CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)

Interview

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HARLOW: All right, the government is back open, good headline, but it's not forever. I mean, maybe it is. Let's be optimistic. The big question now, can lawmakers strike a deal to stop another shutdown in just three weeks? The president is expressing doubt.

Joining me now is Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire. She is a member of the Homeland Security and Finance Committees. Good morning to you, I'm glad you're joining us on a morning when you guys are fully up and running. Thanks for being here.

SEN. MAGGIE HASSAN (D), NEW HAMPSHIRE: Well, thanks for having me, Poppy, and yes, I think we're all very relieved that the government is back up and running, incredibly grateful to the federal workers --

HARLOW: Yes --

HASSAN: Who were needlessly penalized here. We can't have another government shutdown, and I think it's incredibly important to make sure that the American people are never again used as pawns like this.

HARLOW: So let's talk about the way to a deal because after the temporary agreement was made, you said we can find a way forward. You also, senator, told "Bloomberg News" just in December, quote, "we need strategically placed fencing and other kinds of barriers in certain parts of our border."

Does that mean that you would agree to vote for a deal that does include funding for a border barrier?

HASSAN: You know, last Thursday, we had a bipartisan discussion on the Senate floor about the importance of ending the shutdown, which there was bipartisan agreement was needless and harmful to the American people and our economy.

And that we all pledged to work in good faith to find common ground on border security. And that's what I'm committed to doing. And I think that really starts with making sure we're listening to the experts on the front lines on this.

HARLOW: So --

HASSAN: And that may include strategic fencing in certain --

HARLOW: OK --

HASSSAN: Places. Yes --

HARLOW: So I mean, that's significant, you know, that's an area where you differ from a number of your Democratic colleagues. So you would, if it includes other things like technology that you've talked about, agree to some amount of funding for a border barrier. How much?

HASSAN: Well, so what I think is important over the next several weeks is that, we listen to the people on the front lines. I was down on the border last May, and what the CBP told me was they needed more agents, we need more immigration judges, we need better technology especially at our ports of entry.

And in some places, we need to improve fencing, repair fencing or perhaps put in some new fencing.

[09:20:00] You know, what we need to be doing is focus on what the experts are telling us they need, and I think that there is a lot of common ground around that. And I'll continue to push people to look for common ground and come to compromise because that's what we're supposed to do.

HARLOW: Is $5.7 billion for a border barrier a number you could get behind, should it come with prominent protection for Dreamers? Which by the way the president really backed away from, from that in this "Wall Street Journal" article. But should he come to the table with a permanent protection for Dreamers? Could you come to the table with $5.7 billion for a wall?

HASSAN: Here's the problem with that whole question, Poppy. Is that we have seen that every time the president hints at endorsing permanent protection for Dreamers, the people around him and the far right-wing, the Ann Coulters of the world who, you know, make money by being outrageous and unreasonable pull them back.

So I don't think that's going to happen, I think what we should focus on is bipartisan work to listen to the experts on the front lines, they have all said that especially they need more personnel, more technology and in some places, some fencing.

And I will continue to listen to them and I'll continue to work towards that kind of agreement. We've got a group of bipartisan appropriators on this committee of conference, they are people with a variety of perspectives, and I think what we're going to see is them working very hard to come up with a bipartisan agreement here.

HARLOW: Let me get your take since you voted against the majority, if not all of the president's nominees for the Supreme Court et cetera. Let me get your read on his nominee for Attorney General, that is William Barr because Senate Republicans or Republicans colleagues in the Senate will begin to advance dozens of judicial nominees this week. That includes Barr. Will you vote to confirm him?

HASSAN: Look, I have continued to be concerned with Mr. Barr's very broad view of executive authority, especially given that we are still in the middle of the Mueller investigation. I think that investigation needs to be protected. I think Mr. Mueller needs to be able to follow the facts wherever they take him, and I think no one is above the rule of law including the president of the United States.

HARLOW: Well, I mean, he said --

HASSAN: So --

HARLOW: As much in his testimony, so I wonder if that's a --

HASSAN: Well --

HARLOW: Yes or a no vote for you.

HASSAN: So what I think is, as I listen to his testimony, he really wasn't committing to allowing Mr. Mueller to follow the facts wherever they lead. And he has a very broad view of executive privilege which makes me believe he is conflicted and compromised here. So I won't be supporting his nomination.

HARLOW: You will not? OK --

HASSAN: Right.

HARLOW: We have 30 seconds left, so let's play a quick game of word association or yes or no here. Hillary Clinton 2020, are you supportive if she were to jump in?

HASSAN: I want to make sure that all of our excellent candidates have a full hearing. I am very excited by how many people we have, and in New Hampshire, we're just focused on making sure the welcome mat is out.

HARLOW: Howard Schultz? A life-long Democrat. HASSAN: Yes --

HARLOW: If he launches an independent bid for the presidency in 2020, would that be a good thing for America?

HASSAN: I am very concerned about the impact of a potential spoiler here. Mr. Schultz is a life-long Democrat, I would encourage him to get into the Democratic primary and test his ideas that way.

HARLOW: He says, though, as you heard last, saying in the "60 Minutes" interview that some of the Democratic ideas that we're seeing from a number of Democrats right now, he says America can't afford, for example, Medicare for all.

HASSAN: Well, so I think there are a lot of us who want to make sure that we are building middle class opportunity all across the board for all Americans, creating jobs, workforce training, lowering healthcare costs, lowering the cost of child care.

And if Mr. Schultz wants to be president, he could test his candidacy and his ideas in a vigorous debate in the Democratic primary. And there are plenty -- there's a huge range of positions in the Democratic primary, and I think they should be tested in that way.

HARLOW: Senator Maggie Hassan, we appreciate you joining us today --

HASSAN: Thank you --

HARLOW: Good luck reaching a deal --

HASSAN: Thank you.

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