MSNBC "The Beat with Ari Melber" - Transcript: Interview with Mazie Hirono
Interview
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Joining me now is Senator Mazie Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senator, thanks so much for joining us on this Labor Day. We really appreciate it.
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): Good to see you, Yasmin.
VOSSOUGHIAN: Great to see you.
First give me a reaction to the attorney general`s statement that he released today on the Texas law.
[18:35:04]
HIRONO: Well, I`m glad that he`s saying that there better not be any kind of violence or any other kind of efforts to stop women from getting other health care services.
But there`s been such fear and the chilling effect and the chaos that`s resulting in Texas as a result of what they`re doing over there, followed by other states that want to follow suit, by the way. This is an attack on women`s health care. That`s how I see it.
VOSSOUGHIAN: It seems as if the Supreme Court decision -- the majority at the Supreme Court decision basically said, listen, they found a loophole, right? Texas found a loophole. And other states, as you mentioned, will likely be following suit, other conservative states.
But Laurence Tribe wrote today in an op-ed that it seems as if the attorney general did not go far enough. He didn`t necessarily say that in his op-ed.
But Laurence Tribe wants to go further, saying this: "The need to disarm those who cynically undermined constitutional rights, while ducking all normal avenues for challenging their assault on the rule of law, becomes paramount."
He cites Section 241, Senator, of the criminal code, making it an even more serious crime for two or more persons to agree to oppress, threaten or intimidate anyone in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
Does the attorney general in his statement go far enough in protecting women`s rights in the state of Texas?
HIRONO: One, I`m really glad that both the president, as well as the attorney general, is looking at using whatever tools that they have.
Until Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court, women`s right to an abortion should still be protected. So I`m hopeful that Merrick Garland will use whatever he can.
At the same time, there is another case that is before the Supreme Court that is going to give them the chance to overturn Roe v. Wade directly. And I would like the attorney general to weigh in. I think he should intervene in that case and argue against whatever the state is doing.
I think it`s Mississippi and their restrictive laws.
VOSSOUGHIAN: Yes.
HIRONO: So there are things that we can do.
At the same time, what should be happening is that every state should be codifying Roe v. Wade, as Hawaii did a number of years ago, because these restrictive laws are being enacted by state legislatures all across the country. And that`s where we need to take the fight, in addition to, of course, clarifying the Roe v. Wade in the federal law.
VOSSOUGHIAN: Let`s talk about codifying Roe v. Wade in the federal law.
And I just want to mention, you`re talking about the state of Mississippi, the case that is on the Supreme Court docket banning abortion after 15 weeks. Obviously, the Supreme Court will be hearing that case in the fall. And we will see where they land on that.
Codifying Roe v. Wade, when it comes to federal law, obviously, Speaker Pelosi saying she`s going to bring this thing to a vote, right? What is the likelihood, though, that it could get through the Senate at this point? I think that`s what a lot of folks that are in support of making this law, that`s what they`re worried about.
HIRONO: This is yet another reason that we should get rid of the filibuster, so that we don`t have to have a supermajority to get anything important done in the Senate.
So, that`s what we ought to be pursuing, yet another reason. Voting rights and so many other issues are being stymied in the Senate because of the need for a supermajority. That means that we have to get 10 Republicans to vote with the Democrats on these issues.
VOSSOUGHIAN: Yes.
HIRONO: And that ain`t happening anytime soon.
So, filibuster reform is once again -- yes, that should be on our agenda.
VOSSOUGHIAN: So you`re talking about filibuster reform. Obviously, this was talked about when it came to voting rights as well.
Senator Joe Manchin coming out, Kyrsten Sinema coming out and saying no, no, no, no, filibuster is staying in place, the president even supporting the filibuster is staying in place. Are there phone calls being made? Are there conversations being had? I know, there`s a lot of conversations being had with Manchin when it comes to the reconciliation bill and this most recent opinion that came out over that.
Are those conversations happening when it comes to the filibuster now riding on voting rights and this Texas bill?
HIRONO: I certainly hope so.
And I expect that these conversations are happening because the Democrats want to get these issues addressed, if we want to do the American Families Plan that`s going to enable women to get back to work and that`s going to expand Medicare. So we want to get these things done.
And my hope is that, at some point, Joe Manchin will also say, yes, we got to get these things down, and we can`t wait around for the Republicans to see the light, because they are not going to see the light. They are going to do everything they can to stop these bills from being enacted.
That`s so clear. Everybody, get it?
VOSSOUGHIAN: Have you ever had a conversation with Senator Joe Manchin about this?
HIRONO: Yes.
VOSSOUGHIAN: And do you think he will change his mind?
HIRONO: Still working on it.
(LAUGHTER)
VOSSOUGHIAN: A political answer from a senator, to be expected on this Labor Day.
[18:40:00]
Senator Mazie Hirono, thank you, as always, for joining us this evening.
HIRONO: Thank you.
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