CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Jimmy Gomez

Interview

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Now let's bring in California Democratic Congressman Jimmy Gomez. He is a member of the Progressive Caucus.

Thank you so much for joining me tonight. So a lot of news happening today. Will you still vote for the infrastructure bill this week if there is a specific agreement on the social safety net bill? Is that enough for you to vote on the infrastructure bill? REP. JIMMMY GOMEZ (D-CA): One of the things progressives have always

been about is about passing the entire Build Back Better agenda. That's the budget reconciliation bill with all the soft infrastructure spending, childcare, child tax credit, housing, the biggest investment in combatting climate change in the history of this country and the infrastructure bill.

I met with President Biden as well as other progressives last week, and what I said is that we just need certainty when it comes to three things. One, content. What's in it? What are the language, what are the concessions? Two, we need to know that people are in support, that the senators can't backtrack on what they agreed to like they have in the past. And three, what's the process?

And if we get certainty on all three, you'll see the Progressive Caucus as well as others support the bill, moving both bill and agree to at least a strong agreement when it comes to the bipartisan -- I mean, when it comes to the budget reconciliation package.

BROWN: The bottom line, though, is there are still several sticking points. You heard Nancy Pelosi today say they're 90 percent there, but there are some major sticking points, climate, extending the child tax credit, paid family leave, expanding Medicare, allowing them to negotiate drug prices. So you're telling me that if that is not squared away by the time the infrastructure bill is brought for a vote this coming week, you will not be voting in favor of it?

GOMEZ: Yes. Of course. Because here's the thing. That's what they're working so hard to do, is to reach an agreement on the entire package, to make sure that it's there. And for people to understand what we're voting on, we wouldn't be supporting something that we didn't know was in the package. So in the end, I think we're going to get there. I think we're going to get clarity and certainty when it comes to the child tax credit.

We'll get clarity when it comes to paid family leave, if it's in or out. We're going to get clarity when it comes to combatting climate change. But in the end, this is going to be a historic investment in all these things, and I think it's going to help us have a populist that can compete in the 21st century in a country that could be way better off than it was before.

BROWN: But you think all of that can be sorted in just a few days before the infrastructure bill is brought to the floor? You think that all those major issues, those sticking points will be sorted out by then?

GOMEZ: I absolutely do. I think President Biden and Speaker Pelosi understand that that's essentially in order to get the Congressional Progressive Caucus to support it. And that's why we're working so hard. Last week President Biden said the window is closing on a deal and that's why he called Joe Manchin to Delaware. That's why he's been working the phones. That's why Speaker Pelosi.

And in the end, I think that the Democratic caucus in the House, as well as most of the senators, recognize that if we don't get this done, then the American people will be hurt, as well as not only our political party, but everybody that would benefit from the Build Back Better agenda.

[18:10:10]

BROWN: You heard that Joe Manchin. He met with President Biden today along with the Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. And sources are telling my colleague Manu Raju tonight that he appears he is willing to go up from $1.5 trillion which he initially wanted to $1.75 trillion for that social safety net package. Is that acceptable to you? Are you OK with that if that is the number?

GOMEZ: We're looking at what's in the bill so if we get all our commitments when it comes to child tax credit, when it comes to paid family leave, when it comes to a bunch of issues, and if it totals $1.75 or $2 trillion, we're going to support it. Like here's the thing, it will still be the largest investment in workers and in families in the history of this country. I'm on the Ways and Means Committee.

It would be the largest investment in green infrastructure in combating climate change in the history of this country, even if the number is lower. So we're not going for the ideal, we're going to do what we believe is going to really set the course for this country for the next 50 years.

BROWN: I want to play what your governor, Gavin Newsom, says about the Capitol Hill debate going on right now. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D), CALIFORNIA: I have reverence and respect for the president. I'm not here to offer advice unless it's sought. I will observe as just a taxpayer that it's COVID, stupid. Not just this $3.5 trillion reconciliation that's over 10 years, People won't know it's 10 years, don't even know what a trillion is, don't know what reconciliation is. No one is getting a damn thing done. And it's driving them crazy. And of course they're going to blame whoever is in the executive branch.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And of course there are two high-stakes races coming up in November 2nd in New Jersey and Virginia, for the governor's race. He goes on to argue Democrats need to focus again on the COVID response to build confidence with voters.

What do you think about what he said? Is it that easy?

GOMEZ: This is Washington, D.C. I served in the California legislature and it's a different ball game there than it is in D.C. The elbows are definitely sharper and they're definitely harder, and people have different ideas, right? The California Democrat isn't the same as a Texas Democrat. So we have to work harder to bring everybody together.

But he has to understand, and I think people understand, that we're going to deliver this package. I have no doubt that we're going to get a package that's going to help restore confidence. And when we do that, then people are going to start seeing their lives improve when it comes to child care. A lot of reasons why they can't -- people can't go back to work is that it's hard to find anybody to take care of their child, and if they do, it's too expensive.

They're also struggling with housing. They're also struggling with making sure that they have time to take care of a sick family member when they get in trouble. So one of the things we're going to do, we're going to get it done. And it's not that easy, but it's a different ball game, but we're going to get it done. And when we do, it's going to be time to sell it to the American people and tell them why it's a good thing and how their lives are going to change for the better.

BROWN: All right. Congressman Jimmy Gomez, thanks for joining us tonight.

GOMEZ: Thank you for having me.

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