CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview With House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer
Interview
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REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), MINORITY WHIP: Nobody knows, because, again, we remember, some 72 hours before, maybe 96 hours before, the vice president came down to the United States Senate and said that the bill that Mitch McConnell passed through the Senate would be signed by the president.
Twenty-four hours later, he changed his mind on that. So you asked me a question I don't know the answer to. I hope that the president will agree to an agreement that can get 60 votes in the Senate and a majority of the House and be sent to him, so that we would avoid shutting down the government, at least for any extended period of time.
It looks like we may not be able to avoid midnight, but, unfortunately, we haven't seen the president stick to the agreements he has made. So I can't answer your question whether he will.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: You can see there's six hours to go before midnight.
Is there anything, Congressman, that President Trump and the Republicans could offer the Democrats in the Senate and the House that would get you, the Democrats, to compromise on border wall funding?
HOYER: Look, I think that we have offered numerous times to make more extensive investments in border security. We want border security. We're for border security.
We don't think the wall works. Clearly, the Mexicans aren't going to pay for it, as was the president's claim. But when you ask me that, yes, I think we could support enhancement to border security, but we don't think the wall is the answer. And we're not going the agree to that.
But that does not mean we don't want stronger security. If the president has some stronger border efforts he wants to make, I think we could support those. BLITZER: What do you think of his proposal? Instead of a wall, he
calls it a steel slat barrier. And he tweeted a picture of what he has in mind.
We will put it up on the screen right now. What do you think? Is that a promise?
HOYER: Look, we need to be serious, Wolf.
We're about to shut down the government of the United States -- well, actually, a portion of the government of the United States, because we have passed with overwhelming Democratic votes 75 percent of the funding for government, and the president signed that bill.
We ought not to kid one another. I presume these discussions are going to be serious. I presume when Senator Schumer says they're not going to get 60 votes for a wall, they're not going to get 60 votes for a wall
But I think they will get 60 votes and they will get Democratic votes, if we are talking about enhancing security through other means, technical means, personnel and other aspects.
BLITZER: Are members of the House going to stick around tomorrow, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Christmas, until you guys figure it out?
HOYER: Well, I had a colloquy with the majority leader just a few minutes ago. What the majority leader said, he did not expect any votes tomorrow, and he would give sufficient notice to members if the Senate acted and they were going to take action.
So my -- what I take from that is, because there's nothing to do, and as you just heard, the Senate is going to be in negotiations and try to come to an agreement on an arrangement that possibly could pass the Senate and the House, I think the majority leader is saying, look, it is not going to happen in the next 12, 24 hours. So if you need to go home, go home and we will send you notice as to when we need to take action. And we will give you sufficient time to get back.
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BLITZER: You're talking about Kevin McCarthy, the Republican majority leader.
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HOYER: Thank you.
BLITZER: And so what he is basically telling members, you want to go home, at least tomorrow, maybe for the weekend, go home.
So it sounds to me like there's not going to be a deal. At least the earliest there could be a deal would be tomorrow or Sunday.
HOYER: Well, if there's a deal, if the Senate reaches a deal tonight -- I think that's probably unlikely, but if they reach a deal tonight, and were prepared to pass something tomorrow, I think most -- almost -- I wouldn't say all of the members, but most of the members are still here, and they will stay here if there's to be a vote which will open up government and a deal that is acceptable to them, them being the Republicans, and acceptable to us and acceptable to the president.
I think they will be available to vote. And I think what the majority leader said, he's going to give them sufficient notice if they have gone home, because there are no votes and the Senate hasn't reached a deal tomorrow. They will be ready to come back and vote when it's appropriate to do so.
And they want to open up the government as soon as possible.
BLITZER: You represent a congressional district in suburban Maryland outside of Washington, D.C. A lot of federal workers in your district are going to lose their jobs. They are going to be furloughed. They're not going to get paid.
Others will have to continue working in law enforcement and other national security areas, but they're also, at least for the time being, not going to be -- to get paid. Is it worth it to the Democrats to see that happen? You could simply say to the president, we accept the $5 billion, and then everybody continues working.
[18:05:02]
HOYER: Look, let me say again, we have agreed on approximately 97 percent of the Homeland Security bill and 100 percent of all six of the other bills.
So the president saying, if you don't agree with 100 percent, that's not a compromise. That's not working together. The president needs to understand and we understand there are two parties here, and we need to come together to get something done.
Frankly, we don't agree with everything that's in all of these bills. However, we understand this is a process of compromise and agreement. And that's what the Senate is going to try to agree to, but, again, I stress, Wolf, that Senator Schumer said, look, there are no votes on the Democratic side for a wall, but there are votes to open up the government, agree to the Republican bills that have been passed and fund the government, which we ought to do.
And you're right. I have a lot of federal employees, and they're put at risk too often. This -- using government shutdowns as a lever is bad for government. It is bad for the country, and it is bad for our respect around the world. This should not happen.
Senator Alexander was absolutely right. It is not the correct way to do appropriations, nor to threaten one another with taking captive and giving a lot of angst to our federal employees, on whom we rely for so many things.
BLITZER: Yes, especially coming just before the Christmas season. If some of these lose their jobs or don't get paid or have to work without a paycheck... HOYER: Nobody is going to lose their...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: ... it is a horrible situation at any time, but especially right now.
HOYER: Yes, look, I want to make sure, they're not going to lose their jobs. They will be furloughed.
And I will tell you, as the majority leader starting January 3, I will have a bill on the floor to make sure that they are compensated, because they are leaving or being furloughed through no fault of their own. And that's what we have done historically.
BLITZER: Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.
HOYER: Thank you very much, Wolf.
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