CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Working with Republicans on Immigration Reform and Iran

Interview

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BLITZER: House Republicans say they're open to a deal on long- stalled immigration reform, although the question of a pathway to citizenship remains a major stumbling block. Did Democrats think they can overcome it?

And joining us now, the number-two Democrat in the United States Senate, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois.

Senator, thanks very much for coming in.

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Thank you.

BLITZER: Looks like you have an opportunity to achieve some immigration reform. The president spoke about it, Cathy McMorris Rodgers. I interviewed her. She said she's not personally in favor of citizenship for the illegal immigrants, a pathway to citizenship, but she is open to some sort of compromise. Other Republicans are as well. Can you work out a deal that avoids the issue of a pathway to citizenship?

DURBIN: Well, understand that was one of the two pillars that we built the Senate bipartisan immigration reform bill on. First, effective border enforcement, which Republicans assisted on, and pathway to citizenship, which Democrats insisted on. I want to sit down and talk. I don't want to quit on this issue. Our immigration system is broken. If we can sit down with house Republicans, I believe we can achieve agreement.

BLITZER: What about just achieving legal status for those illegal immigrants, maybe getting citizenship for the kids, the children, the so-called dreamer, but avoiding the issue of the pathway to citizenship for the adults?

DURBIN: You touch med in a tender spot because I introduced the dream act 12 years ago and those dreamers mean an awful lot to me. The first thing they're going to say to me is what about mom and dad? And we have to have an approach to this that doesn't create a class of second-class people in America who aren't residents, aren't citizens, have some odd legal status.

Some European countries are struggling with that today. We don't need that in America. Let's give people ready to step forward, declare who they are, where they work, where they live, pay their fine, learn English, an opportunity to find citizenship. Now, how they reach that point, let's discuss between Democrats and Republicans.

BLITZER: It doesn't look like you have a lot of Republican support right now or at least enough Republican support to raise the federal minimum wage. So is that really for all practical purposes going to be left up to states?

DURBIN: States are going to move forward. They're going to outdistance the federal Congress. But look at the national polls. Democrats, Republican, and independents all accept the following premise. If a person gets up and goes to work every single day, they should be paid a fair wage. They ought to be able to make it. Not only live from paycheck to paycheck but put a little money in the bank. They can't do it at $7.25 an hour, and everybody knows that. So let's come up with a wage that's reasonable. These are not just wage earners. They are also spenders. They're buying goods and services to make the economy move.

BLITZER: So on this sensitive issue, you don't see an agreement anytime soon. Is that right?

DURBIN: Well, it depends. We've not called it in the Senate. I can't measure it against how many Republicans will step forward. Wolf, I can even remember the day when this was a bipartisan issue. Now it's sadly very partisan. I hope that changes.

BLITZER: The president threatened to veto legislation in the Senate, legislation that would increase the sanctions against Iran if this deal doesn't work out. The Iranians say that's a deal killer. The president said he would veto it. Many of your democratic colleagues, they supported like Chuck Schumer, the number-three Democrat in the Senate, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Are you with them or on the president on this issue?

DURBIN: I'm going to stand with the president on this. I don't trust Iran. I think the president's right. We have to verify everything that they promise. But what's the alternative? If we don't work out a negotiation, there are two options -- a nuclearized Iran, which is unacceptable, or a war, which is also unacceptable. Let us give these negotiations a chance. If they fail, then of course I'll vote for more sanctions on Iran.

BLITZER: Big picture. The president made it clear he wants to cooperate with congress, he wants to get legislation through, but if not he's going to take unilateral executive action as it's called. So what d/does this say in your sense of this presidency?

DURBIN: Well, it says this. Our memories are still fresh of the 16-day government shutdown which the Republicans thought was a good way to play their political handle. It was a disaster. But our memories are also fresh of a bipartisan budget agreement. Just a few weeks ago, we want to work with the Republicans and solve problems. But the president has said he has a responsibility to the American people to create jobs and help working families. If he can't get the cooperation of Republicans he'll do everything in his executive power to achieve it.

BLITZER: Senator Durbin, thanks very much for joining us.

DURBIN: Thanks, Wolf.

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