MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript

Interview

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Joining me now is Congressman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.

Congressman, good to have you with us.

REP. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D), MARYLAND: Good to be with you, Ed.

SCHULTZ: You`re ranking member on the House Budget Committee.

Look, I could totally wrong. But I don`t think I am. I think that these Tea Partiers are in the middle of their perfect political storm. This is what they wanted all along.

Your take on this, Congressman?

VAN HOLLEN: My take is the same as yours, which is their ploy this time is so transparent. It`s going to backfire on this.

I think the American people see exactly what`s going on. In fact, a lot of Republicans, most Republicans recognize that this time, the Republicans in the House, the Tea Party Republicans, have really taken this
way too far. That`s why you have all the senators on the Republican side saying to John Boehner, speaker of the House, come on, bring the compromise bill to a vote.

I was with Steny Hoyer today on the floor of the House where we tried to bring up that compromise bill. We simply asked them for a vote -- a vote on a bill that had 80 percent of the Republican senators supporting
it.

Apparently, Speaker Boehner did not want to come to the floor of the House. He was apparently hiding out in his office.

But the answer to this riddle is very obvious, which is Mr. Speaker, come out of your office, come on to the floor of the House, let`s take up the bipartisan compromise Senate bill. We can get this to the president`s
desk within 24 hours.

SCHULTZ: Now, the Democrats` position right now, calling out Boehner, obviously. But is this the situation where we`ve done all we`re going to do and give us a call when you change your mind, John?

Is that where we`re at right now with the Democrats? Are the Democrats going to hold the line and not make anymore changes, no more conference committees? This is it?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, yes, because it`s not only what Democrats have already done. It`s what Democrats and Republicans have already done. And that`s the difference.

You don`t get 89 out of 100 vote in the Senate very often. You don`t get 80 percent of Republican senators onboard very often. And so, we`ve already seen what the bipartisan compromise here is, Ed. And what the Republicans in the House are doing is trying to block the payroll tax cut.

Listen, when this president came before the Congress many months ago, last September, he asked for a one-year extension of the payroll tax cuts. The House Republicans said, no.

Then finally when they realized that was a losing proposition, they put together a bill, loaded it up with all these poison pills and sent it over to the Senate. Even the Senate Republican realized that was a
nonstarter. So, they worked with the Democrats.

What you`ve got going now is not Democrats versus Republicans, but you`ve got is the Republican right versus the Republican far right. That`s what`s happening.

SCHULTZ: Well, you`ve also got 174 of them in the House there that are telling Boehner, do not punt. OK? And so, the bottom line here is this: Democrats are going to have to remain strong. Not go to conference
committee. And it`s going to hurt some folks.

And in the long run you`re going to have to make the case to the American people that this is a Republican problem. They are the ones that are holding up the bipartisan effort.

Now, is there any chance in your opinion that Boehner will blink and will move on this?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, I hope that he will listen to the American people. I hope if he`ll listen at least to his fellow Republicans who are telling him and shaking him and saying, Mr. Speaker, wake up because you`re doing tremendous damage to the Republican Party.

And unfortunately, the real damage, of course, is being done to the American people -- 160 million Americans are going to see their taxes go up and the millions more out there looking for work but need the unemployment compensation because they can`t find a job.

So, look, Ed, I think the American people are watching this.

SCHULTZ: They are.

VAN HOLLEN: And essentially, the whole country realizes that the obvious thing to do is extend for two months the payroll tax cut while we try and work together to do the full year which is what Democrats have
wanted all along and what House Republicans opposed until very recently.

SCHULTZ: And do you think if Boehner blinks that his speakership is in jeopardy with his party?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, I hope what he would say to his fellow Republicans is, you know, just a few days ago I, the speaker, recognized that this was a good compromise. This was something that served the American --

SCHULTZ: He shifted.

VAN HOLLEN: -- people well.

And you, my caucus, told me to take a hike and therefore we`ve gotten ourselves driven into this corner.

I don`t know if he`ll take that path forward. He`s apparently going to make a statement at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, along with some of his members. But as of now, I don`t expect any change.

But the more he hears from folks that he listens to -- unfortunately, he doesn`t listen to the great mass of the American people, but he does read "The Wall Street Journal" editorial.

SCHULTZ: Well --

VAN HOLLEN: Karl Rove has now been, you know, come out very clearly saying the House Republicans have created a credible mess for themselves. What the Republican Party is worried about now is not the American people but they are worried about their own survival. And this is causing great damage. Unfortunately, in causing themselves damage, they`re doing it by hurting the American people.

SCHULTZ: Congressman Chris Van Hollen, great to have you with us tonight. I appreciate your time. We`ll see how it unfolds as the saga continues tomorrow. At 10:00, Boehner going to make a statement. Thank you, Congressman. Appreciate your time.

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