Betsy DeVos Proposal To Cut Special Olympics Funding Sparks Outrage | Rachel l Maddow | MSNBC
>>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THE THING MS. LEE MENTIONED ABOUT
THING MS. LEE MENTIONED ABOUT THE CUTS TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
THE CUTS TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY KIDS ARE
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY KIDS ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THAT
GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THAT CUT, MADAM SECRETARY?
CUT, MADAM SECRETARY? >> MR. PROCAN, LET ME JUST SAY
>> MR. PROCAN, LET ME JUST SAY AGAIN WE HAD TO MAKE SOME
AGAIN WE HAD TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS WITH THIS
DIFFICULT DECISIONS WITH THIS BUDGET.
BUDGET. >> AGAIN, THIS IS A QUESTION OF
>> AGAIN, THIS IS A QUESTION OF HOW MANY KIDS, NOT ABOUT THE
HOW MANY KIDS, NOT ABOUT THE BUDGET.
BUDGET. >> I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF
>> I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF KIDS.
KIDS. >> OKAY.
>> OKAY. IT'S 272.
IT'S 272. >> I ALSO KNOW THAT --
>> I ALSO KNOW THAT -- >> I'LL ANSWER IT FOR YOU.
>> I'LL ANSWER IT FOR YOU. THAT'S OKAY.
THAT'S OKAY. IT'S 272,000 KIDS THAT ARE
IT'S 272,000 KIDS THAT ARE AFFECTED.
AFFECTED. >> I THINK THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
>> I THINK THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS IS AN AWESOME ORGANIZATION, ONE
IS AN AWESOME ORGANIZATION, ONE THAT IS WELL SUPPORTED BY THE
THAT IS WELL SUPPORTED BY THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR AS WELL.
PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR AS WELL. >> I HAVE TWO NEPHEWS WITH
>> I HAVE TWO NEPHEWS WITH AUTISM.
AUTISM. WHAT IT IS IT WE HAVE A PROBLEM
WHAT IT IS IT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CHILDREN IN SPECIAL
WITH CHILDREN IN SPECIAL EDUCATION?
EDUCATION? WHY ARE WE CUTTING THESE
WHY ARE WE CUTTING THESE PROGRAMS OVER AND OVER WITHIN
PROGRAMS OVER AND OVER WITHIN THIS BUDGET?
THIS BUDGET? >> WELL, SIR, WE HAVE CONTINUED
>> WELL, SIR, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO RETAIN THE FUNDING LEVELS FOR
TO RETAIN THE FUNDING LEVELS FOR I.D.E.A. AND HELD THAT LEVEL, SO
I.D.E.A. AND HELD THAT LEVEL, SO IN THE CONTEXT --
IN THE CONTEXT -- >> SORRY, I DON'T THINK I
>> SORRY, I DON'T THINK I BROUGHT UP I.D.E.A., I BELIEVE I
BROUGHT UP I.D.E.A., I BELIEVE I BROUGHT UP SPECIAL OLYMPICS, THE
BROUGHT UP SPECIAL OLYMPICS, THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR
NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE GLIENDBLIND, GALLAUDET UNIVE
THE GLIENDBLIND, GALLAUDET UNIVE SO IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THOSE, I
SO IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THOSE, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> I'D ADDRESS THE BROADER
>> I'D ADDRESS THE BROADER QUESTION.
QUESTION. >> IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THE
>> IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THE QUESTION I ASKED, THAT'S EVEN A
QUESTION I ASKED, THAT'S EVEN A BETTER WAY TO ANSWER A QUESTION.
BETTER WAY TO ANSWER A QUESTION. >> HOW DID SHE DESCRIBE THE
>> HOW DID SHE DESCRIBE THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS THERE?
SPECIAL OLYMPICS THERE? SHE SAID IT'S AN AWESOME
SHE SAID IT'S AN AWESOME ORGANIZATION.
ORGANIZATION. AN AWESOME ORGANIZATION THAT IS
AN AWESOME ORGANIZATION THAT IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE SUPPORTED
NO LONGER GOING TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BECAUSE BETSY DeVOS HAS JUST
BECAUSE BETSY DeVOS HAS JUST ASKED THAT THE AGENCY SHE
ASKED THAT THE AGENCY SHE SUPPORTS ENTIRELY KILL OFF
SUPPORTS ENTIRELY KILL OFF FUNDING FOR THE SPECIAL
FUNDING FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
OLYMPICS. BECAUSE THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARE
BECAUSE THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARE AWESOME.
AWESOME. JOINING US NOW IS CONGRESSMAN
JOINING US NOW IS CONGRESSMAN MARK POCAN.
MARK POCAN. HE'S A DEMOCRAT FROM WISCONSIN.
HE'S A DEMOCRAT FROM WISCONSIN. HE'S ON THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
HE'S ON THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, INCLUDING
COMMITTEE, INCLUDING IMPORTANTLY, THE PART OF THAT
IMPORTANTLY, THE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES BETSY
COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES BETSY DeVOS' BUDGET AT THE DEPARTMENT
DeVOS' BUDGET AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING TIME FOR US TONIGHT.
TIME FOR US TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU, RACHEL.
>> THANK YOU, RACHEL. GLAD TO BE HERE.
GLAD TO BE HERE. >> AFTER THAT EXCHANGE I SAW
>> AFTER THAT EXCHANGE I SAW BETWEEN YOU AND SECRETARY DeVOS,
BETWEEN YOU AND SECRETARY DeVOS, I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE HER PUT
I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE HER PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING SHE'S
OUT A STATEMENT SAYING SHE'S VERY UPSET ABOUT THE SHAMEFUL
VERY UPSET ABOUT THE SHAMEFUL FALSEHOODS REPORTED ABOUT HER
FALSEHOODS REPORTED ABOUT HER CUTTING ALL FUNDING TO THE
CUTTING ALL FUNDING TO THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND SHE'S VERY
SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND SHE'S VERY UPSET ABOUT ALL THE TERRIBLE
UPSET ABOUT ALL THE TERRIBLE MEDIA COVERAGE AND CRITICISM
MEDIA COVERAGE AND CRITICISM SHE'S GETTING ON THAT.
SHE'S GETTING ON THAT. SHE ACTUALLY IS PROPOSING
SHE ACTUALLY IS PROPOSING CUTTING ALL FUNDING TO THE
CUTTING ALL FUNDING TO THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS, ISN'T SHE?
SPECIAL OLYMPICS, ISN'T SHE? >> YES, SHE IS PROPOSING ABOUT
>> YES, SHE IS PROPOSING ABOUT AN $18 MILLION CUT.
AN $18 MILLION CUT. AND IMPORTANT, RACHEL, SHE'S
AND IMPORTANT, RACHEL, SHE'S ALSO WHILE SHE'S CUTTING THE
ALSO WHILE SHE'S CUTTING THE DEPARTMENT 12% ACROSS THE BOARD,
DEPARTMENT 12% ACROSS THE BOARD, SHE'S INCREASED THE EXECUTIVE
SHE'S INCREASED THE EXECUTIVE PAY LINE IN HER DEPARTMENT BY
PAY LINE IN HER DEPARTMENT BY OVER 15%.
OVER 15%. SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE
SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT'S OKAY FOR HER AND
OUT WHY IT'S OKAY FOR HER AND HER POLITICAL PALS TO MAKE MORE
HER POLITICAL PALS TO MAKE MORE MONEY WHEN KIDS WITH REAL
MONEY WHEN KIDS WITH REAL SPECIAL NEEDS ARE BEING CUT, NOT
SPECIAL NEEDS ARE BEING CUT, NOT JUST IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS BUT
JUST IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS BUT ALSO IN STATE GRANTS, IN
ALSO IN STATE GRANTS, IN PROGRAMS FOR VISUALLY AND
PROGRAMS FOR VISUALLY AND HEARING IMPAIRED STUDENTS AND ON
HEARING IMPAIRED STUDENTS AND ON AND ON.
AND ON. SHE HAS AN ABYSMAL RECORD IN
SHE HAS AN ABYSMAL RECORD IN THIS AREA.
THIS AREA. >> YOU KNOW, I WAS STRUCK BY HER
>> YOU KNOW, I WAS STRUCK BY HER INABILITY OR HER UNWILLINGNESS
INABILITY OR HER UNWILLINGNESS TO ANSWER DIRECT QUESTIONS ABOUT
TO ANSWER DIRECT QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
THIS. I FEEL LIKE IF YOU ARE GOING TO
I FEEL LIKE IF YOU ARE GOING TO SINGLE OUT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
SINGLE OUT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND NOT JUST GIVE THEM THE SAVE
AND NOT JUST GIVE THEM THE SAVE 12% CUT THAT EVERYTHING ELSE IN
12% CUT THAT EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE DEPARTMENT IS GETTING, BUT
THE DEPARTMENT IS GETTING, BUT TO SINGLE THEM OUT FOR ZERO
TO SINGLE THEM OUT FOR ZERO FUNDING, YOU CAN'T -- YOU DON'T
FUNDING, YOU CAN'T -- YOU DON'T DO THAT BY ACCIDENT.
DO THAT BY ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GOING TO EXPECT
OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GOING TO EXPECT BLOWBACK.
BLOWBACK. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARE SUCH A
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARE SUCH A BELOVED AND TREASURED AND
BELOVED AND TREASURED AND IMPORTANT AMERICAN INSTITUTION.
IMPORTANT AMERICAN INSTITUTION. I HAVE TO EXPECT THE TRUMP
I HAVE TO EXPECT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING THIS FOR
ADMINISTRATION IS DOING THIS FOR A REASON, FOR EFFECT.
A REASON, FOR EFFECT. THEY COULDN'T THINK THIS WOULD
THEY COULDN'T THINK THIS WOULD GO QUIETLY.
GO QUIETLY. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAY
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAY THEY'VE ROLLED THIS OUT AND
THEY'VE ROLLED THIS OUT AND DEALT WITH CRITICISM, INCLUDING
DEALT WITH CRITICISM, INCLUDING FROM YOU?
FROM YOU? >> YOU KNOW, EVEN TAKING IT BACK
>> YOU KNOW, EVEN TAKING IT BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT, THEY'RE
JUST A LITTLE BIT, THEY'RE CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY, THEY'RE
CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY, THEY'RE CUTTING MEDICAID, THEY'RE
CUTTING MEDICAID, THEY'RE CUTTING BY ABOUT $5 BILLION
CUTTING BY ABOUT $5 BILLION FUNDING TO THE NATIONAL
FUNDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, WHICH HELP
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, WHICH HELP US FIND CURES FOR DISEASES.
US FIND CURES FOR DISEASES. THIS IS JUST THE TRUMP BUDGET.
THIS IS JUST THE TRUMP BUDGET. SO WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION,
SO WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, THEY DON'T CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT
THEY DON'T CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT EDUCATION SO THEY DO THESE CUTS.
EDUCATION SO THEY DO THESE CUTS. SOMETHING LIKE SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
SOMETHING LIKE SPECIAL OLYMPICS. I HAVE TWO AUTISTIC NEPHEWS.
I HAVE TWO AUTISTIC NEPHEWS. I HEAR FROM MANY PARENTS,
I HEAR FROM MANY PARENTS, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY RELY ON QUALITY SPECIAL
COUNTRY RELY ON QUALITY SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND
EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND TO CUT PROGRAM AFTER PROGRAM
TO CUT PROGRAM AFTER PROGRAM AFTER PROGRAM AND EVEN SOMETHING
AFTER PROGRAM AND EVEN SOMETHING LIKE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AFTER
LIKE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AFTER SHE'S PRAISED IT SHOWS A
SHE'S PRAISED IT SHOWS A COMPLETE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING
COMPLETE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HER JOB IS AS THE
OF WHAT HER JOB IS AS THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
EDUCATION. SHE JUST COUNTRY UNDERSTAND HER
SHE JUST COUNTRY UNDERSTAND HER JOB AND DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T
JOB AND DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HIS JOB EITHER.
UNDERSTAND HIS JOB EITHER. >> WELL, LET ME PRESS YOU ON
>> WELL, LET ME PRESS YOU ON THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT MAY
THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT MAY BE THAT BETSY DeVOS DOESN'T
BE THAT BETSY DeVOS DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE PRIORITIES OF THE
UNDERSTAND THE PRIORITIES OF THE NATION AS THE WAY THAT YOU MIGHT
NATION AS THE WAY THAT YOU MIGHT UNDERSTAND THEM OR IT MAY NOT BE
UNDERSTAND THEM OR IT MAY NOT BE THAT SHE THINKS THAT AMERICAN
THAT SHE THINKS THAT AMERICAN POLICY SHOULD CONTINUE TO
POLICY SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THINGS THAT SHE THINKS
SUPPORT THINGS THAT SHE THINKS ARE AWESOME.
ARE AWESOME. I HONESTLY DON'T UNDERSTAND
I HONESTLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT SHE GETS THAT SHE
WHETHER OR NOT SHE GETS THAT SHE IS CUTTING THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
IS CUTTING THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS. WHETHER OR NOT SHE ACTUALLY
WHETHER OR NOT SHE ACTUALLY KNOWS THAT SHE HAS PROPOSED AS
KNOWS THAT SHE HAS PROPOSED AS THE AGENCY HEAD ZEROING THIS
THE AGENCY HEAD ZEROING THIS OUT.
OUT. I MEAN, I COULDN'T READ IN THAT
I MEAN, I COULDN'T READ IN THAT INTERACTION WITH YOU AND WITH
INTERACTION WITH YOU AND WITH OTHER DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE
OTHER DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE WHETHER SHE ACTUALLY GOT THIS IS
WHETHER SHE ACTUALLY GOT THIS IS WHAT SHE WAS DOING OR WHETHER
WHAT SHE WAS DOING OR WHETHER THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN SORT OF,
THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN SORT OF, YOU KNOW, HANDED TO HER BY THE
YOU KNOW, HANDED TO HER BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BY
BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BY THE WHITE HOUSE MORE BROADLY.
THE WHITE HOUSE MORE BROADLY. BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLAN
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLAN TO DEFEND IT.
TO DEFEND IT. YOU'D HAVE TO KNOW YOU WERE
YOU'D HAVE TO KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DEFEND
GOING TO HAVE TO DEFEND SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN YOU SAT
SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN YOU SAT DOWN BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
DOWN BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE HAVING JUST PROPOSED ZEROING OUT
HAVING JUST PROPOSED ZEROING OUT FUNDING FOR AN AMERICAN
FUNDING FOR AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION THAT IS SO
INSTITUTION THAT IS SO TREASURED.
TREASURED. >> EITHER SHE'S THE WORLD'S
>> EITHER SHE'S THE WORLD'S WORST, MOST EVASIVE ANSWERING
WORST, MOST EVASIVE ANSWERING PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO
PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO QUESTIONS OR, YOU KNOW, I SAW A
QUESTIONS OR, YOU KNOW, I SAW A LOT OF LIGHT IN THE DEER EYES AS
LOT OF LIGHT IN THE DEER EYES AS SHE ANSWERED THINGS THAT SHE
SHE ANSWERED THINGS THAT SHE CLEARLY WASN'T GETTING WHAT I
CLEARLY WASN'T GETTING WHAT I WAS ASKING.
WAS ASKING. BECAUSE I THOUGHT I ASKED VERY
BECAUSE I THOUGHT I ASKED VERY CLEAR AND SIMPLE QUESTIONS.
CLEAR AND SIMPLE QUESTIONS. AT ONE POINT I HAD TO ASK HER IF
AT ONE POINT I HAD TO ASK HER IF I WAS SPEAKING A DIFFERENT
I WAS SPEAKING A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE BECAUSE THE ANSWERS I
LANGUAGE BECAUSE THE ANSWERS I WAS GETTING WEREN'T RELATED TO
WAS GETTING WEREN'T RELATED TO ANYTHING I ASKED, BUT WHEN IT
ANYTHING I ASKED, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO SPECIAL EDUCATION, SHE
CAME TO SPECIAL EDUCATION, SHE JUST REFUSED TO ANSWER ANY
JUST REFUSED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WHATSOEVER IN ADDITION
QUESTIONS WHATSOEVER IN ADDITION TO A NUMBER OF THINGS WE TALKED
TO A NUMBER OF THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE HEARING.
ABOUT DURING THE HEARING. >> WELL, CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU
>> WELL, CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU FOR PUSHING SO HARD TO TRY TO
FOR PUSHING SO HARD TO TRY TO GET THE ANSWERS YOU DID GET.
GET THE ANSWERS YOU DID GET. I WILL BACK YOU UP ON THE DEER
I WILL BACK YOU UP ON THE DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS THING.
IN THE HEADLIGHTS THING. >> I TALKED TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE
>> I TALKED TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TONIGHT AND I THINK WE'RE
CHAIR TONIGHT AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE INCREASED
GOING TO PROPOSE INCREASED FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AS
FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AS WELL.
WELL. >> THANKS FOR HELPING US MAKE
>> THANKS FOR HELPING US MAKE THAT NEWS TONIGHT.
Courtroom Surprise: Robert Mueller Grand Jury 'Continuing Robustly' | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC Donald Trump On FOX News: Mueller Probe Was An Attempted Government Takeover | The 11th Hour | MSNBC Betsy DeVos facing pushback for proposed cut to Special Olympics funding Top Dem: Barr Will Testify On 'Very Substantial' Mueller Report | The Beat With Ari Melber | MSNBC Meet the Bronx Republican who's challenging Ocasio-Cortez UK PM May Hints At Eesignation As Brexit Crisis Descends Into 'Chaos' | The 11th Hour | MSNBC Mom: Trump Has 'Terrorized' Parents Of Kids With Pre-Existing Conditions | The Last Word | MSNBC Betsy DeVos Defends Slashing Funds For The Special Olympics | TIME NBC News Exclusive: Comey Gives First Interview Since Mueller Completed Report | NBC Nightly News Tucker: There's a real collusion story, it doesn't involve Trump
