CNN "Newsroom" - Interview with Kirsten Gillibrand

Interview

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BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Let's bring in one of the Democrats playing the waiting game here, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

Senator, thank you for being with us.

SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY): Hi, Brianna.

KEILAR: Hi, there.

So there are still big differences between the Republican proposal and the Democrats in terms of cost, and certainly a lot of differences between Republicans themselves.

The Democrats are looking at $3 trillion. Republicans are looking to come in at a little over $1 trillion. What are you willing to compromise on to get this over the finish line?

GILLIBRAND: Well, some of the biggest priorities are ones they're not paying attention to, which gives me grave concern. We need money for the state and local governments desperately. I traveled through the whole state. Every city and county is in

desperate need. And they're on the verge of having to fire police officers, EMTs, firefighters, other critical frontline workers. And this is no time to increase unemployment and decrease services people need to survive.

Second, they're not doing anything to relieve suffering. They're not willing to make sure there's more money for food stamps or rental assistance or housing to make sure mortgages could be forbeared or more rental assistance. And we're unsure whether they'll extend unemployment insurance.

So, what they want to do is liability protection. They want to make sure that every company in America cannot be sued regarding how they treat their employees. I think we need to have OSHA standards revised on an emergency basis. Then you would not be sued if you were not absolutely breaking the law.

KEILAR: Then businesses might have guidelines.

GILLIBRAND: Yes.

KEILAR: And we've heard the Senate majority leader say the second round of stimulus is going to include stimulus checks, PPE funding for businesses in this proposal. Is that welcome news to you?

GILLIBRAND: I think stimulus checks are very helpful. I think continuing to fund small businesses is also very helpful. I just wouldn't do it at the exclusion of state and local budgets. You have to make sure the greatest and most urgent needs are met.

And unfortunately, Mitch McConnell is unwilling to meet with us, unwilling to negotiate the House bill. He sent everyone home and President Trump spent time golfing. He should have been working with leaders on a bipartisan common-sense solution.

KEILAR: The clock is ticking here and it's looking like Congress is probably going to miss the deadline for so many Americans who need the help to come very soon. When do you anticipate this wrapping up?

GILLIBRAND: We should have been working over the last two weeks but we stand ready to negotiate. You heard from Senator Schumer and Pelosi that we have a host of good ideas. We want to find out which ones can be bipartisan.

I'm sure Senators, Republican and Democrats, heard from their mayors at home. And there's no state immune from the crushing effects of shutting down the U.S. economy.

Many states have seen an escalation in numbers of COVID cases because those governors aren't following science and the recommendations of the CDC.

KEILAR: Could this go -- I'm trying to see though could this go into August? Could this potentially go to the middle of August. GILLIBRAND: The employment checks will run out. And they're also -- we

don't want hundreds or thousands or millions homeless because Congress can't do its job.

I call on Senator McConnell to work with us, get this done and get it done before these programs run out.

KEILAR: I want to ask you about a label we've heard House Speaker Nancy Pelosi use. When she's talking about the virus, she's referred to it as the Trump Virus. And I wonder if you think that is appropriate or helpful?

GILLIBRAND: It's not a term I've used but I can understand her frustration with President Trump. He refused to wear a mask for months and made fun of people who were.

He's somebody who refuses to use the Defense Production Act to guarantee universal testing. His administration's been unwilling to spend billions that have been made available for an increase in testing.

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He's not worked on making sure that we can have contact tracing and testing that works around the country. And so, he's not doing what's necessary to stop COVID.

I'm not surprised she's frustrated because he continued to call this a hoax, until a couple of weeks ago. It's incredible how badly President Trump handled this epidemic.

KEILAR: He announced he's sending federal forces to two more cities. What happens if he is to send them to New York?

GILLIBRAND: I think he is misusing military and governmental assets. It is not the role of the U.S. military to go into cities and states and undermine local law enforcement and governors and mayors, who are in charge of keeping the peace.

He is really tearing up the Constitution and the separation of powers in a way that's deeply worrisome and concerning. And I hope the American people speak out.

We have an opportunity to do that in November. And I look forward to defeating President Trump and electing President Biden.

KEILAR: Right. What is the scenario with him sending federal troops in?

GILLIBRAND: I hope we can avoid any serious issues. What happened already in Oregon is so deplorable, it's so concerning, because they were using military assets to harm peaceful moms who were protesting. I mean, I can't fully comprehend how President Trump believes this is an appropriate use of force. It's not.

And I think governors are going to do everything in their power to prevent this from happening again. And they're going to use the powers that they have to push back on the White House and this administration's plans to use force inappropriately.

KEILAR: Senator Gillibrand, thank you for being with us.

GILLIBRAND: Thank you.

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