CNN "Lou Dobbs Tonight" - Transcript
Interview
Interviewer: Lou Dobbs
DOBBS: Another deadline missed, as the president's health care plan is now stalled in Congress.
And joining me now, a supporter of the president's plan, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
And it is great to have you with us.
REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D), FLORIDA: Great to be with you.
DOBBS: Obviously, conflict and contention in the House of Representatives, an out -- an outright statement that ends any prospect of meeting a deadline in the Senate. How much trouble is the president's health care plan in?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, I don't think it's in any -- in any trouble at all.
This is a really significant reform. We're trying to reform the health insurance industry, and make sure that we can cover everyone in America. And, you know, we are really being careful about the details and making sure that, when you lose your job, or if you change jobs, you can make sure that don't lose your health insurance.
We're making -- trying to make sure that you have comprehensive health care coverage, that you don't have to worry about being dropped for a preexisting condition or excluded for a preexisting condition.
We need to inject some stability and security into the health care system.
DOBBS: OK, Congresswoman, may I? May I?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: And that's going to take us a...
(CROSSTALK)
DOBBS: I got the talking points. But here -- here's where we are.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: They're not talking points, Lou.
DOBBS: OK. Then they're not talking points,
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: The reality is that Americans need health care.
DOBBS: Ma'am, may I? May I?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: You absolutely may.
DOBBS: Thank you.
The polls show a complete, right now, reversal of fortunes, if you will, for health care as is proffered by the president. How is it that the House and the -- and the Senate can overcome what is clearly opposition now in the public to the president's handling of health care?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, Lou, I reject your premise that there's been an outright reversal. There has been some slippage in -- in the polling, where they're -- it is not, you know, in the 60s or 70s that people support the specific legislation that they think we're considering.
But the majority of Americans -- it is still over 50 percent that support making sure that we can reform health care insurance, that we can make sure that everyone in America is covered, that we can make sure that they -- that small-business owners can continue to provide health insurance or provide it for their employees if they -- if they can't now.
Those are real issues, and real issues that affect our economy. And the only way, as President Obama said last night, that we...
DOBBS: All right, let me ask you this.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: ... can really get our economy back -- please, let me finish now, Lou -- is if we make sure we reform health care insurance, so that we can get the economy back on track and stop the bleeding, because we won't be able to fix the deficit without making sure that we can fix health care insurance.
DOBBS: How will you pay for it?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: We're in the process of putting together legislation that will make sure that we can, through cost savings and -- and belt-tightening, we will wring a lot of the excess waste that is in the health insurance system right now, and we're going to...
DOBBS: We have got -- we have got a break.
(CROSSTALK)
DOBBS: I have got a hard out here.
I thank you very much.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you for having me.
DOBBS: And thank you very much.
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