MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript

Interview

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REP. KEITH ELLISION (D), MINNESOTA: Hey there, Ed.

SCHULTZ: Why is Cantor focusing on pollution deregulation while Americans are asking, you know, are we going to get something moving on jobs? What do you make of this?

ELLISON: Because the Koch brothers want him to do their bidding. He wants -- the people who pay corporate that he bows to demand that Eric Cantor do their bidding and allow them to cut costs by not complying with environmental regulations. Basically what they`re doing, Ed, is telling every mom across this nation that they`re going to have to nurse their kid through asthma attacks, through mercury or even lead poisoning, and through dangerous chemical exposure.

Here`s the other problem. Every business is going to have to deal with sick workers who have to take time off because these environmental problems that this reduction in regulation is going to cause people to be
sick and have to take off time. So, it`s really a loser for everybody except for the select few.

SCHULTZ: But, Congressman, it`s about jobs. Every American knows it`s about jobs, and everybody has got a different attitude when they`re getting a paycheck every couple weeks.

The bottom line here is, is that the Republicans have stated in a memo that it`s not about jobs.

ELLISON: Right. Shocking.

SCHULTZ: So, what are your expectations for any Republican coming on board saying yes, I`m going to go along with President Obama`s job plan after he unveils it after Labor Day. What are the expectations?

ELLISON: Well, you know, I`m a person who`s optimistic. So, I have high expectations. I`ll say that there are a number of Republicans who are in districts where there are a number of independents, maybe even some Democrats, and maybe some Republicans, that make it dangerous to walk the plank with Eric Cantor. There are a number of them around in my district and in Minneapolis who I think better pay close attention to what the president is talking about or else a strong Democratic or independent candidate is going to offer their services to take their place.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

ELLISON: So, I`m hoping that Republicans do not walk the plank with Cantor and put the American people and their jobs first.

SCHULTZ: Well, I think they are going to walk the plank. I don`t think there is going to be one Republican in the House, I don`t think there is going to be one Republican in the Senate that`s going to come along and say anything good about what the president is going to offer no matter what he offers.

Now, I spoke with your --

ELLISION: You`re probably right.

SCHULTZ: Yes, I spoke with your fellow colleague, Cedric Richmond in New Orleans yesterday, and he summed it up like this. Here it is.

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REP. CEDRIC RICHMOND (D), LOUISIANA: If a hurricane came and President Obama walked across the water to save some kid, the Tea Party wouldn`t say, hey, he saved that kid, they would say, the president can`t swim. I mean, they will look for the negative part of any movement just to take away from the president.

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SCHULTZ: Do you agree with that?

ELLISON: Yes.

SCHULTZ: And where are we going to go on jobs if that`s the way it is?

ELLISON: Well, Mitch McConnell said it. He said that his number job is to make this president a one-term president. So, I think Cedric is right on the mark that they don`t mean to cooperate at all. And they have
put their party and political considerations above that of the nation.

But you know, Ed, although I think realistic position is the one you articulated and Cedric, I`m just hoping that there`s at least a few Republicans who still believe enough to put the American people first as
supposed to trying to score political points in the next election.

SCHULTZ: Well, they only believe in the country if their guy is in the White House, that`s what it appears to be.

And would you -- let me ask you straight up -- would you vote in favor of another stimulus package if the president wanted it?

ELLISON: Yes. Yes, I would.

SCHULTZ: Good for you because it created jobs.

ELLISON: I have a few more things to add. I mean, I think we need a WPA style jobs program in America. We need, you know, the Works Progress Authority. We need something like that, a direct job creation from the government.

And I think, you know, building trails, working on our nation`s parks, doing things like this would be very, very good.

We also need a multi-year surface transportation bill. That would go a long way.

And I also think that we`ve got to create -- I`m OK with creating some incentives to retrofit some of these old, windy buildings so that we can bet our carpenters and construction workers back in there helping to
build a green economy.

SCHULTZ: You bet.

ELLISON: I think there are a number of things in addition to the infrastructure bank and the payroll thing that we really could do and we really must do.

The problem is inadequate demand. The problem is that businesses won`t hire because the people don`t have any money and so they`re not going to be able to be customers, and so businesses aren`t going to be able to add staff if they`re not in line to buy their product.

SCHULTZ: And that is a big problem because we have outsourced so much in this country, and the bottom line is disposable income isn`t there. So, something bold has to take place. I hope the president goes big and I hope that he goes bold and goes as international as he has to create the jobs here.

ELLISON: You know --

SCHULTZ: I got to run. Good to have you with us tonight, Keith. I appreciate your time. Thanks so much.

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