CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript Interview with Jim Justice

Interview

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GOV. JIM JUSTICE (R-WV): I'm very, very hopeful with what's going on with the vaccinations and everything, that we'll be able to get rid of that really soon. But by really soon, I mean probably 30 days, 45 days, if things continue to go well.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Wow, let's hope so.

I want to talk about stimulus. You have said, including on this broadcast a couple week ago, that we should go big or don't go at all in terms of stimulus. You saw that all Republicans have voted against, both in the House and the Senate. Do you think they got the politics right here? I mean, there's broad public support, even among Republicans, for a lot of elements of this plan.

JUSTICE: Well, Jim, again, I'm a business guy, I don't want to be a politician. And what goes on in Washington is despicable in lots of different ways because our people, our people are really hurting.

Now, if you look at anything -- I mean, from the standpoint of do I think we should bail out pensions? No. Do I think we should put all kinds of money in -- you know, COVID money into pet projects? No, absolutely, I don't, you know?

But at the same time -- I really, truly know this because I've done this so many times in the business world -- if you budget X number of dollars, it always costs more. And we've got a lot of people out there that are hurting, a lot of individuals, a lot of businesses and everything, and it's our chance, our chance right now to right-side this economy and let it explode, explode to the future, you know?

And so with all that being said, you know, I'm a real believer, you either go big or don't go.

SCIUTTO: Yes. Joe Manchin, of course one of your colleagues, state of West Virginia, Democrat, you've been critical of him, particularly on this COVID package. Of course it was his vote that delayed it, at least from the Democratic side, reigning in some of the continuation of unemployment benefits. But you said that he's selling his influence in Congress. That's a serious allegation, I wonder what you're basing that on? JUSTICE: Well, Jim, here's just all there is to it. You know, Joe

wants to be in control of too many things. And in my -- you know, I know Joe very, very well, and you know, in this situation of what's going on in West Virginia today, I mean, just to tell like it is.

You know, Joe was unhappy with some things that I did right off the get-go in my administration on the first go-around. He is absolutely, you know, tried in every way in the world to defeat me in the last election, and I won every single county in the state of West Virginia.

And now, all this is, all this is, is just to hit back. And hitting back, when you put in things, you know, that is in regard to the tax situation and all that in the stimulus package, it's just a hit-back, it's childishness. And Joe needs to grow up and get by that (ph).

I mean, for God's sakes, the limit (ph), he's hurting his own people in the state of West Virginia. You know, that's just all there is to it. The only reason that this -- you know, this language is in there about, you know, you can't do this and that with -- in regard to new -- getting rid of taxes? It's Joe Manchin, you know?

And with all that, you know, I just do not -- I do not condone it, I do not go along with it, it is absolute childishness and a continuation to try to just hit back at me. You know, in all honesty, he's sending stuff to all the Democrats in the HOuse and the Senate here, and he's taking claim that this was his doing.

At the end of the day, all this is going to do is hurt West Virginians. I don't think he ought to be doing that.

SCIUTTO: Well, goodness. Well, we'll reach out to Senator Manchin, get his response. West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, thanks so much for joining us.

JUSTICE: No, thank you, Jim. Appreciate you.

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