINK VOTERS ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THAT.

I THINK IF THERE'S TWO LESSONS THAT I SAW IN THIS ELECTION, NUMBER ONE, ONE-PARTY RULE DOES NOT WORK 12 AND VOTERS REJECT IT.

NUMBER TWO, VOTERS ARE REJECTING EXTREMISM.

THEY WANT BALANCE.

THEY WANT COMMON SENSE.

THEY WANT REASONABLENESS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I PRESENTED TO VOTERS IN MY DISTRICT.

>> AND YOU'LL BE TAKING OFFICE AT A REALLY BENEFICIAL TIME FOR YOU BECAUSE REPUBLICANS WILL BE TAKING THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE IN JANUARY WHEN YOU'RE SWORN IN.

YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE STRATEGY SHOULD BE FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS FOR THESE NEXT TWO YEARS THAT YOU'RE GUARANTEED THE MAJORITY AT LEAST IN THE HOUSE?

IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEMOCRATS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE U.S. SENATE, KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE NEW YORK GOVERNMENT WITH REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE SENATE AT TIMES.

>> YEP.

>> HOW DO YOU MOVE FORWARD INSTEAD OF GOING INTO GRIDLOCK FOR TWO YEARS?

>> WELL, YOU JUST MENTIONED IT.

I MEAN, NEW YORK REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED THE STATE SENATE UP UNTIL 2018, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE WITH SPLIT GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK BEING ABLE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, REACH OUT AND FIND COMPROMISE WHERE WE CAN, STAND UP AND OPPOSE WHERE WE MUST, THAT'S ALWAYS 13 WORKED WELL FOR REPUBLICANS IN NEW YORK AND I THINK THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE APPROACH THAT I WILL TAKE CERTAINLY.

I HAVE AMONG THE MOST BIPARTISAN VOTING RECORDS IN ALBANY AS A MEMBER OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH THE PRESIDENT, WILLING TO WORK WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER AND OTHERS TO GET THINGS DONE ON BEHALF OF NEW YORK AND ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND WHERE WE MUST OPPOSE THE BIDEN AGENDA AND SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT, FRANKLY, HAVE CREATED SOME OF THE DYNAMICS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, WE WILL, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INCUMBENT UPON EVERYBODY, ON ALL SIDES TO GIVE A LITTLE AND TO SHOW A WILLINGNESS TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND COMPROMISE.

IT'S NOT JUST REPUBLICANS ACQUIESCING TO DEMOCRATS, WHICH IS OFTEN, YOU KNOW, THE MINDSET OF THOSE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP.

BIPARTISANSHIP IS A TWO-WAY STREET AND IT REQUIRES EVERYBODY BEING WILLING TO WORK TO FIND COMPROMISE, AND SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING.

I'M WILLING TO DO THAT AND I HAVE A RECORD OF DOING THAT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MY APPROACH COME JANUARY.

>> RIGHT.

I MEAN, YOU WERE ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO I WOULD OFTEN SEE SHOW UP TO KIND OF JUST WATCH PRESS CONFERENCES THAT DEMOCRATS WERE DOING OUTSIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.

YOU 14 DIDN'T OFTEN JOIN THEM, OF COURSE.

THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN USUALLY.

WE DON'T SEE THE OPPOSITE PARTY'S MEMBERS KIND OF GO AND SEE WHAT THE OTHER PARTY'S GOING TO BE SAYING.

SO I ALWAYS FOUND THAT INTERESTING ABOUT YOU.

I IMAGINE YOU WILL BE DOING SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING WHILE YOU'RE IN CONGRESS.

YOU MENTIONED LEAVING THINGS BEHIND IN 2020, THE FUTURE OF THE PARTY.

OBVIOUSLY, THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY TO BE PRESIDENT AGAIN.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE PARTY JUST NEEDS TO MOVE ON FROM HIM?

THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE WE'RE HEADED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE SEE IT IN MORE CONSERVATIVE MEDIA.

SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE PUTTING SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND HIM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> SO JUST TO THE POINT THAT YOU MADE ABOUT LISTENING TO PRESS CONFERENCES THAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD GIVE, LOOK, YOU ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING, AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO LISTEN AND TO UNDERSTAND WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM.

WHETHER YOU FULLY AGREE WITH THEM OR NOT, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO LISTEN AND ENGAGE.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO FIND COMPROMISE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS DID WAS GO SPEAK TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, ALL 149 OF MY FELLOW ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SPEAK TO 15 DIRECTLY AND TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES AND TRY TO FIND AN AREA OF AGREEMENT.

WITH RESPECT TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT, LOOK, HE'S OBVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO RUN.

HE'S GOING TO MAKE HIS DECISION.

ULTIMATELY, THE VOTERS WITH IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WILL DECIDE.

MY FOCUS IS ON THE FUTURE, AND I THINK ANY CANDIDATE THAT'S RUNNING, WHETHER IT'S THE FORMER PRESIDENT OR SOMEBODY LIKE A RON DeSANTIS, WHO HAS KIND OF SURGED WITHIN THE PARTY, I THINK THEY NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE AND THEY NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN REHASHING THE LAST, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS OR LOOKING BACKWARDS AND, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON PERSONAL SLIGHTS AND GRIEVANCES.

I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO SEE WHAT THE PLAN IS TO DEAL WITH THESE CHALLENGES AND IF THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS NOT ABLE TO DO THAT, I THINK THE PARTY NEEDS TO MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE RON DeSANTIS, GLENN YOUNGKIN, NEW VOICES IN THE PARTY, I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN LOOKING FORWARD AND ALWAYS HAVING NEW VOICES RISE TO THE TOP.

>> YEAH.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT HOW VOTERS FEEL RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, MESS IS HOW I DESCRIBE IT.

THERE'S JUST SO MUCH GOING ON ALL THE TIME IN POLITICS AND I 16 THINK THAT'S OVERWHELMING.

SO I THINK WHAT WE SAW IN THIS LAST ELECTION WAS MAYBE AN INCH TOWARDS VOTERS LOOKING PAST THE POLITICS, MORE TO THE REAL ISSUES.

SO I GUESS WE'LL SEE IF THAT PLAYS OUT IN FUTURE ELECTION CYCLES.

CONGRESSMAN-ELECT MIKE LAWLER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND REPUBLICAN WINS LAST MONTH, LIKE WITH LAWLER, GAVE THE PARTY CONTROL OF THE U.S. HOUSE, AND THAT COULD MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES, LIKE IMMIGRATION, INCLUDING THE FUTURE OF DACA, A PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE BROUGHT HERE AS CHILDREN.

WE GET THE LATEST THIS WEEK FROM EDDIE TAVERAS, POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION CAMPAIGNS AT FWD.US.

MR. TAVERAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BACK.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

SO GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, IT'S A DIFFERENT POLITICAL SITUATION DOWN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WE HAVE REPUBLICANS TAKING CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

DEMOCRATS MAINTAINING A SLIM MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

FORUM CONGRATULATIONS REFORM, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE STORY IS ON THAT.

SO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEAR, ARE WE JUST GOING TO SEE GRIDLOCK, OR IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS?

17 >> YEAH.

SO EVEN BEFORE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, WE STILL HAVE A SESSION IN CONGRESS THAT HASN'T ENDED AND SO WE ARE WORKING FOR THAT IN THE U.S. AND A BUNCH OF NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING TOWARD FINDING A SOLUTION AND PERMANENT PROTECTIONS FOR DREAMERS AND DACA RECIPIENTS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF CONGRESS FLIPPING IN THE HOUSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO LIVE BY OUR WORDS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE A PERMANENT PROTECTION AND A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR THESE DREAMERS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR AN AVERAGE OF 28 YEARS.

>> ON DACA, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, IT'S THE DEFERRED ACTION ON CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS PROGRAM THAT WAS INSTITUTED UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA.

THEN TAKEN AWAY UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IT'S ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHANGES OVER THE PAST DECADE.

I MEAN, I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED.

BUT WHAT'S THE STATUS OF DACA RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH.

SO IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2012 AND HAS BEEN LITIGATED THROUGH THE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE COURTS HAVE RULED THAT DACA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND IT'S STILL BATTLING IN THE COURTS SO WE HAVE A VERY SMALL WINDOW TO ENSURE THAT DACA 18 RECIPIENTS, ABOUT 600,000 PLUS OF CURRENT DACA RECIPIENTS AND THOSE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT WE CREATE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO EITHER DO THIS NOW OR POTENTIALLY FACE CONSEQUENCES AND THE RISKS OF DEPORTATION AND FAMILY SEPARATION THAT WILL COME FROM AN UNFAVORABLE RULING, WHICH, AGAIN, THERE'S EVERY INDICATION SEEMS TO GO THAT WAY.

>> THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING DONE BY CONGRESS, CORRECT?

PRESIDENT BIDEN COULDN'T SOMEHOW REVIVE IT AND CHANGE IT TO MAKE IT LEGAL?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, YEAH.

SO THEY RULED ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY ON THIS.

SO NEITHER BIDEN OR ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION CAN DO ANYTHING ON THIS.

THIS IS SOLELY UP TO CONGRESS TO FIX AND IT'S IN TEN YEARS WITH FOLKS THAT HAVE DACA.

IT'S BEEN DECADES OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE AND ARE, YOU KNOW, CATEGORIZED AS DREAMERS AND ALSO THE BROADER UNDOCUMENTED POPULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE AND AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T DONE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN OUR IMMIGRATION LAW SINCE REAGAN WAS PRESIDENT.

>> EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP, LIKE THAT PROGRAM ESPECIALLY, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT HAS 19 FELT MORE OUT OF REACH THAN MAYBE A DACA.

YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH ME.

I'M WONDERING OVER THESE NEXT TWO YEARS WITH REPUBLICANS IN POWER IN THE HOUSE, IS THAT JUST COMPLETELY OFF THE TABLE, OR IS THERE A PATHWAY TO A PATHWAY FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD?

>> YEAH.

SO WE HAVE TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE FIGHT THAT WE'RE IN.

BUT YES, IT DOES GET MUCH HARDER.

THE PROBABILITY, YOU KNOW, ARE NOT IN OUR FAVOR GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY THE NEXT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN McCARTHY HAS SAID HE WILL NOT PUT ANY IMMIGRATION BILL ON THE FLOOR.

SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THESE PEOPLE AT THEIR WORD FOR IT, PARTICULARLY DURING THIS, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL DYNAMIC THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING INTO THE EXTREMES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THIS CONGRESS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR THAT WE GET SOMETHING DONE THAT PROTECTS DREAMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, RIGHT, WHO DEPEND ON THEM, THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EMPLOYERS, ET CETERA, THAT WANT THEM HERE TO STAY IN THEIR HOME, WHICH IS THE ONLY HOME THAT THEY'VE KNOWN.

>> I IMAGINE IT MUST BE FRUSTRATING.

I MEAN, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN IN POWER IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ON DACA OR CITIZENSHIP OR ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM, AS YOU 20 MENTIONED.

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS ISSUE IS SO DIFFICULT TO MAKE PROGRESS ON?

I MEAN, I THINK THAT WE SEE VOTES COMING ALONG VERY SLOWLY FROM PEOPLE, BUT WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S SO MUCH HARDER THAN MAYBE SOME OTHER ISSUES?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN THIS IS A COMPLETE MORAL AND ETHICAL FAILURE ON CONGRESS, RIGHT.

POLL AFTER POLL SHOWS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE-- AMERICAN VOTERS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR DREAMERS, FARM WORKERS, SO ON AND SO FORTH AND THOSE UNDOCUMENTED AND THEY WANT TO SEE CONGRESS WORK IN A BIPARTISAN MANDATORY PASS THIS, AND SO IT IS-- THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY NEGATING THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE WILL OF AMERICAN VOTERS WHO PUT THEM IN POWER BY NOT COMING TO A COMPROMISE AND A SOLUTION THAT IS, YOU KNOW, CENTERED ON FAMILY, DIGNITY AND THE HUMANITY OF INDIVIDUALS.

>> NOW IMMIGRATION IS PRIMARILY A FEDERAL ISSUE HISTORICALLY, BUT AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE DONE THINGS THAT HAVE BENEFITED UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS COMING INTO THE COUNTRY, FOR EXAMPLE, REFUGEES.

DO YOU SEE ANY ISSUES COMING UP IN NEW YORK NEXT YEAR, IN NEXT YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT MIGHT BE IMMIGRATED RELATED THAT YOU'RE WATCHING?

21 >> YEAH.

AND I WOULD KNOW THAT THESE LAWS THAT WE'VE PASSED IN THE STATE AS THEY, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT AND BENEFIT IMMIGRANTS, THEY ALSO SUPPORTED THE STATE IN GENERAL.

NOT JUST ECONOMICALLY BUT ALSO CULTURALLY IN REGARDS ALSO TO THE DIVERSITY OF LIKE WHAT MAKES NEW YORK STATE SO AMAZING.

FOR NEXT YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, TWO PARTICULAR BILLS.

ONE IS THE NEW YORK PAROLE ACT, WHICH ENSURES THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NOT A DEPORTATION PIPE LINE THAT ADHERES OR CONTRIBUTES TO THE FAMILY SEPARATIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW, THE YEARS AND PARTICULARLY DURING THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK ANOTHER GREAT BILL AND PARTICULARLY AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ECONOMY, THAT IS CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM JOB SHORTAGES IS THE EMPIRE STATE LYING ACT WHICH WOULD ALLOW IMMIGRANTS BUT ALSO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO GAIN ACCESS TO OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING AND BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ECONOMY AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE APPROPRIATE REQUIREMENTS TO DO THOSE JOBS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR LACK OF NOT KNOWING ENGLISH TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES IS NOT A HINDRANCE IN, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN DO THAT JOB, WHICH, AGAIN, IS MUCH NEEDED.

SO IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE REQUIREMENT, BUT IT JUST MAKES SURE THAT ENGLISH IS NOT A BARRIER IF IT'S NOT A 22 REQUIREMENT FOR THE JOB.

>> WE WILL BE WATCHING ALL OF IT.

EDDIE TAVERAS, POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION CAMPAIGN AT FWD.US, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> MORE ON ALL THAT WHEN THE NEW LEGISLATURE AND NEW CONGRESS TAKE OFFICE IN JANUARY.

UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>Announcer: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET AND BY THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.