CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: Interview with Katie Porter

Interview

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REP. KATIE PORTER (D-CA): Well, we say one in four, and I have to think we have to remember that's all women. I think we could narrow it down to look at women who have to take care of young children, I think it would be much, much higher.

And so, we've really a sort of one segment of a generation of women who are being pushed out. So, I think the 25 year olds, and the 60 year olds whose kids are gone to college, they may be able to continue working, but those who have young school age children, in particular we know they are leaving jobs or taking lower paying big jobs with more flexible schedules because they can't simply manage to be in two places at one time.

BURNETT: So, "The Washington Post" article actually a quote from a mother in Colorado talking about what you just said. She said, I had to quit my job to home school my kids. During that time, my husband also lost his job. So, I had to go back to work but the job I ended up getting has lower pay.

Congresswoman, the crucial question here is, will the situations change back with the economy? Or do you think that government could actually do something to change it?

PORTER: We definitely have to change our policies to help make this equal, helped put women back not just where were they were before but to create a level playing field for women and people of color, you know, employment, on employment opportunities. And so, absolutely it would make a huge difference if we have things like paid family leave. It would make a huge difference if we had universal pre-K, if we had more investment in making childcare affordable.

And, crucially, these things don't just tell people with children, they help employers. They help businesses, they create better workplaces, and a bigger stronger, more stable, more globally competitive economy. So, these are not just pro-family things, these are pro-work, pro-economic policies.

BURNETT: Look, all that makes a lot of sense and we see it in our workplaces, but one thing though is that all the solutions which are important, do center around getting more care for children, right, so that parents are supported and working.

What about mothers who want to work and also spend quality time with their children? More time with their children? Are we sort of giving up on that balance as a society?

PORTER: I think that every parent, man or woman, however they identify, ought to be able to track their own path with regards to working and staying home and caring for children, being a caregiver. And I think that the problem we see right now is a lot of families are very squeezed financially, they feel like it takes two full-time workers particularly at lower wage jobs to be able to put food on the table.

And so, what we are seeing these people who are choosing what's best for them, what's best for their career, what's best for their family, economic necessity is driving people both to stay on the workforce, would they be better off leaving, or to leave the workforce when they want to stay.

BURNETT: So, you saw the census data, of course. The upshot, Democratic strongholds are losing House seats, Trump states are gaining. We can see the map.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says these changes mean the House minority is in play. Here he is.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP) REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): I think everybody knows the majority is in play. So, the reason why it's different, the majority is in play, I believe it is.

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And the Democrats I think believe it is too, that's why they're going so far left, knowing that they're going to lose it.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BURNETT: Is he right?

PORTER: What we're trying to do is make sure the American people have what they need to get through this pandemic, and to put our economy on a footing to be able to grow. We're worried about what's happening to minimum wage workers. We're worried about what's happening to teachers, to health care workers.

We're not just thinking about big corporations or wealthy donors. We're thinking about a broad swath of Americans and they need us to go big. This pandemic has been big in terms of the hardships that it has created.

And so, if we're going to recover and become a -- maintain our position as a global leader in this world economy, we need to make big investments. So, that's how I think about it. We're going big because the problems in our economy seeing (ph) are big.

BURNETT: All right. Congresswoman, I appreciate your time. Thank you.

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