CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview with Congressman Ro Khanna

Interview

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[17:32:52]

BLITZER: We're following breaking news. In the last-minute push for a new economic stimulus package, according to multiple sources who were in the room during today's Senate Republican lunch, the Leader Mitch McConnell suggested there's little appetite for a deal before the election in two weeks. Joining us now to discuss, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California. Congressman, thank you so much for joining us.

The Majority Leader Mitch McConnell throwing cold water on a deal pointing to what he called logistical hurdles with so little time to go before Election Day. So, where does this leave the Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats right now who are trying to come up with a deal with the White House, with the Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin?

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Well, Mitch McConnell has made it clear to the American people where the obstacle is. He doesn't want this to come for a vote. He's saying he doesn't have the votes to clear a filibuster. As Speaker Pelosi and Mnuchin are coming closer and closer to a deal. The real obstacle in question is, is McConnell going to continue to have a rift with Trump or is he going to put this for a vote so that the American people can get relief?

BLITZER: You heard the President, he was doing an interview on Fox this morning in which he said, if there's a deal between the House Democrats and the White House, Steve Mnuchin, for example, Mark Meadows, the White House Chief of Staff, the President will support it, and then he'll make sure that the Senate Republicans support it as well. Do you buy that?

KHANNA: Well, I'm dubious, because why can't you just call McConnell and tell him that McConnell will be able to deliver the votes? I mean, if he really was that confident, he wouldn't let McConnell put his entire presidency at risk. The negotiations between the Speaker and Mnuchin are going well, they've narrowed their differences. Mnuchin has made key concessions to the Speaker on national testing. He's made key concessions on state and local aid.

I believe the Speaker will get a deal. The whole thing is in McConnell's hands, and it's shocking to me after Trump has done every single thing McConnell wants with judges, he can't get McConnell to do something that his presidency rides on and that the country needs.

BLITZER: Yes, the President insists he'll get it done. We shall see. The House Speaker seems rather upbeat right now, she says the White House, in her words, has come a long way with more scientific language in this deal on fighting the coronavirus.

[17:35:06]

You previously urged her to accept the White House offer of $1.8 trillion, a lot of money for the needy people out there. But was she right to hold out as she has?

KHANNA: She has gotten a better deal. I have urged her to make a deal, but I think she deserves tremendous credit. The deal is much better than it was a week ago. She has gotten more aid for children. She has gotten more language on testing. She's going to get more aid for state and local government. I think she has shown her formidable skills as a negotiator. Why she's leader of the caucus.

Our caucus is united behind her. The disarray is with the Senate Republicans in the White House.

BLITZER: Bottom line right now, how important is it? If there's no deal between now and November 3rd, two weeks from today, could there be a deal during the lame-duck session, irrespective of whoever wins the presidency? Or is it going to have to wait until February or March, a new house and a new Senate? Because the stakes for so many millions of Americans out there, as you and I know, are enormous?

KHANNA: Wolf, the stakes are incredible. I mean, this is not a political game. People are losing their houses, they are running out of their 401(k)s, they can't put food on the table. I believe we have to do something to get a deal every single day before the election ideally, if not the first day after lame-duck. Every day, it's our moral obligation to make this the highest priority.

So, I will continue to work on that. And I'm optimistic. I'm optimistic, and McConnell says, yes, we will get this deal done before the election.

BLITZER: Yes, a lot will depend on how much the President is ready to squeeze. Not only Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader but other Republicans. You're going to need 60 votes to break a filibuster in the Senate, 47 Democrats presumably if the House passes, this would go along but then you're going to need 13 Republicans. I suspect there will be 13 Republicans, it could be very, very significant.

Congressman Ro Khanna of California, we shall see as you and I know, the stakes really are enormous. Thanks so much for joining us.

KHANNA: Thank you, Wolf.

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