Cong. Steve Lynch

Hey welcome back to while number three appearance for a voice data and -- is having some fun and that little opening. -- my head up off the desk of -- get the walks over shoveled the door just a matter at hand Alston Brighton. The -- in now the period our Finneran -- way haven't a ball. One of the worst performance I've -- seed however with three got the how to handle a snow stopped in you know what it did it kept the friend of mine down -- Washington DC. Congressman Steve lynch was trying to get home to see his wife Margaret and his daughters and to. Do what he does best visited connect with his constituents and keep the ball of government moving forward and stuck in DC because of the -- now I don't expect the allies to -- of the do miracles but I always feel a little bit better when Steve which is home and Steve you -- to join us.

Good morning Tom if you wouldn't mind you can put itself it would a couple of shovels them. Take care sidewalk there would be great.

I got a couple of lodges in the back what's like club what's -- shovel that out I'll keep that parking space you congressman for the next four months old it'll be active not opt opt. A Stevie good to join us in it is good to -- voice before we get into this steroids report. And senator Mitchell's reap what I want to make sure wish you would Margaret and and the kids -- our great great christmas and a happy and healthy new yet.

Yeah I think feel well you'll approve or might my special merry christmas wish to Reagan.

Our idea the best -- argue the best -- you should read Barack that you have a political touched off US two after. I have -- you know Steve we talked a lot with you about you visits to Afghanistan and Iraq you know I admire you so much the time and effort you've spent the multiple trips over the at a see the men and women who wear the uniform and make the sacrifice for -- but. Today's news is actually a little bit closer to home. And while it's not as you know grand in the scheme of things. While this one really grits for people who baseball fans and take it seriously on the senator Mitchell report. Right this is unbelievable and yet you've you've you sit on the committee down the -- and haven't remember all the committees but I think it's the house government reform committee now that your.

Right gives -- now. Out government oversight a senate committee big -- and implement Democrats took over.

Yeah okay to tell -- tell us what in the aftermath of senator Mitchell's report about 88 plays -- named in. You know some of them while they really stand out including clearly Roger Clements is one that you know we have that local affiliation that local history with. You folks were involved in the earlier testimony we're Palmeiro went. McGwire Sosa are chilling and everybody else showed up. -- like whoa what is congress light lead to do on this now that's senator Mitchell has issued this very damning report.

Well I I think that. Tom leave the initial feeling in congress was we would rather have baseball regulate itself we have an opportunity to regulate them but in all honesty we've got more important things to do it and try to regular professional sport so we we felt that we gave them. Give them a chance to get there acted in order. That or action would be unnecessary we're not so sure now on the one hand that you cut both ways someone you know I think Mitchell did it's -- Mitchell did a pretty good job get on the fact that number one he did not have subpoena power he did not have the ability to threatened in the criminal prosecution. All of the testimony that came before his commission was was voluntary he he solicited he asked 700 players -- former players to testify. And only 68 came forward. He didn't have the the -- some of the -- and Asia -- and some others who came forward so we each key got a lot of evidence on on fairly large number of players with very little. You know very little. In the way of tools to war -- number one the committee's going to have a hearing on the eight seat next week and that's Tuesday. And what we're gonna do so we're going to Birmingham senator Mitchell. Commissioner salad and also -- share from the players association and go over what what they've brought him we think that. There may be more year given the fact that it was a very. Narrow remember 68 witnesses actually came forward there a lot of documents substantiate what they what they testified to. But there may be a more thorough investigation it needs to happen here and we're going to look at that as well. We will look at the policy recommendations that the that baseball that the commissioners. Recommended here. And see what what baseball might. Might do in response shall what we're taking in more evidence and we're waiting the possibility of congressional action but that has not been decided.

Steve and you approach this many times from the perspective of -- camps I mean you're aren't in Iraq -- congressman and so you have huge responsibilities that we got but your fan as well I approach it from a fan's perspective. Do you see any way which baseball can remove the tonnage remove the cloud. That how does -- so that people have a sense that the game as being played on the field. Is not being distorted by you know by chemicals and -- kind of pharmaceutical advantages. That and you know the by god here is never had available to them that the game has been restored to it's just a regional basis of you know the ability to do things in a special way with a bat the ball. Not with the chemical advantages.

Well yeah I think that if they may bid -- these severe enough to remember this this does not appear to be isolated. Instances of steroid use this as this does he get a fairly large number of players here and again it was only from a narrow group of witnesses that we've we've taken evidence. So this has been a significant problem look it is -- to what actually that the problem is these players have been paid paid huge numbers. You know 101520 million dollars a year if you can extend your playing ability. One that you -- three more years this issue financial reward for that player and if you look at crossed a list of players. They're all players he had sort of passed their time. Maybe they were looking for a little bit of help and an interest in performance obviously and and they they -- service but. Again the the financial incentives for someone to break the rules here is enormous so I really think that baseball these -- have. Literally you know the death penalty or for you know not not literally but but very severe penalties for anyone who breaks the rules. They've got to have a very transparent and so process for for testing players both. During this season and him and oxy. They've also got to come up what they in agreement on HGH which is you know hormone it's not it's not taxable. That's the word by a by urine sample you have to have a blood test right now would still want the tests that are out there they use and and the -- happens olympics but so the test adopted about a a blood test and so. Obviously a bit more troops of them then taking -- urine sample but they've they've got to get after that as well and so and and remember technology keeps changing and they've got these. Designer steroids that are out there that people trying to mask him and them make even more more advanced. And you know there there are becoming quite sophisticated in the steroids themselves -- becoming even more effective so that's something that we're going to have to try to stay head of state of the curve and the so the the policing mechanism of the the testing mechanism -- tested continually the fall you know in in competition with these these designer steroids and folks that are out there that -- to design and and the players that are willing to use.

We're talking to congressman Stephen Lynch from congressman from Massachusetts he sits on the committee on oversight that will look into senator Mitchell's report released yesterday on steroid use and abuse in Major League Baseball. Steve I'm curious once congress that's to dig into this eerie ear and I know you you you mentioned at the outset. Initially -- the preference the congressional preference was let's let the you know the that the the -- to address this itself cleaned it up itself if it can't any sense down near that congress is going to use this. As a basis for beginning to look at other -- NFL NBA NHL. Any of that stuff that you hear among staffers or other congressman with whom you serve.

Well we've already brought in you know shall we we've looked at the NBA to go to hockey as well chapel and parish and then Enceladus folks can be honestly don't. I have to get -- actually have bell they came in -- pro actively. And they began a random. Test every Sunday you know land and obviously Monday but every every weekend one. Once football teams get together they've got a swat team that goes out on each each sideline and -- randomly test those players. And you know they do pretty good job of that so in Spanish said the NFL responded you know very aggressive way and they've they've sort of the state a lot of the the back. School -- here on on the steroid issue let me because of their their willingness to actual quickly and aggressively but you know that it's a continual process and obviously size matters. And and football. More so than and based also we've got to keep an eye on that I think job. You know I have my my my sense of where this might go but. I'm supposed to remain impartial this case -- this matter is going to be before our committee and I -- here all the evidence but you know we we certainly have some leverage here what what baseball they've they've got a you know an antitrust exemption that we -- down. And soul we've we've got the ability I think to make them. Adopts the most stringent looser regulations against steroid use that that are that are imaginable.

Stephen your political history -- your entire career has been around really much of it but -- union issues working man working women. The right to -- the right to you know assemble and work as a unit how do you address how do you then approaches -- you know given that personal history -- congressional responsibilities. The situation with Donald fehr the head of the union. A lot of fingers of blame seem to point at him for just being absolutely Ottawa -- on this and saying. I'm not going to expose my members at all to anything that might have their reputation -- the Korea noble and won -- but at the same time seems to me to do some damage to the integrity of the game how do you balance that it's going to be conflict feel a little bit.

Well now we're not really -- I have to tell you you know I represented the iron workers you know as as president I was attorney for the Teamsters are honors. Bunch of these -- and unions ladies garment workers union you know the wardrobe workers. You know part of that union and I analyst of the opinion that it as a representative of the union. It was a it was a strike. To be able -- employer. We have a drug free union. We have -- 820 union. We are willing to you don't submit you know -- workers to to drug test a lot of them war in in areas where the public was at risk and we absolutely had to do this. And it was good for the workers and it was good for the employers are being created safer workplace. And so as being represented you can take a position that says hey look. I don't know what he on this I agree that the drug -- mom now illegal. Even union is not a good. And so we need to be aggressive been in in combat it mr. affair on the other hand seems to have taken in and -- let's let's confessing their. This is that this can be argued that the average members.

I always knowing about it not. -- I was gonna say young guys out how to work is and I can see the strength that comes from the you can look every employer in the giants say my guys a drug free my guys are going to be the safest most dependable you'll have less workplace incidents in -- radio guys aware -- for a you know really pennies on the hour a couple of bucks now and these.

That's the telling point we got that was no that was this though the good part -- Obviously the players association has taken a little different -- this -- And doll -- get a deal with some you know. These are folks making millions of dollars a year and so he's got a different groups -- he's got to deal but it'll be innocent and see how it works at all because it's gonna happen is he something that at least in part goes before the collective bargaining process.

Does does Bud Selig the commissioner strike used -- type of person with the inner strength in the did the disposition of the determination to say okay. Now we have the evidence that we need cut the crap on the Commissioner of Baseball. This is how it's going to be -- play down the law is -- easy. Does he have that type a personality -- see more of kind of you know a quiet given take negotiator who in the end gets trim.

Well I don't know -- know the answer that question I know and have been pretty much out of out of hand. You know be here earlier collective bargaining agreement that he was party to allow the player to leave in the middle of this is is urine tests. And so anybody who would agree that that's stopped you know it doesn't particularly. Strong -- comes -- no serious Xia he also. He also allowed -- section into the old agreement that said that the government stopped to look at this we're gonna who basically you know shut this. Disagreement down this provision -- so there was some things -- that that I -- matter earlier agreement that that work. Tantamount to complicity. In instability so maybe he's he may be -- county. You know a conclusion now that he actually do this I hope so I hope so you know for the future of the sport max -- great tragedy here I mean you know idol of millions of Americans out there you know. My relationship what my dad it was all built on baseball and taken me the Sox game and -- wonderful tradition here it's just. You know I mean you just look at the Red Sox nation how would regard that treatment and almost kids out there looking up to those players and so.

It's embedded -- the DNA you got it in its embedded into the hold regional DNA. Every kid you -- Steve we can all remember that for his visit to -- we -- remember the last visit to Fenway I mean every rock every visit this Fenway is special sell the your home town famous for all the little leagues over their -- playground all really hot a plug in incredible legacy for many many as a lawless state economist by. This you know this this disk. That this hallways and that's now while the F you know in the pursuit of home run records and big dollars and all the rest of it I just cringe when I think of the impression that's left with those young kids.

But I I think baseball will survive -- that great speech that James Earl Jones gives during the you know that that movies I know the Marines or he says you know. America has you know rebuilt itself over and over again on the one consulate there has been baseball the well you know I I think there's a certain. It persistence and in love for the game man and a well you know you hope that that's. You know that's what surprised here that we overcome this there's big bump in the road and hands and get get out of business capacity at stake here because you know -- you can imagine what what might happen here if if the game became. You know just permanently tainted where those statistics that are so vital to the sport -- unlike a lot of others. Our our ultimate question and you know it it's unfortunate that so many. Players that had magnificent careers. And now you know being call suspect and and now there there could have been me jam and -- You know maybe maybe because of that is actually here other players will realize what's at stake and you know I think people in the game and around the game will realize what's at stake in -- we'll get our act together here.

You know -- we do have a -- get a moment to and income -- we have another Steve Colin and we have Steve Holland and from Salem New Hampshire. Steve from -- me around with Steve alleged congressman from Massachusetts.

But it settlement Steve who good morning what do you. -- I have a question or comment actually on the question is when you look at steroids I look at things like VH DA -- account or stop that's legal like. They -- scene in ghost and it died alone and it's you can buy or its trip a list that. But the legal supplement. If you are they investigating that China's so it's just. The other kinds of steroids that you know are actually beat you if you look at all that stuff. In real quickly -- I started a quick call and I'll hang up I think it's so I think that I think that I'd like this because it was put under the same microscope that they put on Major League Baseball because I think. Alcoholism and drug abuse congress and taxes country or that it actually baseball can do. I would like to see the same microscope be put on the members of congress because what I was coming out of in the wake people -- It's gotta be some major drug and alcohol abuse but that's what that looks like the -- activities an example.

Let's talk about let's give congressman alleged chance to respond to the first question end well in and remember in when everything is appropriate on the second story of state.

What particular reversal this member member of the congress so elected by -- in my case the 640000 people know them best. And if there are problems that nature every member of congress it is easy we live our lives under a microscope so. Maybe the person who was just calling it not a registered voter doesn't understand the scrutiny. Every day in the newspaper members of congress and their and their lives and -- have an example where individuals have have to have problems and also become. You know find Katie who so I think. And in -- that's a ball I have to say I'm mad there is that joked that JD Runnels says she says. The reason that there are two senators from every state is. So that one could be the designated driver.

That that's just a joke that there's joke and I just love that. You know I do have to say that that we we look at -- our jurisdiction comes from the controlled substance act. And anabolic anabolic steroids now listed on the the accuracy as -- controlled substance so that's where we get our primary jurisdiction in this case that's that's the yes the answer to the first question.

We'll Steve listen you've you've been great with it time we know you trying to get back from DC -- static to break Kirin Boston and Libya. Heck of a lot better when you do get on the ground and can get to. In a reunited with Margaret in the -- daughters and to rest the family would approach his safe return and thank you very very much for the time you give us all the time it it's.

Song you've got a great show here and you know I have to confess when I was in my house upland Baptist -- dozen messages I didn't listen -- much.

I would -- now. That's why your career took off are you gonna do and aren't there safety of congressman Steve alleged Democrat from South Boston represent a lot of times down on the -- a great guy in good congressman