"ABC NEWS LIVE". AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'M KYRA PHILLIPS. I'M KYRA PHILLIPS. HERE'S WE'RE FOLLOWING FOR HERE'S WE'RE FOLLOWING FOR YOU ON "ABC NEWS LIVE" TODAY, YOU ON "ABC NEWS LIVE" TODAY, HAGGLING THEIR WAY THROUGH HAGGLING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE. LAWMAKERS FINALLY PASSING LAWMAKERS FINALLY PASSING THE DEBT LIMIT BILL , BUT THE DEBT LIMIT BILL , BUT FACING FIERCE CRITICISM WITHIN FACING FIERCE CRITICISM WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. SENIOR ADVISER TO THE SENIOR ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT , GENE SPERLING JOINS PRESIDENT , GENE SPERLING JOINS ME LIVE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. ME LIVE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. PLUS, OBSESSED WITH THE ODDS PLUS, OBSESSED WITH THE ODDS CHASING BIG WINNINGS AND THE CHASING BIG WINNINGS AND THE DARK SIDE OF LOTTERY ADDICTION. DARK SIDE OF LOTTERY ADDICTION. AND AMAZON FINED TENS OF AND AMAZON FINED TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AFTER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AFTER STORING YOUR VOICE RECORDINGS STORING YOUR VOICE RECORDINGS FROM THOUSANDS OF ALEKSA FROM THOUSANDS OF ALEKSA DEVICES. DEVICES. IS YOUR DATA AT RISK? IS YOUR DATA AT RISK? BUT WE DO BEGIN WITH THE DEBT BUT WE DO BEGIN WITH THE DEBT LIMIT DEAL NOW HEADING TO THE LIMIT DEAL NOW HEADING TO THE SENATE AFTER IT PASSED SENATE AFTER IT PASSED THE HOUSE LAST NIGHT. THE HOUSE LAST NIGHT. SUPPORT FROM A MAJORITY OF BOTH SUPPORT FROM A MAJORITY OF BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. BUT BUT THE DEADLINE TO AVOID BUT BUT THE DEADLINE TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC DEFAULT A CATASTROPHIC DEFAULT ONLY FOUR DAYS AWAY CONCERN ARE ONLY FOUR DAYS AWAY CONCERN ARE STILL LINGERING THAT THE DEAL STILL LINGERING THAT THE DEAL COULD FACE SOME HURDLES FROM COULD FACE SOME HURDLES FROM SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. THE AISLE. R.J. O'BRIEN IS ON THE HILL. R.J. O'BRIEN IS ON THE HILL. HE'S BEEN TRACKING IT ALL FOR HE'S BEEN TRACKING IT ALL FOR US . US . SO, JAY, LAST NIGHT WE SAW SO, JAY, LAST NIGHT WE SAW A RARE BIPARTISAN WIN FOR AN A RARE BIPARTISAN WIN FOR AN OFTEN DIVIDED HOUSE. OFTEN DIVIDED HOUSE. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> WILL THE SENATE SEE SIMILAR >> WILL THE SENATE SEE SIMILAR SUCCESS? SUCCESS? WELL, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WELL, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS YOU TALKED TO , I CAN TELL YOU TALKED TO , I CAN TELL YOU , KYRA, WILL SAY THE VOTES YOU , KYRA, WILL SAY THE VOTES ARE VERY MUCH THERE TO PASS ARE VERY MUCH THERE TO PASS THIS IN THE SENATE. THIS IN THE SENATE. THE QUESTION IS , YOU AND THE QUESTION IS , YOU AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IS RULING ON THE TIMING OF ALL IS RULING ON THE TIMING OF ALL OF THIS. OF THIS. AND WE DON'T QUITE YET KNOW AND WE DON'T QUITE YET KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE TIMING EXACTLY WHAT THE TIMING IS GOING TO BE AT THIS MOMENT. IS GOING TO BE AT THIS MOMENT. THE SENATE IS A CHAMBER THAT THE SENATE IS A CHAMBER THAT OPERATES ON EVERYBODY GETTING OPERATES ON EVERYBODY GETTING ALONG AND EVERYBODY AGREEING ALONG AND EVERYBODY AGREEING TO DO SOMETHING. TO DO SOMETHING. SO DOES THIS VOTE HAPPEN SO DOES THIS VOTE HAPPEN TONIGHT AS SOME SENATORS HAVE TONIGHT AS SOME SENATORS HAVE INDICATED, WHAT YOU COULD INDICATED, WHAT YOU COULD HAPPEN AT THE EARLIEST OR DOES HAPPEN AT THE EARLIEST OR DOES IT HAPPEN TOMORROW OR DOES IT IT HAPPEN TOMORROW OR DOES IT EVEN POTENTIALLY HAPPEN INTO EVEN POTENTIALLY HAPPEN INTO THE WEEKEND AND REALLY ALL THE WEEKEND AND REALLY ALL DEPENDS ON IF THE SENATORS DEPENDS ON IF THE SENATORS WHO'VE EXPRESSED THAT WHO'VE EXPRESSED THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THIS DEAL . THEY DON'T LIKE THIS DEAL . THERE'S A FEW ON THE LEFT AND A THERE'S A FEW ON THE LEFT AND A FEW ON THE RIGHT. FEW ON THE RIGHT. DO THEY COME FORWARD AND TRY DO THEY COME FORWARD AND TRY TO PUT UP PROCEDURAL ROADBLOCKS TO PUT UP PROCEDURAL ROADBLOCKS THAT COULD PUSH THIS LATE INTO THAT COULD PUSH THIS LATE INTO TOMORROW, POTENTIALLY OVER TOMORROW, POTENTIALLY OVER THE WEEKEND? THE WEEKEND? WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SIGNS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SIGNS THAT DAY MAY. DAY MAY. WE HAVE SEEN SOME SENATORS WE HAVE SEEN SOME SENATORS EXPRESS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE EXPRESS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THE FINER POINTS OF THIS THE FINER POINTS OF THIS AGREEMENT. AGREEMENT. BUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL TAKE BUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL TAKE THAT AND TAKE SOME PROCEDURAL THAT AND TAKE SOME PROCEDURAL ACTION TO TRY TO DELAY THIS ACTION TO TRY TO DELAY THIS VOTE IS STILL VERY MUCH VOTE IS STILL VERY MUCH UNCLEAR. UNCLEAR. AND REMEMBER, HERE IN ALL OF AND REMEMBER, HERE IN ALL OF THIS, KYRA, THE DEADLINE, THIS, KYRA, THE DEADLINE, AGAIN, AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING, AGAIN, AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING, IS MONDAY TO PUT THIS IS MONDAY TO PUT THIS ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK FOR HIS ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE. SIGNATURE. RIGHT. RIGHT. I MEAN, IT'S JUNE 1ST, HALFWAY I MEAN, IT'S JUNE 1ST, HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR WITH LAWMAKERS THROUGH THE YEAR WITH LAWMAKERS HAVING SPENT SO MUCH TIME HAVING SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON THE DEBT DEAL . ON THE DEBT DEAL . I MEAN, THERE'S OTHER THINGS UP I MEAN, THERE'S OTHER THINGS UP NEXT ON THEIR AGENDA. NEXT ON THEIR AGENDA. >> WELL, AND TWO THINGS TO TAKE >> WELL, AND TWO THINGS TO TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT YOU JUST SAID . AWAY FROM WHAT YOU JUST SAID . FIRST OFF, REMEMBER, THIS WAS FIRST OFF, REMEMBER, THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL EXTENT. THE ORIGINAL EXTENT. >> THIS WAS JUNE 1ST. >> THIS WAS JUNE 1ST. AND SO THE QUESTION EARLIER AND SO THE QUESTION EARLIER ON WAS, COULD THEY GET THIS ON WAS, COULD THEY GET THIS DONE BY JUNE ONE ? DONE BY JUNE ONE ? AND I'M SITTING HERE AND WE AND I'M SITTING HERE AND WE DON'T HAVE A DEBT CEILING DON'T HAVE A DEBT CEILING BILL SIGNED YET. BILL SIGNED YET. SO THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION SO THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION APPEARS TO BE NO. APPEARS TO BE NO. WHEN THE SENATE WILL TELL WHEN THE SENATE WILL TELL YOU IT'S MOVING AS FAST AS IT YOU IT'S MOVING AS FAST AS IT CAN. CAN. RIGHT. RIGHT. ALTHOUGH WHETHER OR NOT ALTHOUGH WHETHER OR NOT THE DEBT CEILING EXTENDED, IF THE DEBT CEILING EXTENDED, IF IT'S NOT A CHANGE, WOULD HAVE IT'S NOT A CHANGE, WOULD HAVE ENCOURAGED LAWMAKERS TO GO ENCOURAGED LAWMAKERS TO GO FASTER. FASTER. WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T KNOW. BUT TO YOUR BROADER QUESTION BUT TO YOUR BROADER QUESTION ON WHAT MIGHT BE NEXT ON WHAT MIGHT BE NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE'VE HEARD ON THE AGENDA, WE'VE HEARD SOME RUMBLINGS ABOUT SOME RUMBLINGS ABOUT SOME POSSIBLE BIPARTISAN SOME POSSIBLE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION THAT COULD BE OUT LEGISLATION THAT COULD BE OUT THERE ON THINGS LIKE THERE ON THINGS LIKE IMMIGRATION AND THINGS OF THAT IMMIGRATION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. NATURE. BUT VERY MUCH THE SENSE, I CAN BUT VERY MUCH THE SENSE, I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE LEADERS OF TELL YOU FROM THE LEADERS OF BOTH PARTIES IS THAT THEY ARE BOTH PARTIES IS THAT THEY ARE HUNKERING IN FOR THE SUMMER, HUNKERING IN FOR THE SUMMER, THAT THEY EXPECTED TO HAVE, THAT THEY EXPECTED TO HAVE, WHICH IS THESE INVESTIGATIONS WHICH IS THESE INVESTIGATIONS THAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE THAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE CONSISTENTLY SAID THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE A TOP PRIORITY GOING TO MAKE A TOP PRIORITY INTO THE ADMINISTRATION. INTO THE ADMINISTRATION. >> SO ARE THERE ANY LEGISLATIVE >> SO ARE THERE ANY LEGISLATIVE ITEMS THAT WE SEE GET THE ITEMS THAT WE SEE GET THE SAME KIND OF BIPARTISAN PUSH SAME KIND OF BIPARTISAN PUSH THAT WE SAW FROM THE WHITE THAT WE SAW FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND FROM THE SPEAKER HOUSE AND FROM THE SPEAKER WITH THIS DEBT CEILING DEAL ? WITH THIS DEBT CEILING DEAL ? THE ANSWER TO THAT IS VERY MUCH THE ANSWER TO THAT IS VERY MUCH LIKELY NOT. LIKELY NOT. AND INSTEAD, WHAT AND INSTEAD, WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTED TO HEAR FROM YOU'RE EXPECTED TO HEAR FROM THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE IS THIS RENEWED INTEREST, IS THIS RENEWED INTEREST, AS THEY HAD EXPRESSED AS THEY HAD EXPRESSED PREVIOUSLY BEFORE THIS DEBT PREVIOUSLY BEFORE THIS DEBT CEILING DEAL UP ALL THE OXYGEN CEILING DEAL UP ALL THE OXYGEN INTO INVESTIGATING INTO INVESTIGATING THE ADMINISTRATION. THE ADMINISTRATION. >> ALL RIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT. TAYLOR BRANCH THERE ON THE HILL TAYLOR BRANCH THERE ON THE HILL FOR US . FOR US . JAY, THANKS. JAY, THANKS. AND WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE ON AND WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE ON THE DEBT DEAL COMING UP LATER THE DEBT DEAL COMING UP LATER THIS HOUR. THIS HOUR. COORDINATOR FOR THE AMERICAN COORDINATOR FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND ALSO SENIOR RESCUE PLAN AND ALSO SENIOR ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT . ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT . GENE SPERLING WILL JOIN ME LIVE GENE SPERLING WILL JOIN ME LIVE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. WELL, MORE THAN WELL, MORE THAN SIXTEEN THOUSAND RESIDENTS HAVE SIXTEEN THOUSAND RESIDENTS HAVE FORCED TO EVACUATE BECAUSE OF FORCED TO EVACUATE BECAUSE OF UNPRECEDENTED WILDFIRES BURNING UNPRECEDENTED WILDFIRES BURNING IN CANADA. IN CANADA. THOSE FIRES IN NOVA SCOTIA ARE THOSE FIRES IN NOVA SCOTIA ARE SO BIG THAT THEY'RE SENDING SO BIG THAT THEY'RE SENDING SMOKE INTO THE U.S. AS FAR SMOKE INTO THE U.S. AS FAR SOUTH AS D.C.. SOUTH AS D.C.. STEPHANIE RAMOS IS THERE. STEPHANIE RAMOS IS THERE. >> UNPRECEDENTED WILDFIRES >> UNPRECEDENTED WILDFIRES RAGING ACROSS EASTERN CANADA RAGING ACROSS EASTERN CANADA FOR A FIFTH DAY. FOR A FIFTH DAY. MORE THAN 16000 NOVA SCOTIANS MORE THAN 16000 NOVA SCOTIANS UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS. UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS. HUNDREDS OF STRUCTURES GUTTED HUNDREDS OF STRUCTURES GUTTED BY FIRES RISK WATERS. BY FIRES RISK WATERS. >> HIS FOUR CHILDREN AND DOG >> HIS FOUR CHILDREN AND DOG FLED THEIR HOME. FLED THEIR HOME. HE SAYS HE'S NERVOUSLY WATCHING HE SAYS HE'S NERVOUSLY WATCHING HIS HOME FROM HIS DOORBELL HIS HOME FROM HIS DOORBELL CAMERA. CAMERA. >> THIS WASN'T A COMMUNITY. >> THIS WASN'T A COMMUNITY. IT WAS USED TO WILDFIRES TOLL IT WAS USED TO WILDFIRES TOLL AND UNSEASONABLY WARM AND DRY AND UNSEASONABLY WARM AND DRY SPRING HAS FUELED THE FIRES SPRING HAS FUELED THE FIRES THAT HAVE NOW SCORCHED ROUGHLY THAT HAVE NOW SCORCHED ROUGHLY 77 SQUARE MILES. 77 SQUARE MILES. >> NOT EVEN WORTH IT, MAN. >> NOT EVEN WORTH IT, MAN. THAT'S NEARLY TWICE AS MUCH OF THAT'S NEARLY TWICE AS MUCH OF THE PREVIOUS RECORD SET THE PREVIOUS RECORD SET 47 YEARS AGO. 47 YEARS AGO. EVERY DAY THAT THE TEMPERATURE EVERY DAY THAT THE TEMPERATURE GOES UP AND EVERY DAY THAT GOES UP AND EVERY DAY THAT THE WINDS ARE SIGNIFICANT THE WINDS ARE SIGNIFICANT ALLOWS THOSE FUELS TO BECOME ALLOWS THOSE FUELS TO BECOME MORE AND MORE VOLATILE. MORE AND MORE VOLATILE. >> NOW, SMOKE IS SHIFTING >> NOW, SMOKE IS SHIFTING SOUTH, PROMPTING AIR QUALITY SOUTH, PROMPTING AIR QUALITY ALERTS IN NEW ENGLAND EXPECTED ALERTS IN NEW ENGLAND EXPECTED TO GO AS FAR SOUTH AS D.C. TO GO AS FAR SOUTH AS D.C. FIRE OFFICIALS WERE HOPING FOR FIRE OFFICIALS WERE HOPING FOR A BREAK IN THE DRY, WINDY A BREAK IN THE DRY, WINDY WEATHER, BUT THAT'S NOT WEATHER, BUT THAT'S NOT FORECAST TO HAPPEN. FORECAST TO HAPPEN. UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING AT UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING AT THE EARLIEST KYRA. THE EARLIEST KYRA. >> ALL RIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT. STEPHANIE RAMOS THANK YOU SO STEPHANIE RAMOS THANK YOU SO MUCH. MUCH. WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT. WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT. WE'RE ALSO FOLLOWING THAT WE'RE ALSO FOLLOWING THAT SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER IN SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER IN TEXAS NOW IN CUSTODY AS POLICE TEXAS NOW IN CUSTODY AS POLICE INVESTIGATE WHETHER HE COULD INVESTIGATE WHETHER HE COULD BE LINKED UP TO 10 COLD CASES BE LINKED UP TO 10 COLD CASES DATING BACK TO NINETEEN DATING BACK TO NINETEEN NINETY SIX . NINETY SIX . >> ABC NEWS MIREYA VILLARREAL >> ABC NEWS MIREYA VILLARREAL HAS MORE U.S. MARSHALS HAS MORE U.S. MARSHALS CONFIRMING NEW DETAILS AFTER AN CONFIRMING NEW DETAILS AFTER AN URGENT MANHUNT FOR COLD CASES. URGENT MANHUNT FOR COLD CASES. SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER RAUL MEZA FRIDAY RETURNS TO A RAUL MEZA FRIDAY RETURNS TO A RAUL MEZA JON, I WANT TO RAUL MEZA JON, I WANT TO RAUL MEZA ROOMMATE, RETIRED RAUL MEZA ROOMMATE, RETIRED PAROLE OFFICER JESSA FRAGA PAROLE OFFICER JESSA FRAGA FOUND FATALLY STABBED IN HIS FOUND FATALLY STABBED IN HIS HOME NORTH OF AUSTIN MORE THAN HOME NORTH OF AUSTIN MORE THAN A WEEK TO GO. A WEEK TO GO. INVESTIGATORS SAY WHILE INVESTIGATORS SAY WHILE RAUL MEZA WAS ON THE RUN, HE RAUL MEZA WAS ON THE RUN, HE CALLED DETECTIVES AND IN A 14 CALLED DETECTIVES AND IN A 14 MINUTE CONVERSATION DETAILED MINUTE CONVERSATION DETAILED HOW HE ALLEGEDLY MURDERED HOW HE ALLEGEDLY MURDERED THE 80 YEAR OLD. THE 80 YEAR OLD. THEY SAY HE ALSO ADMITTED THEY SAY HE ALSO ADMITTED TO KILLING 65 YEAR OLD TO KILLING 65 YEAR OLD GLORIA LOFTON FOUR YEARS AGO. GLORIA LOFTON FOUR YEARS AGO. DNA AT HER HOME WAS LINKED DNA AT HER HOME WAS LINKED TO RAUL MEZA WHEN THE FEDERAL TO RAUL MEZA WHEN THE FEDERAL POLICE DEPARTMENT PUT THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT PUT THIS INDIVIDUAL ON THE NEWS AS A INDIVIDUAL ON THE NEWS AS A PERSON OF INTEREST, YOU DREW PERSON OF INTEREST, YOU DREW SOME TIPS AND YOU GO FROM SOME TIPS AND YOU GO FROM ONE TIP TO THE NEXT. ONE TIP TO THE NEXT. >> A FUGITIVE TASK FORCE >> A FUGITIVE TASK FORCE TRACKED DOWN MEIXELL TRACKED DOWN MEIXELL ON MEMORIAL DAY IN NORTH AUSTIN ON MEMORIAL DAY IN NORTH AUSTIN . . THEY SAY HE WAS RIDING A BIKE THEY SAY HE WAS RIDING A BIKE AND CARRYING A BAG WITH ZIP AND CARRYING A BAG WITH ZIP TIES. TIES. A FLASHLIGHT, A GUN A FLASHLIGHT, A GUN AND MULTIPLE ROUNDS INSIDE. AND MULTIPLE ROUNDS INSIDE. MR. MEZA SAID HE WAS READY MR. MEZA SAID HE WAS READY AND PREPARED TO KILL AGAIN. AND PREPARED TO KILL AGAIN. AND HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD AND HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. TO IT. >> THE 62 YEAR OLD, ALREADY >> THE 62 YEAR OLD, ALREADY A CONVICTED MURDERER WITH A A CONVICTED MURDERER WITH A RECORD OF VIOLENT CRIME IN RECORD OF VIOLENT CRIME IN 1982, HE WAS SENTENCED TO 30 1982, HE WAS SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING A THIRD GRADER, KENDRA PAGE, A THIRD GRADER, KENDRA PAGE, BUT SERVED JUST 11 YEARS BUT SERVED JUST 11 YEARS KENDRA PAGE OLDER SISTER KENDRA PAGE OLDER SISTER TELLING US IT'S JUST IT'S BEEN TELLING US IT'S JUST IT'S BEEN ROUGH, ROUGH COUPLE OF WEEKS, ROUGH, ROUGH COUPLE OF WEEKS, MOTIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOW MOTIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOW INVESTIGATING WHETHER RAUL MEZA INVESTIGATING WHETHER RAUL MEZA COULD BE CONNECTED TO UP TO 10 COULD BE CONNECTED TO UP TO 10 DIFFERENT COLD CASES IN THIS DIFFERENT COLD CASES IN THIS AREA ALL THE WAY AREA ALL THE WAY BACK TO NINETEEN NINETY SIX . BACK TO NINETEEN NINETY SIX . THE TRAVELLE FOUGHT FOR DECADES THE TRAVELLE FOUGHT FOR DECADES TO TRY AND KEEP HIM IN PRISON. TO TRY AND KEEP HIM IN PRISON. AND WHEN HE WAS RELEASED, AND WHEN HE WAS RELEASED, TRACEY TELLS US SHE WAS SCARED TRACEY TELLS US SHE WAS SCARED THAT HE WOULD BE COMING THAT HE WOULD BE COMING BACK TO LIVE IN THIS AREA. BACK TO LIVE IN THIS AREA. SHE'S DEVASTATED RIGHT NOW FOR SHE'S DEVASTATED RIGHT NOW FOR THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES KYRA. LOVED ONES KYRA. MIREYA VILLARREAL IN AUSTIN, MIREYA VILLARREAL IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. TEXAS. FOR US . FOR US . FOR US . FOR US . THANK YOU , MIREYA . THANK YOU , MIREYA . WELL, IF YOU'VE EVER VISITED WELL, IF YOU'VE EVER VISITED YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, YOU KNOW WHAT A TREASURE IT YOU KNOW WHAT A TREASURE IT IS TO POINT TO A MILLION ACRES IS TO POINT TO A MILLION ACRES OF ONCE IN A LIFETIME OF ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITIES TO JUST OBSERVE OPPORTUNITIES TO JUST OBSERVE THE WILDLIFE IN WAYS YOU CAN'T THE WILDLIFE IN WAYS YOU CAN'T DO ANYPLACE ELSE. DO ANYPLACE ELSE. AND THE PHOTOS CAPTURE SO MANY AND THE PHOTOS CAPTURE SO MANY UNFO WITH THE FREEDOM TO ROAM UNFO WITH THE FREEDOM TO ROAM WITH THE WILDLIFE ALSO COMES WITH THE WILDLIFE ALSO COMES THE WARNINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WARNINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE BISON. IT COMES TO THE BISON. ABC NEWS TREVORAULT HAS MORE . ABC NEWS TREVORAULT HAS MORE . >> THE CLOSE ENCOUNTER IN CLOSE >> THE CLOSE ENCOUNTER IN CLOSE CALL IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL CALL IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. PARK. WATCHES THIS WOMAN POSES FOR WATCHES THIS WOMAN POSES FOR A PHOTO TRYING TO TOUCH A WILD A PHOTO TRYING TO TOUCH A WILD BISON WHEN IT LUNGES FOR HER, BISON WHEN IT LUNGES FOR HER, AS IF PREPARING TO CHARGE THAT AS IF PREPARING TO CHARGE THAT WOMAN RUSHING AWAY, TRIPPING WOMAN RUSHING AWAY, TRIPPING IS DEAD FULLY. IS DEAD FULLY. THE BISON STAYS BACK . THE BISON STAYS BACK . IT'S PART OF WHAT WILDLIFE IT'S PART OF WHAT WILDLIFE EXPERTS WARN IS A DANGEROUS EXPERTS WARN IS A DANGEROUS PATTERN AT NATIONAL PARKS. PATTERN AT NATIONAL PARKS. >> BUT WHAT WE SEE IN THIS >> BUT WHAT WE SEE IN THIS FOOTAGE IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE FOOTAGE IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE PEOPLE ARE LOSING WHERE PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR FEAR AND MORE THEIR FEAR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEIR RESPECT FOR IMPORTANTLY, THEIR RESPECT FOR POWERFUL ANIMALS, INCLUDING POWERFUL ANIMALS, INCLUDING TO PLAY, SAYS PRESTIGIOUS TO PLAY, SAYS PRESTIGIOUS AND AS IMPORTANT AS THE AND AS IMPORTANT AS THE NATIONAL PARK. NATIONAL PARK. >> THIS VIDEO SHOWS ANOTHER >> THIS VIDEO SHOWS ANOTHER YELLOWSTONE TOURIST GETTING YELLOWSTONE TOURIST GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE FOR A SELFIE. DANGEROUSLY CLOSE FOR A SELFIE. WHILE THIS BISON DOESN'T RELAX, WHILE THIS BISON DOESN'T RELAX, YELLOWSTONE OFFICIALS SAY THERE YELLOWSTONE OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE USUALLY MULTIPLE BISON ARE USUALLY MULTIPLE BISON ATTACKS EACH YEAR. ATTACKS EACH YEAR. THESE CREATURES CAN WEIGH 2000 THESE CREATURES CAN WEIGH 2000 POUNDS AND RUN POUNDS AND RUN THIRTY FIVE MILES AN HOUR, THIRTY FIVE MILES AN HOUR, EASILY TOSSING A HUMAN LIKE EASILY TOSSING A HUMAN LIKE A RAG DOLL. A RAG DOLL. >> OH, NO. >> OH, NO. OH, NO. OH, NO. LAST YEAR, THIS TEXAS WOMAN LAST YEAR, THIS TEXAS WOMAN TRYING TO SNEAK BY THE BISON TRYING TO SNEAK BY THE BISON WAS GORED IN THE BACK, SPENDING WAS GORED IN THE BACK, SPENDING SIX DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. SIX DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. THEY'VE GOT THAT GREAT MANTLE THEY'VE GOT THAT GREAT MANTLE OF HORNS. OF HORNS. AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS TANGLE WITH THOSE TO DO IS TANGLE WITH THOSE HORNS. HORNS. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY BISON WHEN THEY VIOLATE THIS BY BISON WHEN THEY VIOLATE THIS CREATURE SPACE . CREATURE SPACE . >> THE BOTTOM LINE, YOU CAN >> THE BOTTOM LINE, YOU CAN AND SHOULD ENJOY THE WILDLIFE, AND SHOULD ENJOY THE WILDLIFE, BUT FROM A SAFE DISTANCE, USING BUT FROM A SAFE DISTANCE, USING COMMON SENSE, GET THAT AMAZING COMMON SENSE, GET THAT AMAZING PHOTO OR VIDEO, BUT ALSO PHOTO OR VIDEO, BUT ALSO BE CAREFUL. BE CAREFUL. YOU'RE IN THEIR SPACE. YOU'RE IN THEIR SPACE. THIS IS WILD COUNTRY. THIS IS WILD COUNTRY. >> AS IT IS . >> AS IT IS . IT'S GREAT ADVICE. IT'S GREAT ADVICE. AND THANKS TO TREVOR FOR THAT. AND THANKS TO TREVOR FOR THAT. OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THAT IN OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THAT IN THE NATIONAL PARK, BISON THE NATIONAL PARK, BISON REQUIRE AT LEAST REQUIRE AT LEAST SEVENTY FIVE FEET OF SPACE . SEVENTY FIVE FEET OF SPACE . SO IF YOU'RE CLOSER THAN THAT, SO IF YOU'RE CLOSER THAN THAT, YOU'RE NOT JUST PUTTING YOU'RE NOT JUST PUTTING YOURSELF AT RISK, YOU'RE ALSO YOURSELF AT RISK, YOU'RE ALSO BREAKING THE LAW. BREAKING THE LAW. >> WELL, COMING UP, THE DEBT >> WELL, COMING UP, THE DEBT LIMIT BILL PASSES THE HOUSE, LIMIT BILL PASSES THE HOUSE, BUT FACING FIERCE CRITICISM BUT FACING FIERCE CRITICISM WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HOW THE WHITE HOUSE HANDLING HOW THE WHITE HOUSE HANDLING THE CRITICS. THE CRITICS. SENIOR ADVISER TO THE SENIOR ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT , GENE SPERLING, PRESIDENT , GENE SPERLING, JOINS ME LIV JOINS ME LIV CENTRAL ON ABC? CENTRAL ON ABC? >> SO GLAD YOU'RE STREAMING WITH US. WILL HOUSE LAWMAKERS HAGGLING WILL HOUSE LAWMAKERS HAGGLING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE HURDLES THEIR WAY THROUGH THE HURDLES FINALLY PASSING THE DEBT FINALLY PASSING THE DEBT CEILING DEAL AND NOW IT HEADS CEILING DEAL AND NOW IT HEADS TO THE SENATE. TO THE SENATE. PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS IT'S GOOD PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS IT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEWS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, BUT AND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, BUT IS IT GOOD NEWS FOR ALL IS IT GOOD NEWS FOR ALL AMERICANS ? AMERICANS ? >> DEMOCRATS ARE NOW FACING >> DEMOCRATS ARE NOW FACING SOME PRETTY FIERCE CRITICISM SOME PRETTY FIERCE CRITICISM WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTY. WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTY. SO WE TURN GENE SPERLING, SO WE TURN GENE SPERLING, SENIOR ADVISER TO THE SENIOR ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT , ALSO COORDINATOR PRESIDENT , ALSO COORDINATOR FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. JEANNE, GOOD TO SEE YOU . JEANNE, GOOD TO SEE YOU . THANKS FOR HAVING ME. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. WELL, LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT. WELL, LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS LIKE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS LIKE ELIZABETH WARREN, BERNIE ELIZABETH WARREN, BERNIE SANDERS, AOC, I MEAN, SANDERS, AOC, I MEAN, THEY'RE SLAMMING THIS BILL AND THEY'RE SLAMMING THIS BILL AND THE CONCESSIONS THAT WERE MADE THE CONCESSIONS THAT WERE MADE WITH REGARD TO WORK WITH REGARD TO WORK REQUIREMENTS, STUDENT DEBT REQUIREMENTS, STUDENT DEBT REPAYMENTS, CLIMATE CHANGE. REPAYMENTS, CLIMATE CHANGE. >> LET'S TAKE A LISTEN. >> LET'S TAKE A LISTEN. THEY'RE TRYING TO COME IN THEY'RE TRYING TO COME IN AND THEY'RE TRYING TO COME IN AND THEY'RE TRYING TO COME IN AND CUT ENVIRONMENTAL AND CUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. PROTECTION. THEY'RE TRYING TO RAM THROUGH THEY'RE TRYING TO RAM THROUGH AN OIL PIPELINE. AN OIL PIPELINE. THAT DOES NOT MATTER. THAT DOES NOT MATTER. I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT. >> DEFICIT REDUCTION CANNOT >> DEFICIT REDUCTION CANNOT JUST BE ABOUT CUTTING PROGRAMS JUST BE ABOUT CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT WORKING FAMILIES, THAT WORKING FAMILIES, THE CHILDREN, THE SICK, THE CHILDREN, THE SICK, THE ELDERLY AND THE POOR DEPEND THE ELDERLY AND THE POOR DEPEND UPON. UPON. >> I CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS >> I CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS BILL . BILL . SO, JANE , HOW DO YOU RESPOND SO, JANE , HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT CRITICISM AND HOW DO TO THAT CRITICISM AND HOW DO YOU AND THE PRESIDENT MAKE YOU AND THE PRESIDENT MAKE PEACE WITH THESE CONCESSIONS? PEACE WITH THESE CONCESSIONS? I MEAN, YOU'RE GIVING UP I MEAN, YOU'RE GIVING UP BENEFITS FOR SOME OF BENEFITS FOR SOME OF THE NEEDIEST AMERICANS ? THE NEEDIEST AMERICANS ? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AND FIRST AND FOREMOST AND I AND FIRST AND FOREMOST AND I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY HEARING THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY HEARING THIS FROM US AS WELL AS FROM THIS FROM US AS WELL AS FROM REPUBLICANS LIKE SPEAKER REPUBLICANS LIKE SPEAKER MCCARTHY. MCCARTHY. WE'RE IN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT. WE'RE IN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT. SO WHAT YOU HEARD ARE A LOT OF SO WHAT YOU HEARD ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY THINGS THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY AGREE WITH THAT WHAT WE WOULD AGREE WITH THAT WHAT WE WOULD PREFER NOT HAVE HAD IN AN PREFER NOT HAVE HAD IN AN IDEAL BILL THAT WE WOULD HAVE IDEAL BILL THAT WE WOULD HAVE PASSED IF IT WAS THE PRESIDENT. PASSED IF IT WAS THE PRESIDENT. AND JUST IN ALL AND JUST IN ALL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, IT IS NOT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, IT IS NOT THE BILL THAT SPEAKER MCCARTHY THE BILL THAT SPEAKER MCCARTHY WOULD HAVE PASSED. WOULD HAVE PASSED. THEY CONTROLLED THE WHITE HOUSE THEY CONTROLLED THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. AND THE SENATE. WHEN YOU HAVE DIVIDED WHEN YOU HAVE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT AND BIPARTISAN, GOVERNMENT AND BIPARTISAN, YOU NEED BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE YOU NEED BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE . . SO THE QUESTION IS , WAS THIS SO THE QUESTION IS , WAS THIS AN HONORABLE COMPROMISE? AN HONORABLE COMPROMISE? WAS THIS ULTIMATELY A WIN FOR WAS THIS ULTIMATELY A WIN FOR THE COUNTRY? THE COUNTRY? AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES. AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES. AND I GUESS IN TERMS OF, AND I GUESS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT OR CRITICISM YOU KNOW, SUPPORT OR CRITICISM FROM SOME SOME OF FROM SOME SOME OF OUR PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS, OUR PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS, A COUPLE OF POINTS I'D MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS I'D MAKE ONE THIS PASS YESTERDAY IN ONE THIS PASS YESTERDAY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE TO ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE TO FORTY SIX AMONG DEMOCRATS, FORTY SIX AMONG DEMOCRATS, ONE SIXTY FIVE TO FORTY SIX . ONE SIXTY FIVE TO FORTY SIX . THAT MEANS VIRTUALLY FOUR TIMES THAT MEANS VIRTUALLY FOUR TIMES MORE DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR IT MORE DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR IT THAN AGAINST IT. THAN AGAINST IT. SO THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. SO THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY FEEL THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY FEEL THIS WAS A GOOD AGREEMENT. THIS WAS A GOOD AGREEMENT. AND I THINK PART OF IT WAS AND I THINK PART OF IT WAS THAT, YES, THE REPUBLICANS DID THAT, YES, THE REPUBLICANS DID GET SOME OF THEIR GOALS. GET SOME OF THEIR GOALS. BUT LOOK WHAT THE PRESIDENT BUT LOOK WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID. DID. HE REALLY DID PROTECT HIS KEY HE REALLY DID PROTECT HIS KEY INVESTMENTS IN THE INTEREST INVESTMENTS IN THE INTEREST STRUCTURE, BILL , IN STRUCTURE, BILL , IN THE HISTORIC CLIMATE CHANGE THE HISTORIC CLIMATE CHANGE BILL . BILL . IN THE HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN IN THE HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN AMERICAN SEMICONDUCTOR BILLS, AMERICAN SEMICONDUCTOR BILLS, ALL OF THAT WAS COMPLETELY ALL OF THAT WAS COMPLETELY PROTECTED. PROTECTED. MEDICARE, MEDICAID, SOCIAL MEDICARE, MEDICAID, SOCIAL SECURITY COMPLETELY PROTECTED. SECURITY COMPLETELY PROTECTED. AND ON THE ISSUE INVOLVING WORK AND ON THE ISSUE INVOLVING WORK REQUIREMENTS, FOR SNAP, YES, REQUIREMENTS, FOR SNAP, YES, THEY DID GET SOME ADJUSTMENTS THEY DID GET SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE WOULD PREFER NOT BEEN THAT WE WOULD PREFER NOT BEEN IN THERE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. IN THERE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. BUT LOOK, BUT WE ALSO MADE SURE BUT LOOK, BUT WE ALSO MADE SURE THAT THERE WAS A NEW EXEMPTION THAT THERE WAS A NEW EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS, FOR PEOPLE FOR VETERANS, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, FOR WHO ARE HOMELESS, FOR FOUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE. FOSTER CARE. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK ON THE WHOLE, THERE ON THE WHOLE, THERE ACTUALLY WILL BE MORE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WILL BE MORE PEOPLE NOT HURT BY WORK REQUIREMENTS, NOT HURT BY WORK REQUIREMENTS, THOUGH. THOUGH. THERE WILL BE SOME REFORMS THAT THERE WILL BE SOME REFORMS THAT WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO KEEP WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO KEEP OFF. OFF. BUT AGAIN, IT REALLY COMES DOWN BUT AGAIN, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO IN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT. TO IN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT. WAS THIS A SOLID BIPARTISAN WAS THIS A SOLID BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE THAT SHOULD GET THE COMPROMISE THAT SHOULD GET THE VOTE SUPPORT OF BOTH PARTIES. VOTE SUPPORT OF BOTH PARTIES. AND LOOK, AGAIN, THE PERSON AND LOOK, AGAIN, THE PERSON PUTTING WHAT YOU SAW IN PUTTING WHAT YOU SAW IN THE HOUSE YESTERDAY WAS THAT THE HOUSE YESTERDAY WAS THAT YOU SAW A STRONG MAJORITY OF YOU SAW A STRONG MAJORITY OF BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DECIDE THIS WAS AN HONORABLE DECIDE THIS WAS AN HONORABLE COMPROMISE. COMPROMISE. AND ONE WE AT THE WHITE HOUSE. AND ONE WE AT THE WHITE HOUSE. AND I THINK THE OVERWHELMINGLY AND I THINK THE OVERWHELMINGLY NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS FELT DID NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS FELT DID MEET PROGRESSIVE VALUES IN MEET PROGRESSIVE VALUES IN A WORLD WHERE COMPROMISE WAS A WORLD WHERE COMPROMISE WAS ESSENTIAL. ESSENTIAL. >> BUT IF WE LOOK >> BUT IF WE LOOK BACK TO STUDENT LOAN DEBT BACK TO STUDENT LOAN DEBT RELIEF, I MEAN, IT WAS ONE OF RELIEF, I MEAN, IT WAS ONE OF BIDEN'S MAJOR CAMPAIGN BIDEN'S MAJOR CAMPAIGN PROMISES. PROMISES. SO AREN'T THESE CONCESSIONS SO AREN'T THESE CONCESSIONS BREAKING THAT VERY PROMISE BREAKING THAT VERY PROMISE TO AMERICA? TO AMERICA? NO, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. NO, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WE UNDERSTAND THE PRESIDENT HAS WE UNDERSTAND THE PRESIDENT HAS TWO MAJOR COLLEGE DEBT RELIEF TWO MAJOR COLLEGE DEBT RELIEF BILLS. BILLS. ONE OF THEM IS ONE WHERE HE ONE OF THEM IS ONE WHERE HE PROVIDES DEBT RELIEF OF PROVIDES DEBT RELIEF OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO STUDENTS AND TWENTY THOUSAND TO STUDENTS AND TWENTY THOUSAND IF YOU'VE BEEN ON PELL GRANTS. IF YOU'VE BEEN ON PELL GRANTS. THE SECOND WAS A PROGRAM THAT THE SECOND WAS A PROGRAM THAT MAKES SURE YOU ONLY HAVE TO PAY MAKES SURE YOU ONLY HAVE TO PAY A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF YOUR INCOME EVERY YEAR SO THAT YOUR INCOME EVERY YEAR SO THAT YOU NEVER HAVE CRUSHIN STUDENT YOU NEVER HAVE CRUSHIN STUDENT LOAN DEBT. LOAN DEBT. >> THOSE ARE THE TWO GIANT >> THOSE ARE THE TWO GIANT MAJOR PROPOSALS. MAJOR PROPOSALS. ONE OF THOSE IS BEING ONE OF THOSE IS BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT. CHALLENGED IN COURT. HOW MUCH DID THE PRESIDENT HOW MUCH DID THE PRESIDENT GIVE ON THAT? GIVE ON THAT? NOT ONE DIME. NOT ONE DIME. NOT ONE PENNY. NOT ONE PENNY. WHAT THE PRESIDENT ALSO DID WAS WHAT THE PRESIDENT ALSO DID WAS THAT DURING THIS PANDEMIC, HE THAT DURING THIS PANDEMIC, HE PUT A PAUSE ON STUDENT LOANS PUT A PAUSE ON STUDENT LOANS AND WE HAD SAID THAT THIS WAS AND WE HAD SAID THAT THIS WAS GOING TO END AS WE GOT INTO GOING TO END AS WE GOT INTO THE FALL OF THIS OF THIS YEAR. THE FALL OF THIS OF THIS YEAR. AND SO WE AGREED TO LEGISLATE AND SO WE AGREED TO LEGISLATE WHAT WE'D ALREADY COMMITTED WHAT WE'D ALREADY COMMITTED TO DO. TO DO. SO I REALLY THINK IF YOU LOOK SO I REALLY THINK IF YOU LOOK OVERALL, THE PRESIDENT STOOD OVERALL, THE PRESIDENT STOOD FIRM AND DID NOT LET THEM FIRM AND DID NOT LET THEM GET ONE PENNY FROM THE TWO GET ONE PENNY FROM THE TWO MAJOR PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP MAJOR PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP TENS OF MILLIONS OF STUDENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF STUDENT LOANS GET 10 OR 20 THOUSAND OF LOANS GET 10 OR 20 THOUSAND OF DEBT RELIEF OR BE ABLE TO HAVE DEBT RELIEF OR BE ABLE TO HAVE ESSENTIALLY FINANCED ESSENTIALLY FINANCED THEIR LOANS SO THEY NEVER HAVE THEIR LOANS SO THEY NEVER HAVE TO FACE CRUSHING DEBT, TO FACE CRUSHING DEBT, PAYING BACK THEIR LOANS FOR PAYING BACK THEIR LOANS FOR COLLEGE. COLLEGE. >> SO, JEAN , LET ME ASK ABOUT >> SO, JEAN , LET ME ASK ABOUT THE NAACP. THE NAACP. IT WANTS TO ABOLISH THE DEBT IT WANTS TO ABOLISH THE DEBT CEILING. CEILING. IT ACTUALLY PUT OUT A STATEMENT IT ACTUALLY PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING WHILE THE ORIGINAL SAYING WHILE THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE DEBT CEILING WAS INTENT OF THE DEBT CEILING WAS TO SOLVE A PRACTICAL CHALLENGE TO SOLVE A PRACTICAL CHALLENGE OF PAYING THE NATION'S BILLS OF PAYING THE NATION'S BILLS DURING WORLD WAR ONE , IT'S DURING WORLD WAR ONE , IT'S BECOME A WEAPON USED BECOME A WEAPON USED BY CONSERVATIVE EXTREMISTS BY CONSERVATIVE EXTREMISTS TO HOLD THE LIVES TO HOLD THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF AND LIVELIHOODS OF BLACK AMERICA AND COUNTLESS BLACK AMERICA AND COUNTLESS OTHERS HOSTAGE. OTHERS HOSTAGE. DEMOCRATS HAD A CHANCE DEMOCRATS HAD A CHANCE TO ABOLISH THE DEBT LIMIT LAST TO ABOLISH THE DEBT LIMIT LAST . . SHOULD THEY HAVE DONE THAT? SHOULD THEY HAVE DONE THAT? AND SHOULD WE JUST GET RID OF AND SHOULD WE JUST GET RID OF IT? IT? WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO GET TO WHAT EXACTLY TO GET TO WHAT EXACTLY THE POLICY SOLUTION IS RIGHT THE POLICY SOLUTION IS RIGHT NOW. NOW. OUR FOCUS TODAY IS ON PASSING OUR FOCUS TODAY IS ON PASSING THIS BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE, THIS BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE, MAKING SURE WE DON'T FACE MAKING SURE WE DON'T FACE A CRUSHING DEFAULT THAT WOULD A CRUSHING DEFAULT THAT WOULD HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON JOBS AND UNEMPLOYMENT ON JOBS AND UNEMPLOYMENT AND THOSE WHO ARE MOST HARD AND THOSE WHO ARE MOST HARD PRESSED IN OUR ECONOMY. PRESSED IN OUR ECONOMY. >> BUT I DO THINK WE WOULD >> BUT I DO THINK WE WOULD AGREE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AGREE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEBT LIMIT IS NOT USED THAT THE DEBT LIMIT IS NOT USED AS AN EXTORTIONARY TACTIC. AS AN EXTORTIONARY TACTIC. IT IS OKAY TO HAVE LIKE YOU SAW IT IS OKAY TO HAVE LIKE YOU SAW HERE, BUDGET AGREEMENTS THAT HERE, BUDGET AGREEMENTS THAT HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME. HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME. BUT IF A SIDE SAYS YOU DO BUT IF A SIDE SAYS YOU DO MY WAY OR WE'RE GOING TO PUT MY WAY OR WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUR ECONOMY IN DEFAULT FOR OUR ECONOMY IN DEFAULT FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT IS THAT THE FIRST TIME, THAT IS THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE I AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE I I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS DID I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS DID EVERYTHING HE COULD IN THIS EVERYTHING HE COULD IN THIS CONTEXT. CONTEXT. TO MAKE CLEAR HE'S NOT TO MAKE CLEAR HE'S NOT NEGOTIATING ON THE DEBT LIMIT NEGOTIATING ON THE DEBT LIMIT OR NOT SUBJECTING OURSELVES OR NOT SUBJECTING OURSELVES TO THIS TO EXTORTION ON ON TO THIS TO EXTORTION ON ON THE DEBT LIMIT. THE DEBT LIMIT. >> BUT I THINK WE FELT IN >> BUT I THINK WE FELT IN THE END THAT WE CAME TO AN THE END THAT WE CAME TO AN HONORABLE COMPROMISE HONORABLE COMPROMISE AND HONORABLE BIPARTISAN AND HONORABLE BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE ON THAT BUDGET COMPROMISE ON THAT BUDGET ISSUES THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD ISSUES THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO FACE AND DEAL TO FACE AND DEAL WITH REPUBLICANS ANYWAYS. WITH REPUBLICANS ANYWAYS. >> BUT I DO HAVE ONE MORE >> BUT I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. QUESTION. >> I HAVE SYMPATHY FOR THEM IN >> I HAVE SYMPATHY FOR THEM IN SAYING MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL STEP SAYING MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL STEP BACK AND LOOK AND SEE HOW WE BACK AND LOOK AND SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY, CAN MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN , EVER DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN , EVER USE THE DEBT LIMIT ANY MORE OR USE THE DEBT LIMIT ANY MORE OR EVER TO TIP TO EVER SAY MY WAY EVER TO TIP TO EVER SAY MY WAY OR I PUT THE ECONOMY INTO OR I PUT THE ECONOMY INTO DISTRESS AND DEVASTATION. DISTRESS AND DEVASTATION. I DON'T THINK ANY AMERICAN OF I DON'T THINK ANY AMERICAN OF ANY SIDE, ANY PARTY PROGRESSIVE ANY SIDE, ANY PARTY PROGRESSIVE ,CONSERVATIVE, SHOULD EVER DO ,CONSERVATIVE, SHOULD EVER DO THAT. THAT. AND I THINK IT IS WORTH US ALL AND I THINK IT IS WORTH US ALL THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN ENFORCE THAT THAT BASIC NORM, ENFORCE THAT THAT BASIC NORM, YOU KNOW, AMONG OUR POLICY YOU KNOW, AMONG OUR POLICY MAKERS. MAKERS. >> WELL, THAT DOES LEAD ME >> WELL, THAT DOES LEAD ME TO YOUR YOUR BACKGROUND. TO YOUR YOUR BACKGROUND. I MEAN, YOU SERVED IN I MEAN, YOU SERVED IN THE CLINTON AND OBAMA THE CLINTON AND OBAMA ADMINISTRATIONS. ADMINISTRATIONS. SO THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST DEBT SO THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST DEBT CEILING RODEO HERE. CEILING RODEO HERE. HOW DID YOU GET PUT INTO THIS HOW DID YOU GET PUT INTO THIS POSITION? POSITION? WHERE YOU HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WHERE YOU HAVE TO NEGOTIATE OVER THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OVER THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE U.S. AGAIN? OF THE U.S. AGAIN? I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF PRECEDENT I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF PRECEDENT DOES THAT SET? DOES THAT SET? WELL, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IN WELL, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IN 2011 WAS SO SCARY AND HARMFUL. 2011 WAS SO SCARY AND HARMFUL. >> AND I THINK THAT IT HAD >> AND I THINK THAT IT HAD A TERRIBLE IMPACT BECAUSE A TERRIBLE IMPACT BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY THOUGHT WE WERE PEOPLE REALLY THOUGHT WE WERE ON THE DOORSTEP OF DEFAULT. ON THE DOORSTEP OF DEFAULT. >> AND YOU SAW MAYBE A MILLION >> AND YOU SAW MAYBE A MILLION JOBS LOST OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR JOBS LOST OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO DUE TO THAT UNCERTAINTY. TWO DUE TO THAT UNCERTAINTY. YOU SAW THE STOCK MARKET YOU SAW THE STOCK MARKET GO DOWN 17%. GO DOWN 17%. >> YOU SAW CONSUMER CONFIDENCE >> YOU SAW CONSUMER CONFIDENCE PLUMMET. PLUMMET. SMALL BUSINESSES WERE HURT. SMALL BUSINESSES WERE HURT. I DO THINK THIS TIME AROUND, I DO THINK THIS TIME AROUND, THE PRESIDENT MADE VERY THE PRESIDENT MADE VERY CLEAR THAT THAT TO CONSTANTLY CLEAR THAT THAT TO CONSTANTLY ASK FOR ASSERTION FROM ALL ASK FOR ASSERTION FROM ALL THE PARTIES THAT DEFAULT WAS THE PARTIES THAT DEFAULT WAS NOT ON THE ON THE TABLE, THAT NOT ON THE ON THE TABLE, THAT HE WAS WILLING TO ENGAGE IN AN HE WAS WILLING TO ENGAGE IN AN HONORABLE BUDGET COMPROMISE. HONORABLE BUDGET COMPROMISE. >> SO I THINK THAT THAT WHAT WE >> SO I THINK THAT THAT WHAT WE FACED THIS TIME IS NOT 2011. FACED THIS TIME IS NOT 2011. AND ASSUMING THE SENATE AND ASSUMING THE SENATE WILL NOW PASS IT, I THINK WE WILL NOW PASS IT, I THINK WE WILL AVOID, EVEN THOUGH IT'S WILL AVOID, EVEN THOUGH IT'S CLOSER TO THE LINE THAN ANY OF CLOSER TO THE LINE THAN ANY OF US WOULD HAVE LIKED. US WOULD HAVE LIKED. I THINK IT'S BEEN I THINK WE'VE I THINK IT'S BEEN I THINK WE'VE DONE THIS IN A WAY THAT HAS NOT DONE THIS IN A WAY THAT HAS NOT HAD THE KIND OF DEVASTATING HAD THE KIND OF DEVASTATING IMPACTS THAT WE SAW IN 2011. IMPACTS THAT WE SAW IN 2011. AND AGAIN, I SHARE AND AGAIN, I SHARE THE SENTIMENT THAT WE SHOULD THE SENTIMENT THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE THINKING HOW POLICY WISE ALL BE THINKING HOW POLICY WISE OR JUST IN OUR BASIC NORMS OR JUST IN OUR BASIC NORMS TO COMMUNICATE THAT NO TO COMMUNICATE THAT NO ONE SHOULD USE THE THREAT OF ONE SHOULD USE THE THREAT OF DEFAULT AS A WAY OF OF SAYING DEFAULT AS A WAY OF OF SAYING MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY ON ANY MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY ON ANY POLICY PRIORITY. POLICY PRIORITY. >> GENE SPERLING, APPRECIATE >> GENE SPERLING, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY. YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU BET. >> YOU BET. COMING UP, THE RUSH OF CHASING COMING UP, THE RUSH OF CHASING A WINNING TICKET AND THOSE A WINNING TICKET AND THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR WHO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR ADDICTION TO THE LOTTERY. ADDICTION TO THE LOTTERY. NEXT. NEXT. WHEN I BUY A LOTTERY TICKET, IT WHEN I BUY A LOTTERY TICKET, IT FEELS LIKE THE BEST THING IN FEELS LIKE THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD. THE WORLD. BUT AT THE END, IT FEELS LIKE BUT AT THE END, IT FEELS LIKE THE END L TAKE THE END L TAKE YOU , THERE, YOU'RE STREAMING, YOU , THERE, YOU'RE STREAMING, "ABC NEWS LIVE". "ABC NEWS LIVE". >> SO THE LOTTERY BRINGS IN >> SO THE LOTTERY BRINGS IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO STATE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS PUT AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS PUT DOWN A FEW DOLLARS WITH THE DOWN A FEW DOLLARS WITH THE HOPES OF STRIKING RICH . HOPES OF STRIKING RICH . WELL, DREAMING BIG OF A LOTTO WELL, DREAMING BIG OF A LOTTO WINNINGS IS MOSTLY FUN WINNINGS IS MOSTLY FUN AND GAMES, BUT FOR SOME IT'S AND GAMES, BUT FOR SOME IT'S BECOME AN OBSESSION. BECOME AN OBSESSION. >> REENA ROY HAS MORE . >> REENA ROY HAS MORE . WHEN I BUY A LOTTERY TICKET, IT WHEN I BUY A LOTTERY TICKET, IT FEELS LIKE THE BEST THING IN FEELS LIKE THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD. THE WORLD. BUT AT THE END IT FEELS LIKE BUT AT THE END IT FEELS LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD. THE END OF THE WORLD. AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S A MOMENTARY HIGH THAT A MOMENTARY HIGH THAT DEVIN DWYER THOMAS SAYS SHE DEVIN DWYER THOMAS SAYS SHE DESPERATELY CHASE FOR YEARS. DESPERATELY CHASE FOR YEARS. >> IT FEELS LIKE YOUR HEART'S >> IT FEELS LIKE YOUR HEART'S GOING TO EXPLODE, BUT YOU LOVE GOING TO EXPLODE, BUT YOU LOVE IT. IT. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE BEHIND THAT GLITTER TO BE BEHIND THAT GLITTER THAT'S UNDERNEATH THAT TICKET. THAT'S UNDERNEATH THAT TICKET. THE SLIM CHANCE OF A WIN THE SLIM CHANCE OF A WIN ON SCRATCH OFF TICKETS ON SCRATCH OFF TICKETS AND LOTTO DRAWING'S HAD HER AND LOTTO DRAWING'S HAD HER GOING BACK FOR MORE SPENDING GOING BACK FOR MORE SPENDING HOURS EVERY DAY IN CONVENIENCE HOURS EVERY DAY IN CONVENIENCE STORES ACROSS RICHMOND, STORES ACROSS RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, EVEN SKIPPING MEALS VIRGINIA, EVEN SKIPPING MEALS FOR EXTRA CASH . FOR EXTRA CASH . >> WERE THERE TIMES WHERE >> WERE THERE TIMES WHERE YOU CHOSE TO BUY LOTTERY TICKET YOU CHOSE TO BUY LOTTERY TICKET INSTEAD OF PUTTING FOOD INSTEAD OF PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE EVERY TIME, EVERY ON THE TABLE EVERY TIME, EVERY TIME. TIME. IF I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING, IF I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING, AS SOON AS MY EYES POP UP, AS SOON AS MY EYES POP UP, I LOOK AT MY BANK ACCOUNT I LOOK AT MY BANK ACCOUNT AND IF I HAD ANY KIND OF MONEY, AND IF I HAD ANY KIND OF MONEY, I'M OFF TO A CASINO, I'M OFF I'M OFF TO A CASINO, I'M OFF TO A CONVENIENCE STORE. TO A CONVENIENCE STORE. I STILL HAVE TO KEEP PLAYING I STILL HAVE TO KEEP PLAYING BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENOUGH. BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENOUGH. >> IT WAS NEVER ENOUGH. >> IT WAS NEVER ENOUGH. WELL, THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION WELL, THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION IS MOSTLY FOCUSED ON POWERBALL IS MOSTLY FOCUSED ON POWERBALL AND MEGA MILLIONS DRAWINGS. AND MEGA MILLIONS DRAWINGS. MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF STATE MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF STATE LOTTERY SALES COME FROM INSTANT LOTTERY SALES COME FROM INSTANT SCRAP OF TICKETS WITH REPEAT SCRAP OF TICKETS WITH REPEAT PLAYERS LIKE TO DRIVING SALES. PLAYERS LIKE TO DRIVING SALES. A NATIONWIDE INVESTIGATION OF A NATIONWIDE INVESTIGATION OF STATE LOTTERIES BY THE STATE LOTTERIES BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND IN 2020 UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND IN 2020 TWO TOWN STORES THAT SELL TWO TOWN STORES THAT SELL TICKETS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY TICKETS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY CLUSTERED IN LOWER INCOME CLUSTERED IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITIES. >> IN NEARLY EVERY STATE WHERE >> IN NEARLY EVERY STATE WHERE THE GAME IS PLAYED, IT'S LOW THE GAME IS PLAYED, IT'S LOW INCOME PEOPLE WHO ARE LOSING INCOME PEOPLE WHO ARE LOSING A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THEIR WEALTH TO THIS, THEIR WEALTH TO THIS, TO GOVERNMENT SCHEME. TO GOVERNMENT SCHEME. LOOKING BACK AT THE HISTORY OF LOOKING BACK AT THE HISTORY OF THE LOTTERY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE LOTTERY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ATTEMPTED MEANS TO RICHES AN ATTEMPTED MEANS TO RICHES FOR MANY AMERICANS . FOR MANY AMERICANS . >> NOW THAT I WON THAT MONEY, >> NOW THAT I WON THAT MONEY, I'M GOING TO GO INTO BUSINESS I'M GOING TO GO INTO BUSINESS AMONG BLACK AMERICANS. AMONG BLACK AMERICANS. IT ALSO BECAME A CHANCE TO GAIN IT ALSO BECAME A CHANCE TO GAIN UPWARD MOBILITY IN A SYSTEM UPWARD MOBILITY IN A SYSTEM THAT CRITICS ARGUE HAD FEW THAT CRITICS ARGUE HAD FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR. COLOR. >> BUT LOTTERIES HAVE >> BUT LOTTERIES HAVE TRANSFORMED INTO A WAY FOR TRANSFORMED INTO A WAY FOR STATES TO FILL IN BUDGETARY STATES TO FILL IN BUDGETARY GAPS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES GAPS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. AND RESEARCHERS SAY LOW INCOME AND RESEARCHERS SAY LOW INCOME TAXPAYERS END UP SHOULDERING TAXPAYERS END UP SHOULDERING THE BURDEN. THE BURDEN. >> STATE LOTTERIES ARE EXHIBIT >> STATE LOTTERIES ARE EXHIBIT A WHEN IT COMES TO PREDATORY A WHEN IT COMES TO PREDATORY GAMBLING. GAMBLING. NO ONE'S GOING TO SAY THERE'S NO ONE'S GOING TO SAY THERE'S AN OVERTLY RACIST PROGRAM, BUT AN OVERTLY RACIST PROGRAM, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A FORM OF THIS IS DEFINITELY A FORM OF SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT HAS SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT HAS OCCURRED. OCCURRED. THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE TAX THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE TAX BURDEN AWAY FROM MIDDLE CLASS BURDEN AWAY FROM MIDDLE CLASS TAXPAYERS FROM PROPERTY AND PUT TAXPAYERS FROM PROPERTY AND PUT IT MORE AND MORE ON THE BACKS IT MORE AND MORE ON THE BACKS OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE, OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE, DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY BROWN FOLKS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY . . >> THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW >> THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT THE LOTTERY SYSTEM THAT THE LOTTERY SYSTEM ACTUALLY IS MORE PREVALENT ACTUALLY IS MORE PREVALENT AND POTENTIALLY TARGETS AND POTENTIALLY TARGETS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LOWER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES. INCOME COMMUNITIES. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? I THINK IS A TRAVESTY. I THINK IS A TRAVESTY. ACTUALLY , I AM A PART OF THAT ACTUALLY , I AM A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY. I AM A WOMAN OF COLOR. I AM A WOMAN OF COLOR. I'M LOW INCOME. I'M LOW INCOME. >> AFTER EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL >> AFTER EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, TAVERNIER WAS ABLE THOUGHTS, TAVERNIER WAS ABLE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP TO AN TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP TO AN ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAM AT ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAM AT WILLIAMSVILLE WELLNESS IN WILLIAMSVILLE WELLNESS IN VIRGINIA. VIRGINIA. >> ON THE FIRST DAY, IT WAS >> ON THE FIRST DAY, IT WAS LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. I WOULD SAY FOR MYSELF, I WOULD SAY FOR MYSELF, I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAMBLE. TO GAMBLE. >> I DIDN'T HAVE THE MEANS >> I DIDN'T HAVE THE MEANS TO GAMBLE AS A PERSON GAMBLES TO GAMBLE AS A PERSON GAMBLES AND BEGINS TO LOSE. AND BEGINS TO LOSE. THEY START TO CHASE MONEY. THEY START TO CHASE MONEY. THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT AND IT JUST GETS THEM OUT AND IT JUST GETS THEM FURTHER AND FURTHER IN THE HOLE FURTHER AND FURTHER IN THE HOLE . . >> EXPERTS SAY LOTTERY TICKET >> EXPERTS SAY LOTTERY TICKET SALES ARE SKYROCKETING SALES ARE SKYROCKETING WITH INCREASING JACKPOTS LURING WITH INCREASING JACKPOTS LURING IN MORE PLAYERS TICKET SALES IN MORE PLAYERS TICKET SALES HAVE JUMPED FROM HAVE JUMPED FROM FORTY SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS FORTY SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS TO EIGHTY TWO BILLION SINCE TO EIGHTY TWO BILLION SINCE 2005, WITH ALL BUT FIVE STATES 2005, WITH ALL BUT FIVE STATES OPERATING SOME FORM OF LOTTERY. OPERATING SOME FORM OF LOTTERY. THE TAX FOUNDATION SAYS THE TAX FOUNDATION SAYS APPROXIMATELY 60% OF STATE APPROXIMATELY 60% OF STATE LOTTERY EARNINGS GO DIRECTLY LOTTERY EARNINGS GO DIRECTLY TO THE WINNERS, WITH STATES TO THE WINNERS, WITH STATES KEEPING THE REMAINING AMOUNT KEEPING THE REMAINING AMOUNT TO PAY FOR ADVERTISEMENTS TO PAY FOR ADVERTISEMENTS AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS LIKE AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS LIKE EDUCATION, HEALTH SERVICES EDUCATION, HEALTH SERVICES AND PUBLIC SPACES. AND PUBLIC SPACES. IN VIRGINIA, WHERE TEVANIAN IN VIRGINIA, WHERE TEVANIAN LIVES SOME SEVEN HUNDRED LIVES SOME SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR MILLION AND SEVENTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS FROM LOTTERY TICKET DOLLARS FROM LOTTERY TICKET SALES ARE EARMARKED FOR K SALES ARE EARMARKED FOR K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC EDUCATION. THROUGH 12 PUBLIC EDUCATION. >> BUT IN 2022, VIRGINIA >> BUT IN 2022, VIRGINIA RECEIVED A DEGREE FOR HOW IT RECEIVED A DEGREE FOR HOW IT ALLOCATES MONEY TO HIGH POVERTY ALLOCATES MONEY TO HIGH POVERTY DISTRICTS, LEAVING QUESTIONS DISTRICTS, LEAVING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED AND IF IS DISTRIBUTED AND IF SOME SHOULD BE GOING SOME SHOULD BE GOING TO BATTLING ADDICTION. TO BATTLING ADDICTION. THE VIRGINIA LOTTERY TELLING THE VIRGINIA LOTTERY TELLING ABC NEWS THAT IT HAS A PROVEN ABC NEWS THAT IT HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF WORKING TRACK RECORD OF WORKING TO RAISE AWARENESS OF PROBLEM TO RAISE AWARENESS OF PROBLEM GAMBLING AND GAMBLING GAMBLING AND GAMBLING ADDICTION. ADDICTION. GOING FAR BEYOND WHAT IT'S GOING FAR BEYOND WHAT IT'S REQUIRED BY LAW TO DO WHILE REQUIRED BY LAW TO DO WHILE VIRGINIA LAW REQUIRES ALL VIRGINIA LAW REQUIRES ALL LOTTERY PROFITS TO GO TO K LOTTERY PROFITS TO GO TO K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION, THROUGH 12 EDUCATION, THE LOTTERY HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY THE LOTTERY HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY WHEN IT COMES THE INDUSTRY WHEN IT COMES TO USING ITS RESOURCES AND HIGH TO USING ITS RESOURCES AND HIGH PUBLIC PROFILE TO RAISE PUBLIC PROFILE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGE AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE PLAY. RESPONSIBLE PLAY. >> FORTUNATELY, MOST OF >> FORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED OVER THE YEARS DO INCLUDE OVER THE YEARS DO INCLUDE SOME HELP FOR PEOPLE THAT SOME HELP FOR PEOPLE THAT GET ADDICTED TO GAMBLING. GET ADDICTED TO GAMBLING. BUT IT'S PROBABLY STILL NOT BUT IT'S PROBABLY STILL NOT ENOUGH. ENOUGH. AND I THINK MORE OF THE PROFITS AND I THINK MORE OF THE PROFITS NEED TO GO TOWARDS HELPING NEED TO GO TOWARDS HELPING PEOPLE THAT DEVELOP GAMBLING PEOPLE THAT DEVELOP GAMBLING DISORDER. DISORDER. >> TAVERNIER'S SAYS HER LOSSES >> TAVERNIER'S SAYS HER LOSSES ARE INCALCULABLE THESE DAYS. ARE INCALCULABLE THESE DAYS. SHE JOURNALS AND STAYS IN TOUCH SHE JOURNALS AND STAYS IN TOUCH WITH HER SPONSOR TO TRY WITH HER SPONSOR TO TRY AND KEEP HER MIND OFF GAMBLING. AND KEEP HER MIND OFF GAMBLING. BUT SHE SAYS IT'S A CONSTANT BUT SHE SAYS IT'S A CONSTANT BATTLE AGAINST TEMPTATION. BATTLE AGAINST TEMPTATION. THERE'S GAMBLING EVERYWHERE, THERE'S GAMBLING EVERYWHERE, AND IT IS TEMPTING. AND IT IS TEMPTING. SO YOU THINK PERHAPS SOME OF SO YOU THINK PERHAPS SOME OF THE MONEY SHOULD BE GOING THE MONEY SHOULD BE GOING TO ACTUALLY HELP LODO TO ACTUALLY HELP LODO ADDICTION? ADDICTION? I THINK MOST OF THE MONEY DOES I THINK MOST OF THE MONEY DOES NEED TO GO TO THAT. NEED TO GO TO THAT. >> AND WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE >> AND WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT BE GOING TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR? THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR? >> THERE'S HELP, BUT YOU GOT >> THERE'S HELP, BUT YOU GOT TO WANT IT. TO WANT IT. >> SO GLAD THAT >> SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE STREAMING WITH SOME YOU'RE STREAMING WITH SOME KYRA PHILLIPS