MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript
Interview
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SCHULTZ: Welcome back to THE ED SHOW. The only chance Democrats have on passing health care reform is to use reconciliation. Yet Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and other centrist Democrats don"t want to use it because it might prevent future bipartisanship? Bayh tells the Associated Press, quote, "my concern is that if reconciliation is used, that will really destroy any prospects of bipartisan cooperation on anything else for the remainder of this year."
I don"t get it. Joining me now is Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. Senator, good to have you with us tonight.
SEN. RON WYDEN (D), OREGON: Ed, thank you. I also want to tell your viewers, since I"m on the intelligence committee, my sources tell me it"s your birthday. So we want to give you a big hoorah on that tonight.
SCHULTZ: Thank you, senator.
WYDEN: Your age is classified.
SCHULTZ: I tell you what, it is top secret, my friend. Let"s talk working with Republicans. Why is there such a passion amongst Democrats to have a bipartisan bill when you really don"t need one. If the country wants health care reform, just do it. What about that?
WYDEN: First of all, failing on health care and failing on health care reform is not an option. We know it"s going to be tough. Taking on the insurance lobby is always a challenge. But all of the options are on the table. That includes reconciliation. I have always said, let"s try to work with folks. Let"s try to come up with a common ground. But on this one, we must succeed.
SCHULTZ: But this attempt, is it not hurting the president? Because there"s a lot of core Democrats across this country and independents that are frustrated that health care is not getting done. Has he wasted too much time on the Republicans? Is it time to move forward?
WYDEN: The president is going to make it very clear tonight that he is going to insist on health care reform. As you know, I think there are some core principles. I want choice and competition. I want to get as close as we can get to making sure that all Americans have the same kind of opportunities that members of Congress have. Let"s make sure that all Americans, as part of health care reform, can hold these insurers accountable and you can fire your insurance company if they don"t give you a good deal.
SCHULTZ: Senator, there"s been a lot of talk about Massachusetts, that that is really where the country is right now. I think I should point out that in your state of Oregon yesterday, they voted to increase taxes on the wealthy. If you"re a couple making over 250 grand, your taxes are going up. If you"re a single employee and you make 125,000, your taxes are going up. Doesn"t that signal that there are Americans in this country that want to sacrifice for the fiscal order that needs to be restored in this country? What message does that send?
WYDEN: I think what we sent last night from Oregon was a message that we want economic policies that give everybody a shot at getting ahead, everybody. And what we"ve seen, particularly over the years before President Obama came in, were these too big to fail policies, where, basically, if you were well off, you have big lobbies, you could take on a lot of risk, you have a lot of leverage, the taxpayer would have to bail you out.
Too big to fail means too small to succeed. We"re going to push economic policies--you"ll see it tonight--that give everybody an opportunity in this country.
SCHULTZ: Got to run, senator. Glad to have you on tonight. Thanks so much.
WYDEN: Thank you.
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