MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript

Interview

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REP. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D), ASSISTANT TO THE SPEAKER: It"s good to be back, Ed.

SCHULTZ: You can disagree with me all you want. I have said my peace.

I do want to know--you want to vote on middle class tax cuts. You said that that"s going to happen this week. Does today"s meeting change anything?

VAN HOLLEN: It doesn"t change that, Ed.

Look, I think the president was right to sit down with Republican colleagues and say that he was looking for common ground, but I think it"s also important to remember exactly what you"ve said, which is he is sitting down across the table from some folks who have said that their number one priority is not jobs, is not getting the deficit under control. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican Leader, said his number one priority is defeating President Obama.

And in the House just a short while ago, all the Republicans--not all, but almost all--voted against extending unemployment compensation for people who are out of work through no fault of their own. And that failed in the House because we didn"t get the Republican votes to get the vote we needed.

So, it"s important to remember what we"re facing here.

Now, in the House this week--and I hope it will be this week--we do intend to take up a bill that will provide permanent middle class tax relief and make sure that we do not have the $700 billion deficits in order to provide a tax cut for the folks at the very top, which, of course is what our Republican colleagues say they want. At the same time they say they want deficit reduction, they say, hey, let"s provide another tax break to the folks at the very top. And so this vote on Thursday--I hope it will be Thursday, but it will be some time this week, I believe--will provide a very clear choice.

Number one, do you want to provide permanent middle class tax relief? If you do, vote yes. And if you don"t want to add $700 billion to the deficit to provide tax breaks for the folks at the very top, you vote yes as well.

SCHULTZ: Congressman, you say it well. It"s going to be one vote, and that"s the way it"s going to go? There"s not going to be a long series of votes and conditions and everything else. You"re either for the middle class or you"re not.

Correct?

VAN HOLLEN: That"s correct. Again, Ed, everything around here can be subject to change.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

VAN HOLLEN: But that"s what I think should happen and that"s what I believe will happen.

SCHULTZ: Is the president wishful thinking when he says that the thinks there could be some compromise? And do you think the Republicans are honest brokers?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, look, given what Republicans have said their priority is--and we"ve already talked about what Mitch McConnell said his priority is--I think it"s hard to believe that they"re going to be willing to come to a reasonable compromise.

SCHULTZ: It"s wishful thinking.

VAN HOLLEN: That being said, I think the president is right to make the effort. But the issue, as you said, Ed, is, if it"s very clear that people are not making a serious effort, then you"ve got to be willing to blow the whistle.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

Congressman, good to have you with us tonight. Thanks so much.

VAN HOLLEN: Good to be with you.

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