CNN "Piers Morgan Live" - Transcript: Government Shutdown

Interview

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MORGAN: Senators voting right now the bill that would kill the House amendments on Capitol Hill ping-pong. I want to bring in Congressman Sean Duffy, he's on the Budget Committee.

Welcome to you, Congressman. Tell me what is your view about what is happening right now. Are you proud of the fight of the renegade element to someone calling you, of the Republican Party leading -- resorting to a government shutdown?

REP. SEAN DUFFY, HOUSE BUDGET COMMITEE: Well, a couple of things, Piers. First I want to keep the government open. But we've moved over the last week. We first had a defund ObamaCare Bill. We then moved to a delay ObamaCare Bill. And tonight we voted just on one small section of ObamaCare.

We said let's delay the individual mandate. The President already delayed the employer mandate let's just treat big business the same as our individuals in America. We did that simple thing and then we said let's have the Administration join us in ObamaCare. If they think the bill is so great. We shouldn't just have a congressmen and women in ObamaCare. We should have the Administration ...

MORGAN: Right. But with the greatest respect, given that not only the President of United States today has made it clear that he was reelected and everyone have the chance then to make a determination about his key policy of ObamaCare.

But John Boehner said of that that election was won by Barack Obama, that it was a legal mandate from the electorate, that's why he got reelected. And obviously you could then just go against it and then suddenly -- apparently it's OK for you guys to just paralyze the government of the United States and made whole world laugh at you.

And I say to you again, do you take pride in what you guys are doing tonight, because it is a ridiculous state of affairs, isn't it?

DUFFY: Piers we reelect in 2010 after ObamaCare passed. And John Boehner and House Republicans were elected again in 2012. I want to go back to a point you made. This bill pass tonight with bipartisan support, nine Democrats joined us in passing this bill to send in the Senate and some of the most conservative members.

Michele Bachmann, Steve King, Louie Gohmert, they didn't vote for this. So this is kind of a middle part of the conference that pass this bill and sent it to the Senate because it's really reasonable. And listen if the Senate is going to hold out and say we're not willing to include the President and his staff in ObamaCare. We're not willing to treat individuals and America fairly and equally just the same as big businesses who strongly held with money, going to the White House and congressman's office. And they got an exemption for that? That we're not going to treat individuals fairly just like with business. That's not right.

MORGAN: I've got a poll for you, Congressman. 69 percent of Americans believe that Republicans in Congress are acting like spoiled children. What is your reaction to that?

DUFFY: Well, listen. I mean, some Americans may have disagreed with us trying to defund ObamaCare. But tonight, Piers, do you disagree that the Administration shouldn't be in ObamaCare. Do you think it's a great lie? You have to be -- they should be in with us.

MORGAN: You know, I don't know ...

DUFFY: That's one simple part. No, no, but then also ...

MORGAN: Well, actually what I believe ...

DUFFY: ... do you think that -- no, Piers what is ...

MORGAN: What I believe is of course there are issues with ObamaCare. It's a massive program and those issues should explored and debated and I'm sure it will be amended several times.

However, the idea that the small group of Republicans have decided to simply shut down the government over this ...

DUFFY: No.

MORGAN: It's a shameful deregulation (ph) of your duty.

DUFFY: That's not true. This is a bipartisan bill tonight. Nine Democrats joined us, some of the most conservative members weren't with us. Again I -- listen I want to be clear, I want to keep the government open. I want to continue to operate.

MORGAN: No, you don't. You want to shut it down.

DUFFY: What would I do?

MORGAN: You don't want to keep it open.

DUFFY: But are you saying ...

MORGAN: If you want to keep it open, you keep it open.

DUFFY: No, but are you saying that Senate Democrats want to protect the Administration up, you know, and ObamaCare or you don't want to treat individuals the same way you treat in big businesses? That's not who we are as Americans.

These are very simple in small reforms.

MORGAN: I don't think you'll find the most Americans think you're right to shut down the government.

DUFFY: The President could join us, Harry Reid to join us.

MORGAN: Congressman, and don't ...

DUFFY: And listen, this is very simple. All right.

MORGAN: It is very simple. You are shutting down the government with your antics.

DUFFY: No, no, no. Bipartisan -- Piers, bipartisan ship tonight. And listen, this is easy for the Senate. We're not asking for a defund. We're not even asking for a complete delay of ObamaCare ...

MORGAN: Well, actually you have offered defund and you got nowhere.

DUFFY: Well, not tonight though. No, it's not tonight.

MORGAN: You then asked for a delay and you got nowhere, but you still going to plow on and you're going to get the government shutdown. And again, let me say to you if President Obama was reelected so the people in America had that chance then to kick him out if they didn't like his key program.

DUFFY: Piers, the House of Representatives was elected in 2010 because of ObamaCare. And they're reelected again in 2012. This is, I mean, this is what we're here to do is have a dialogue. And if the President is out golfing over the weekend, you even mentioned this.

MORGAN: Yeah.

DUFFY: The President should engage. He should talk through this stuff ...

MORGAN: Will you be, out of interest will you be ...

DUFFY: ... listen. I think, I mean, Piers will it be -- let's talk (ph) ...

MORGAN: Will you be furloughing your salary?

DUFFY: ... don't talk with each other. Listen. Remember his State of the Union? He said, "I want to open my hand to our enemies if they'll unclench their fists." MORGAN: All right. Let me ask you with one final question.

DUFFY: ... we're extending our hands.

MORGAN: Congressman. One final question, Congressman. Will you be furloughing...

DUFFY: Yes.

MORGAN: ... your personal salary throughout this difficult period? Have so many other people having their salaries furloughed. Yes, Congressman.

DUFFY: I'm on legislation to actually have all members of Congress furlough their pay. But my hope is still that we keep this government open. I hope that the Senate ...

MORGAN: So will you be donating your salary to charity?

DUFFY: ... does the right thing tonight, Piers, and they keep the government open for small simple change of including the Administration and ObamaCare.

MORGAN: OK.

DUFFY: And the ...

MORGAN: But just to confirm, you will be...

DUFFY: ... individuals.

MORGAN: Just to confirm, you will be...

DUFFY: Just the same as (inaudible).

MORGAN: Just to confirm, you will be

DUFFY: And if they do that, we don't have a shutdown.

MORGAN: Congressman, just to confirm, you will be keeping your salary though for this period if it becomes a shutdown?

DUFFY: I will -- my hope is we'll not have a shutdown. I'm on the bill that would say listen, all members shouldn't get the pay just like no project, no pay. Keep the government open, no pay. I'm on that bill.

MORGAN: OK. Congressman, thanks for talking to me. I appreciate it.

DUFFY: Thanks, Piers.

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