CNN "The Lead" - TRANSCRIPT McCarthy Confident He'll Have Votes To Be Elected Speaker Tonight; Rep. James Comer, (R-KY), Is Interviewed About House Speaker Vote; Rep. Victoria Spartz, (R-IN), Is Interviewed About House Speaker Vote, Ukraine Fund; Biden Awards 14 People Presidential Citizens Medal On Riot Anniversary; Biden Awards Citizens Medal To 12 On January 6 Anniversary; FDA Approves New Alzheimer's Drug That Appears To Slow Disease; Suspect Bryan Kohberger Linked Through DNA, Cellphone Data And Witness. Aired 5-6p ET

Interview

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TAPPER: The House of Representatives is adjourned until 10:00 Eastern this evening. That is when Republicans expect they will have two more members back in town. They had to leave for family reasons and may want to have another vote for speaker.

In the two ballots taken today, Kevin McCarthy was able to get 14, then one more total of 15 previous holdouts to come over to his side. One of those members is Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz of Indiana. Though we should clarify, Congresswoman, you started off voting for McCarthy and then you started voting present to encourage the negotiations. Now you're back in the McCarthy camp. So presumably you were happy with the fact that there were negotiations and it actually brought people on board.

REP. VICTORIA SPARTZ (R-IN): Yes, and I think it's important for us, you know, to be able to govern in the tight majority and talk to each other. So I think negotiation and conversation in good faith is very important. It was much stronger, -- made stronger.

And I'll tell you, Republicans and conservatives are not -- never going to be governed with an iron fist the Speaker Pelosi was able to do in her conference. So it's good for Kevin McCarthy to understand it now. And I think that was a very good progress that was made today.

TAPPER: McCarthy says that he's confident he's going to be elected speaker tonight. He's going to win. Do you agree?

SPARTZ: Well, I have to trust only this -- his judgment and the processes that he's involved with. But I think there are -- you know, there are number of other Republicans, you know, that really good to run conservatives and have some concerns, and Kevin just need to talk with them. And I think they will be able to come on board because they want to make sure that we do things that, you know, our American people want from us and start governance.

So, I'm sure it's going to happen and I hope it happens tonight. But I think this is going to be dependent on him and he needs to show that he can work with people and be able to bring all of us together.

TAPPER: So this has happened in history before, but it's been 100 years since the last time it happened, 1923. And it hasn't gone to this many ballots any time other than four times in the first half of the 18 hundreds and maybe like right after 1855, I think, as well in 1859. My point is, it was right before the American Civil War. And I'm wondering if you think the fact that it has not been this complicated since right before the American Civil War says something about where we are in our politics. SPARTZ: Well, I think, you know, our politics and our country is very divided and I think our institutions are not functioning properly and American people are tired of it from both sides of the aisle. And we criticize President Biden a lot and there is a lot of criticism we can do. But we also should criticize our branch because they're not doing job because our approval rating is lower than President Biden. And it's to say something that people are not happy with us.

So if we want to function as an institution, we need to reform ourselves as an institution. So it's not about the speaker. I personally don't care who is the speaker. I want to make sure that we have the right processes in place to make us -- to represent our people and deliver for the American people. And I think moving in the democracy direction, making our institution more deliberate body, is actually very good for all of us.

We actually had to go and get to know each other and listen to each other, not just talk to an empty room. So I think there are a lot of things that are going to be positive in the end.

TAPPER: Certainly anything that would encourage more interactions, more debate, more amendments, a democratization of the legislative process is a good thing. Encouraging people to actually have to read the legislation before they vote on it is a good thing. But there are other concessions that we've heard may have been offered. When are you going to find out what all of the concessions were?

SPARTZ: Well, I think before we vote on all of the rules, you know, then we will be able to see these rules and address some concerns. You know, if we need, we'll go back to conference and have some further deliberation. But I think a lot of the things they've been discussed, they just were not on paper. And some of this member makes sure that Kevin is going to put on the paper because, you know, we had a lot of track record with people having some grievances and some concerns.

So I think putting it on paper in front of some of the people, you know, that had this concern is good things. But I think a lot of the tools being discussed already internally, so I don't think there are going to be any surprises. And I don't expect anyone to come out with surprises and people's support.

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So I think it's going to be communicated to all of the members. And I truly believe in the end we're all going to like it more. And you know what, if I don't like something and things can better, this rules are not set in stone (ph). We can actually make some changes to the rules, but I think we're moving in a positive direction.

TAPPER: One last question for you. You were the first American -- first Ukrainian born member of the U.S. Congress. I'm sure you support debate over funding for Ukraine. I'm sure you support oversight over that funds. But I'm wondering if you worry at all these concessions, these rules and the empowering of these individuals who continually voted against Kevin McCarthy if they will ultimately stop funding Ukraine's efforts to defend itself.

SPARTZ: I think, you know, we will always have differences in opinions not just on our side and on our side, you know. But I think Ukraine has been supported on a bipartisan basis. And I think if we have better deliberation and explain a lot of my conservative friends that we do have that oversight, that we do have strategies, that the other branches actually come to us and tell us what's happening there because they've been very reluctant, I think much more conservatives are going to support freedom, love in Ukrainians that are fighting for the values that a lot of conservatives are fighting for.

So I think that is actually going to improve, you know, our relationship with our base because a lot of stuff what's happening right now, it's actually propaganda done by Russians. And I have to tell you, the other side gave them some of the tools to do that propaganda. A lot of conservatives freedom, love and people will love, freedom, love and Ukrainian people too.

TAPPER: All right, Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, thank you so much. Appreciate your time.

SPARTZ: Thank you.

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