MSNBC "The Rachel Maddow Show" - Transcript

Interview

Interviewer: Alison Stewart

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D), MINNESOTA: Well, thank you, Alison. I cannot believe Rachel is missing this day. She‘s along .

STEWART: She‘s watching from somewhere.

KLOBUCHAR: Well, that‘s right. She‘s watching somewhere, because I have been on the show many times predicting this would end by the 4th of July.

STEWART: Oh, we‘ll get to that just a moment.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: I know you got a chance to speak to Mr. Franken and Mr.

Coleman.

KLOBUCHAR: Yes.

STEWART: How eager is Al Franken to get to work?

KLOBUCHAR: Well, he really has been waiting for this moment now for eight months since the election. He really wants to focus on health care, the number one issue in our country right now, to make health care more affordable for all Americans and he‘s ready to go. I think this time has actually given him time to get his staff together and to figure out exactly what he wants to focus on in Washington. So, while it has been a tremendously long time for my staff, they‘ve done double the work for the people of Minnesota, I think he‘s ready to go.

And I also wanted to add that Norm Coleman had such grace today when he conceded this election. I talked to him on the phone but I also know that this was a very difficult time for him and for his family. And he didn‘t have to do this.

I mean, his chances would have been small but he could have gone up to the U.S. Supreme Court. He could have gone to federal court, and he did what he felt was right for the state of Minnesota.

So, all in all, our people have been patient, but they were ready for this to end. And it‘s a good day today for our state.

STEWART: Mr. Franken also mentioned how gracious Mr. Coleman was as well.

But the victory does give Democrats 60 seats in the Senate. Does this increase the pressure on you and your party to deliver on major items like, you mentioned health care, energy reform? But to do so in a way that doesn‘t result in watered-down legislation.

KLOBUCHAR: Well, you know, I think the pressure is always there. The pressure is from the American people. They voted for change when they voted for President Obama and for change in Congress. They want to see that change.

I‘m still hopeful—especially with health care and energy—we‘re going to see some Republican support for this legislation. This is early on. There‘s going to be a lot of back and forth. But this isn‘t about one party. This really is about America.

I was just up in northern Minnesota, at a small company this morning, a small business that makes backpacks—and the number one issue they brought up to me was health care. Twenty-two thousand dollars the owner was paying for his family. And you see this all over the country. And people need more affordable health care.

And I believe, in the end, there will be some bipartisan support from this legislation. You‘re not going to see it right away. This is a humongous issue, 17 percent of our economy. And you‘re going to see a lot of going back and forth—some for bad reasons, but a lot for good reasons, as people try to get to the best solution for the country.

STEWART: Yes, those first person stories really grab you every time you speak to someone who‘s in trouble.

You mentioned earlier today that Al Franken‘s wife Frannie had her bag packed for months, has been sitting by the bed in anticipation of this decision. He must have a lot of catching up to do once he finally gets sworn in.

KLOBUCHAR: Well, you know, I always loved that image. She had this bag packed with her toothbrush just in case it happened in the middle of the night and he had to rush to Washington to vote. Like an expectant mother, she was ready to go.

But I will say—he has been waiting to do this work and there‘s so much to be done. I believe he‘s going to be assigned to the health committee. So, he‘ll be right there up front and center, working on this important issue.

And, you know, I have told him, I don‘t think he needs to hear this. So many people that have come in, that have come from a background—famed background, from Hillary Clinton to Fred Thompson, another actor. They have all said that just getting to work, doing your job—and I think also in the case of our state, when it comes to health care, representing the people of our state .

STEWART: And finally .

KLOBUCHAR: . and what‘s best for our state is going to make a difference.

STEWART: Before we let you go, I just want to make sure I get this piece of tape in. You mentioned, you said it at the top of the interview, on April 29th. This is what you said about Al Franken. You told Rachel this .

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KLOBUCHAR: You know, I keep giving you predictions .

RACHEL MADDOW, THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW HOST: Yes.

KLOBUCHAR: Remember, when I said it would be done when the ice melted and, OK, now, this is my last kitschy prediction.

MADDOW: OK.

KLOBUCHAR: When the corn is knee high on the 4th of July.

MADDOW: When the corn .

KLOBUCHAR: And if it‘s not done by then, yes, then I‘m going to be mad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: So, I think you‘re pretty happy then, not mad.

KLOBUCHAR: Exactly. I don‘t have to be mad over the holiday weekend.

My family is very, very pleased about that.

STEWART: Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota—thanks for your time tonight, Senator.

KLOBUCHAR: Thank you. Thanks, Alison.

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