MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript: Extending Unemployment Benefits
Interview
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REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY, (D) ILLINOIS: I`m so happy to be right with you, Ed.
SCHULTZ: Well, thank you very much.
I`m here to talk about this issue with other members of Congress and also
the TPP so that`s what brings me to Washington to get the skinny on exactly
what is going on.
This does not look good. I mean, I think, looking at the possibility of
unemployment extension from 1.3 million Americans, I`d have to say, it
doesn`t look good right. Do you see it differently?
SCHAKOWSKY: First of all, it`s now more than 1.3 million. Every week,
72,000 more people join those ranks. I think it`s closer to 1.5 million
now and growing.
I don`t get it. I don`t think that it looks great but I think that we have
to be tough. You know, we`re supposed to go on recess back in the district
next week. Can you imagine just leaving those people hanging again? Well,
Congress people leave Washington again?
SCHULTZ: Well, as it looks right now, that looks pretty when challenge
it`s going to happen, I mean that the Republicans are not going to move on
this unless they get something.
And so, you`ll be left with nothing. The budget deal has been done. The
next big thing, it`s going to be the debt-ceiling. In their world, they
don`t even have it on their agenda for January to do anything about
extending unemployment benefits.
So are the Democrats collectively ready to go somewhere to get some
offsets?
SCHAKOWSKY: Well, all week, first of all, we`re going to be saying we can
not leave without this, without getting this done. I mean there`s going to
be a really big push.
SCHULTZ: But are you willing to find the offsets?
SCHAKOWSKY: Well, you know what John Boehner wants. He keeps moving the
goal post. It`s not just offsets where how we`re going to pay for this
which by the way, 14 of the 17 times that unemployment insurance benefits
have been extended .
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
SCHAKOWSKY: .there`s been no pay for whatsoever. But he wants the
keystone pipeline now as the jobs program to be added on. So every time
there is some sort of an agreement, John Boehner wants more.
SCHULTZ: So are you saying that the keystone pipeline, the XL pipeline is
going to be part of the unemployment extension benefit?
SCHAKOWSKY: That`s what I`ve heard
SCHULTZ: That`s what the latest that they`re talking about now?
SCHAKOWSKY: That this -- this is a jobs program .
SCHULTZ: And that`s nonstarter for you or .
SCHAKOWSKY: . that he would want, Ed, and yes it`s a nonstarter for me.
Namely, because this is just the coolest, meanest, and stupidest thing
because you know that when unemployment benefits aren`t extended, that
causes more unemployment, as much as 250,000 jobs can be lost, because
people don`t have the money to go out and spend.
SCHULTZ: Well, if those numbers are right and I`ve heard that and a number
of economists have said that. If that`s the case, then how do we know the
Republicans aren`t trying to ditch the economy coming in before the
midterms?
We`ve had 46 months in private sector job growth. Maybe that`s just too
good for them. Are they .
SCHAKOWSKY: I think the cynicism, if that were really an agenda, I think
this ideological feeling that the poor and middle class people can be
demonized if they`re not working.
I`ve never seen that before.
SCHULTZ: So w -- on Friday on this program, we put out the rent, you know,
the electrical bill, the heating bill, all the essentials to get a job.
What should the Republicans say, what are these people suppose to do now?
What are these Americans, these workers who were out of job, what are they
supposed to do?
SCHAKOWSKY: I think they think that if they really wanted a job, despite
the fact that there are three people looking for every job that they would
get off their lazy bumps and go out and find one.
I don`t know. I mean, do they not see those people lining up at food
pantries, lining up at unemployment offices, I guess, they just don`t see
those people in their own district.
SCHULTZ: Paul Ryan says the government can`t do it. The government can
only go so far. He says that this has to be solved in communities, one
person at a time. What`s your response to that?
SCHAKOWSKY: I mean that`s ridiculous. The charitable private sector looks
to the federal government to help as well. There`s no possible way or does
he think the churches are going to do, they`re doing as much as they can
right now.
SCHULTZ: So from the Senate vote last week to where we are right now,
progress has stalled because there`s a lot of horse trading going on. It
may never get to the House. And if that is the case and these numbers keep
piling up, where does that leave us a month from now?
SCHAKOWSKY: Well, you just showed the poll numbers. Most Americans see
how important it is for us to extend unemployment benefits. I think there
is risk to the Republicans to let that many people be without work in this
economy making the entire economy worst. It`s not just bad for those
people.
I think there will be public pressure building up but I hope it`s soon.
And I mean we`re going to say, "We`re just not going to go home until we
get this ...
SCHULTZ: So the question is .
SCHAKOWSKY: . extended.
SCHULTZ: . will public pressure turn the Republicans?
In the past it hasn`t.
So the Democrats are going to have to do some kind of a deal here on
offsets or this isn`t going to happen. I mean it`s very clear to me that
the Republicans have drawn the line that they`re not -- they won`t move on
this. So did the Democrats have to make decision right now on what to do?
SCHAKOWSKY: Well, it all depends on what the offsets are. There are
plenty of ways. We could close a little loophole.
SCHULTZ: They won`t do that.
SCHAKOWSKY: I know they won`t .
SCHULTZ: Yes.
SCHAKOWSKY: . do that. But I mean there are offsets and there`s offsets
but I think that we have to make the case that this is hurting the economy
as well as hurting now a growing number more than 1.3 million individuals.
SCHULTZ: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, thanks for coming in.
SCHAKOWSKY: Thank you, Ed.
SCHULTZ: I appreciate tonight. Thanks so much.
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