CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Interview
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[21:30:18]
BLITZER: The President-elect Joe Biden is filling out his White House staff. He's expected to announce his first cabinet picks on Tuesday, including the setting of State, the National Security adviser and ambassador to the United Nations.
Joining us now, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico. She's a co-chair of the Biden transition team. Governor Lujan Grisham, thank you so much for joining us. I know
you've got a lot going on right now. We're learning, as you probably heard, that among the top contenders for secretary of State is Tony Blinken, a former deputy secretary of State under President Obama. I assume you can't comment on that reporting. But what can you tell us about the president-elect's selection process, how he is dealing with all these critically important cabinet positions?
GOV. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (D-NM): Well, the easy thing to comment on is you can already see by the entirety of his transition team, he is looking for expertise. He wants to make sure that we represent the face of America so gender equality, diversity, members of every single community of interest. And I think that that is exactly the effort that will heal the country, reengage us around the globe.
And I think it's -- and I have to say, they have been incredibly inclusive about making sure that every state, every group has access to providing their input as the president-elect makes his final decisions.
BLITZER: You joined, Governor, the transition team back in September. Was there any anticipation of the scenario that's actually playing out right now, a president who is not only refusing to concede, he is actively blocking the incoming administration's progress?
LUJAN GRISHAM: Well, Wolf, I'd like to tell you that everyone in America, including the transition team, expected that we would have maturity in the White House. Unfortunately, given the response to the pandemic and a multitude of other issues, the transition team, while hoping for the best, planning for the worst. But I will tell you that this is getting increasingly problematic. And as a governor, the American people elected a brand-new president.
And the president-elect cannot work on the stimulus package, on providing clarity and relief to governors and more people will die, more COVID issues will rear their ugly heads across America. It is really untenable what is going on. And quite frankly we need more Americans not to be complicit in what's going on and we need America to get what she deserves, which is a peaceful, productive transition of power.
BLITZER: There's been talk about you, as you know. Let's talk a little bit about you. That you might be offered a cabinet position. You have seen the speculation in the press. Maybe secretary of the department, over at Health and Human Services. Will you accept that role if it were offered to you?
LUJAN GRISHAM: So that -- tough question, Wolf. I respect the process of the entire transition, which is make sure that you've got that diversity, that expertise and experience. Something -- health care is something that I care deeply about. Anyone who represents a majority- minority state has got to be treating healthcare as if it's deeply personal, particularly in a pandemic. Governors are on the front lines.
I appreciate that they're looking at governors. But today, I'm in the job I asked for and I'm spending every moment of every day saving as many New Mexican lives as I can and doing everything I can in the context of the pandemic. And I have to say, particularly with the resurgence, that's where my head is. And that's where my focus is.
BLITZER: Well, let's talk about coronavirus in your state of New Mexico. More than 80,000 total cases. 1300 deaths in New Mexico. You recently enacted a public health order, requires businesses with four or more positive rapid responses in a 14-day period to shut down for two weeks. Do you think that will help curb this really awful spread not only in New Mexico, but around the country?
LUJAN GRISHAM: I do. And I will tell you why. We don't want businesses to shutter. We are also seeing that essential businesses are certainly not exempt from having COVID cases and from having the four rapid responses. But it is getting businesses to have the opportunity to reengage with their employees. Everyone has to be tested. So now we're going to do weekly testing at all of these businesses, including grocery stores. We have a reset where some businesses are not allowed to be open until we have a much lower positivity rate and a much lower rate of infection.
[21:35:08]
And we're seeing some stability in our numbers. We're not going to see them go down. I'm looking for stability. I want to make sure that I can rest and support our healthcare system and our healthcare workers. And we do think this strategy is working because it has worked for us. Unfortunately, a couple of times before, and it just shows you without a national COVID response, what happens anywhere else in America, particularly in the border states, particularly in cities like El Paso, will immediately begin to occur in a state like New Mexico, no matter how productive and proactive our COVID responses have been.
So I do -- I'm seeing relief. And I feel good about that aspect. Not so good about the fact that it's raging around the country.
BLITZER: Yes. You make a good point. One thing for a state to do something. But you really do need a national strategy, a national response. And I assume that's what the incoming administration is looking to do.
We'll stay in close touch with you, Governor. Thank you so much for joining us. I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. Appreciate it very much.
LUJAN GRISHAM: I'll have a very lonely Thanksgiving which I hope everyone in America will think about because it means that I will have a robust, everyone at the table, in my family next year for Thanksgiving.
BLITZER: Yes. God willing.
LUJAN GRISHAM: But you have a safe Thanksgiving. All right, God willing.
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