CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript: Debt Ceiling
Interview
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Let's discuss what's going on with two key members of the House. The Florida congresswoman, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, is joining us. Also Ann Wagner, Republican Congresswoman from Missouri, is joining us right now as well.
To both of you, thanks very much.
I'll ask you the question, Congresswoman Wagner, first. Do you see a deal emerging as early as today?
REP. ANN WAGNER, (R), MISSOURI: I hope so. We met with the president. I was one of 18 at the table last night with the president, the vice president, and the secretary of the treasury, Lew, and our leadership. And we talked about immediately beginning negotiations that evening, and they did. They began and we're hopeful that we're going to get somewhere on a temporary debt ceiling lifting so we can actually tackle the big issues, issues like entitlement reform, tax reform, some of the drivers of growth in our economy, and also and most importantly get this government shutdown finished and get our government and others back to work.
BLITZER: I'll bring Debbie Wasserman Schultz in in a second. Would this go beyond raising the nation's debt ceiling for a short period of time, six weeks, would it also immediately reopen the government?
WAGNER: Well, we'll see. Nothing is on or off the table. We had a very useful and open and frank conversation with the president. We were pleased that finally we could get to the negotiating table. It took an hour and a half last night but we actually had a good useful conversation, one that brought clarity and I think jump-started the discussions that went in through the night and into the weekend, if necessary. But the sooner the better is what the American people want. They want solutions. They want us to work together and they want us to reopen this government and take care of the big issues out there.
BLITZER: They certainly do.
All right, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, that sounds encouraging. There's a separate piece of legislation that comes up today or tomorrow to extend the nation's debt ceiling, let's say, for six weeks. Doesn't immediately deal with the government shutdown but it does take care of the debt ceiling. Would you vote in favor of it?
REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, (D), FLORIDA & CHAIR, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE: I'm hopeful we will be able to reach an agreement that reopens the government and make sure we pass a clean continuing spending resolution and make sure we're paying our nation's bills. You know, my view and the view of most Americans is that we need to make sure we're paying our bills far beyond the next six weeks. But it is absolutely critical that we continue to work together, that we work towards a resolution. And I'm glad to hear what Ann is saying and some other Republicans are saying. But we should be clear that the negotiations that will take place should take place not in the midst or tied to the reopening of the government or whether we pay our bills. And so that's going to be the important -- the important and critical thing here.
BLITZER: Because that's the position the president has been taking, Congresswoman Wagner. You know what, all of these issues, including health care, Obamacare, everything can be discussed, but first pass a resolution to let -- to end the government shutdown, pass a resolution, a separate piece of legislation to extend the nation's debt ceiling, then everything can be -- Senate conferees, you can get together and talk about everything and try to come up with entitlement reform, tax reform, spending cuts, whatever you want. Is that acceptable?
WAGNER: That's what we talked about last night. And I think our sense is that everything is on the table. And the president felt the same way also. He even put issues dealing with the Affordable Care Act and Obamacare on the table as open for discussion. So, you know, we're pleased at the direction we're moving. It's a direction we should have gotten to sooner, to be honest. It's a disservice to the American people when we don't come together and get these jobs done. Crisis-by-crisis management is not productive.
And the most important thing we have to protect is the full faith of credit of the United States of America and make sure that our debt ceiling is lifted while we negotiate the bigger things here and get to a permanent solution, to tackle the big things that will jump-start this economy. I think there are areas of great commonality. And I agree with Debbie and I appreciate her support.
Debbie, there were at least six women at the table last night with the president.
(CROSSTALK)
WAGNER: I think that's why we may have gotten things done.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: And there's hope.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: A lot of people think that, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, if the women were running this negotiation right now, it would have been resolved a long time ago. How do you feel about what we just heard from Congressman Wagner, get more women involved in this process and maybe you can make a deal?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: No question, the women of the House and the Republicans and Democrats, we talk all the time, you know, privately, on the floor, about how if you just put us in a room, women are such consensus builders and are so committed to make sure we get to yes and are not quite as focused on the winners and losers-aspect of negotiation that it's -- it warms my heart that there were a bunch of women in the room with the president and vice president last night. But at the end of the day, we've got to make sure -- Ann and I are in total agreement -- we can't jeopardize the full faith and credit of the United States. We've got to pay our bills and reopen the government. Both have to happen at the same time. We have to make sure -- and the president always said, as we identify problems that arise with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, of course, we should work together to sort those out and make changes as they come up. But we can't continue to keep the government shut and jeopardize whether we're going to pay our bills and tie those issues one to the other. That's what is going to shake the economy and really put us on firm ground.
BLITZER: So one final question, Congresswoman Wagner. Is there going to be a vote on the House floor today to raise the nation's debt ceiling?
WAGNER: We'll see. We'll see. I'm not sure if it will happen today or tomorrow but the negotiating teams are fast at work. I just passed by one of the rooms where I know they're huddled together. So progress is happening. We're moving forward. We're finally talking. And I hope we're going to have a resolution as quickly as possible.
BLITZER: All of us do indeed. And I suspect if the two of you were in charge, there probably would have been a deal and --
(LAUGHTER)
-- maybe there wouldn't have been a government shutdown --
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Let's go make it happen.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: -- on any of these issues a while ago. But maybe that's overly optimistic.
Thanks so much for both of you for coming in.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, your book is coming out soon I hear? Is that correct?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Yes, next.
BLITZER: When is it coming out?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: It's coming out on Tuesday --
BLITZER: Next Tuesday?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: -- and it's called "For the Next Generation."
BLITZER: What's it about?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: It's about these very issues, how we make sure that we make the tough decisions and come together, stop the gridlock and work together to make sure that we can change the dynamic for our kids on so many issues, education and health care and the environment and the economy.
BLITZER: What about you, Congresswoman Wagner, any books coming out?
(LAUGHTER)
WAGNER: No, I just want -- I want the first autographed copy, all right, Debbie?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: No problem. You got it.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: I'll look forward to that.
(CROSSTALK)
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you.
BLITZER: All right, guys, thanks very much for coming.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thanks.
WAGNER: Thanks.
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