CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Congressmen Josh Gottheimer and Tom Reed

Interview

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JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, seeing it in so many states around the country. Stephanie Elam, thanks very much.

Well this morning, a dire deadline facing millions of Americans, perhaps some of you, edging closer to a so-called benefits cliff, that with unemployment payments set to expire and listen to this, the day after Christmas. This if Congress fails to act again. Student loan payment deferrals and a federal moratorium on evictions, also set to run out just days afterwards.

On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed a $908 billion coronavirus aid plan, a compromise to extend help to those hardest hit by the pandemic. Joining me now are two congressmen pushing for this new relief bill, Democrat Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Representative Tom Reed, a Republican from New York. They are co- chairs of the Congressional Problem Solvers Caucus.

Gentlemen, thanks for taking the time this morning. This nation needs problem-solvers, I don't have to tell you that. But we know the political reality here.

So Congressman Reed, perhaps I could begin with you. Mitch McConnell, he's floating his own plan about half the size you guys are talking about, $500 million package, viewed by some on the Hill as a rejection of this compromise effort. I just wonder, without his support, are your efforts dead in the water?

TEXT: Senator Mitch McConnell's Stimulus Proposal Includes: $332 billion in small business assistance; Broad liability protections; Extension of unemployment benefits; $105 billion for school funding; Funding for testing and vaccines

REP. TOM REED (R-NY): Absolutely I do not believe they're dead in the water. And you know, the actual proposal I've heard about from Mitch McConnell here recently is somewhere estimated to be $550 to $700 billion, is what I -- my understanding is what's being put on the table, so that's inching closer to the $908 billion that we identified in a bipartisan, bicameral meeting. We stood with nine senators yesterday that support this proposal that we put together.

And remember, the Problem Solvers Caucus represents 50 members of Congress because we got our official endorsement to support this legislation, so we're getting closer. But to your point, Christmas is right around the corner, it's time to listen to the American people and deliver this Christmas need ASAP.

SCIUTTO: Congressman Gottheimer, I wonder because Nancy Pelosi, the speaker, and Chuck Schumer, of course Senate minority leader, they're making their offer and they were reluctant to go below a $2 trillion figure before the election. Do they have buy-in to this bipartisan proposal?

REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER (D-NJ): You know, what we've offered up is a very short-term emergency-focused package to get us through into the new year, into a new administration. Honestly, it's a down payment, we'll probably have to do more after the new year.

But the bottom line is -- and Tom is right here -- you know, both sides in leadership are going to offer their proposals. What we've put out there is something where we think they can land, it's a compromise position.

TEXT: $908 Billion Bipartisan Stimulus Proposal Includes: $160 billion state, local, tribal government funding; $288 billion support for small businesses including PPP; $16 billion vaccine development, distribution, testing, tracing; $180 billion additional pandemic emergency unemployment plan; $121 billion support for education, student loans, housing assistance, child care; Short-term federal protection from coronavirus related lawsuits, gives states time to develop their own response

GOTTHEIMER: It does all the things that are critically important, as you talked about earlier, helping students and with eviction issues but also extends unemployment resources to families, which are so critical this time of year. PPP, another round of small business loans.

A third of small businesses in New Jersey have gone out already, our small businesses need help. This will give them extra help. It's for food and nutrition right now because so many people -- 40 percent -- are getting food support for the first time in their lives.

So this -- around the holiday time, there's (ph) spiking happening around the country. You just talked about L.A., but it's hundreds of thousands of new cases a day everywhere. We've actually got to give urgent relief now and no more politics, no more delaying.

[10:35:00]

SCIUTTO: Yes. I wonder, Congressman Reed, where the president is in these negotiations. He's tweeting a lot about election fraud, he's talking about vetoing the defense spending bill. Is he involved in these negotiations substantively?

REED: So my understanding -- we've always, in the Problem Solvers Caucus, have a rich legacy of always keeping our leadership -- as well as now the White House, during the prior conversations we've had on a COVID deal -- keeping them informed.

My understanding is we get a deal done before January 1st, the president is interested in signing that legislation because he recognizes that there's a need out there that needs to be addressed. Now if we go past January 1st, then I think we're into the next administration and that is going to be problematic. That means no relief until February, March. And that is why it's unacceptable for us to leave D.C. without getting something done before the holiday.

SCIUTTO: Congressman Gottheimer, should -- do you agree? I mean, should lawmakers of both parties stay in Washington until they have a deal, forget the holiday break?

GOTTHEIMER: Absolutely. I mean, the idea that we would go home without something is, you know, to me completely unconscionable and frankly too many people are hurting right now. We should not leave Washington unless we get something done.

Which is why what was proposed yesterday -- which was bipartisan, as was said (ph), 50 members of Congress, half Democrat half Republican, nine senators standing together. Clearly there's an agreement to be had here that covers all the issues, that helps our state and local governments so we can make sure that our cops and our firefighters and our teachers stay employed, helps people with food, helps our small businesses, right?

I mean, these are the things families need right now and we can't leave here unless we get that done and members of Congress and the Senate are making that clear to leadership, you absolutely can't go home until we get this done.

SCIUTTO: Listen, I hope you do. We speak on this broadcast to Americans who are suffering through this, and I don't have to tell you it's real.

On another topic -- if I can, because this just happened moments ago -- comments from the secretary of state of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger -- of course, Republican, talking about threats against election workers. Have a listen, I want to get your reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRAD RAFFENSPERGER (R), GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE: Even after this office request that President Trump try and quell the violent rhetoric being borne out of his continuing claims of winning the states where he obviously lost, he tweeted out, "Expose the massive voter fraud in Georgia."

This is exactly the kind of language that is at the base of a growing threat environment for election workers who are simply doing their jobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Congressman Reed, is it time for the House Republican leadership -- Kevin McCarthy among them -- to acknowledge Biden is president-elect and to stop sharing disinformation that, as Secretary of State Raffensperger has said, has led to threats against him and others?

REED: You know, as a member whose family received a brick and a dead rat at our front step just a matter of weeks ago, and received these threats, I will tell you, this environment is not helpful and it is not something I support. And I've recognized Vice President Biden, and recognized him as president-elect. And we should continue to move forward.

Now, I think we're coming to the conclusion of this process, and I will just defer -- I can only control what I do and I'll defer to the leadership as to what they want to do as we go forward.

SCIUTTO: Congressman Gottheimer, before we go, the significance of the president continuing to share this disinformation even in the face of fellow Republicans, like Congressman Reed but also in Georgia, pushing back?

GOTTHEIMER: Obviously it's unacceptable. I'm glad that you've got officials like those in Georgia pushing back, and the bottom line is my concern is not just for this election -- and obviously the threats happening to families, which as Tom just pointed out is unacceptable -- but the long-term impact on our democracy, on voting on faith in elections, that to me is a huge concern.

And you've got people who are, every day, not just losing faith in this election but the next one. That's what we have to also be very careful about right now, and I'm very concerned about that.

SCIUTTO: Well listen, Congressmen Gottheimer and Reed, thank you for making an effort to work together. I know that a lot of folks who watch this program welcome that effort.

GOTTHEIMER: Thank you.

REED: We'll continue to do it, the American people deserve it.

GOTTHEIMER: Agreed, thanks so much.

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