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REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D-IL), CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP: Hi, Ed.
SCHULTZ: What does "numerous" votes mean? What"s going to happen over in the House? Is it going to be one vote and one vote only for the middle class, or are we going to go through a series of votes until the Republicans are satisfied?
How do you call it?
SCHAKOWSKY: Well, my hope is that we"re going to have one vote on whether or not we"re just going to give tax cuts to the middle class. But I"ll tell you another vote that we need, and that is to extend unemployment insurance benefits, Ed. We can"t forget that.
And it"s not just good for those people, millions of people, who are about to lose their unemployment, but it"s good for economy. There is nothing more stimulative than putting unemployment insurance in people"s pockets so that they can go out and spend that money, which they will right away.
So, we have really two issues that we need to get done--middle class tax cuts and unemployment extension.
SCHULTZ: Is there any negotiation, in your opinion, for the top two percent on the tax cuts?
SCHAKOWSKY: I certainly think--if you"re asking me, I say absolutely not. You know, Mitch McConnell thinks that he heard what the people have been saying. He is absolutely wrong.
To the extent that people are concerned about our budget, they don"t want to see another $700 billion giveaway, and they especially don"t want it to go to the wealthiest. And talk about not getting it, how many times do we have to hear about "trickle down"? Whatever the question, their answer is, tax cuts for the rich.
I"m sorry, it is demand that makes the economy go. It"s money in people"s--middle class people"s pockets that"s going to make the economy go. Doesn"t he get it?
SCHULTZ: Well, OK. Let"s talk about, quickly, just the relationship between Capitol Hill Democrats and the White House. If this president tries to negotiate with the Republicans and do something for the top two percent, how much of a pushback is he going to get?
SCHAKOWSKY: He"s going to get a lot, and that"s one of the reasons that I am just so happy that Nancy Pelosi is now going to--is our Speaker now and going to be our Leader in the future, because she is as tough as they come. There is no stronger fighter for the middle class.
I think she is someone that can really help the president, assure him that we can get the votes, and help him to be strong. The president has to show strength.
You know, we all need to be, on the Democratic side, better poker players. And I know the president used to play poker when he was in the Illinois General Assembly. I was there. He played poker with the Republicans, and so I hope he remembers his poker-playing days and drives a hard bargain.
SCHULTZ: Yes. Well, playing poker, but it seems to me like it"s blackjack right now, and we"re kind of hoping that the number comes up good for the Democrats.
I mean, it just seems to me capitulation"s everywhere. And I hope that the House and the Senate Democrats get together and hold the line.
Congresswoman, good to have you with us tonight. I appreciate your time.
SCHAKOWSKY: Thank you.
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