- Congress in the past has debated bills, considered bills to eliminate the Green Business Bureau, to defund the Green Business Bureau, but Congress didn't have the votes.

So now President Powerton is doing, through an executive order, what Congress couldn't do.

So you're each gonna have an opportunity to get on national TV and thank President Powerton for standing up in Congress' place.

Senator Christie, any qualms about standing up on that stage and thanking the president?

- Well, I'm a little concerned about whether the president has the authority to do that, take away monies that were already appropriated by the House and the Senate.

Probably I'm gonna wanna talk to the president about whether or not there might be another way to get done what he wants to get done.

So as most of my colleagues in the Senate often do, I'll wait and see.

(group laughing) - Okay.

- Senator, consider your political position and consider what the American people asked us to do last November before you step out here and cause a problem for yourself or the president.

Don't be on the wrong side of history.

Save the republic's fiscal situation.

- Well, I often take advice on history from press secretaries.

(group laughing) I would, with all due respect to Mr. Jennings, say that, you know, the oath that I took as a United States senator put my allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, not to any one particular man or woman who happens to be elected president or any other position.

And if they're uncomfortable with me saying that this is something that I'm gonna have to really think about, then they can just take me outta the press conference, and I'll hold my own press availability, you know, in front of the West Wing.

- Well.

- Wow.

- Whoa.

(group laughing) (audience applauding) - Do you mind if I call the Secret Service and have this guy's- (group laughing) - Credentials.

- Credentials revoked for the day or?

(group laughing) - Senator Christie, Mr. Jennings' history lesson wasn't persuasive, his political appeal.

- It could be persuasive.

No, as with many of my colleagues, I just haven't made up my mind yet.

- Yeah.

- And I don't think that I should go out there and just read a position of talking points that was written by the White House.

I was elected by the people of Middlevania, and I took an oath to the Constitution.

And those two things are my most important constituencies.

- Will you be willing at least to stand at the press conference, but not speak?

- No.

- So you're gonna leave?

- Well, if that's the choice I'm given, I'd like to go and say, "I'm willing to work with the White House, along with my colleagues in the Senate, to try to get to a legal and appropriate resolution."

- Are you okay with him saying that?

- Well, I'm okay with him saying that he supports the president's mission.

I am not okay if he wants to stand at our press event and call into question the president's motivations or authority to do it, because we obviously have a different view on that.

Don't wanna have a public debate at our press event over method if that's something that we can work out in private later.