CNN "Anderson Cooper 360" - Transcript: Interview with Josh Gottheimer
Interview
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COOPER: Congressman Gottheimer, I appreciate you joining us. Where do things stand now with these votes? Is there going to be a vote tonight?
REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER (D-NJ): Well, we'll see. We're getting very close on both the -- on getting bought in the bipartisan infrastructure package, which as, you know, Anderson, we've been working on for months and it has passed out of the Senate in early August, and then the social infrastructure bill or Build Back Better, which were final details going back and forth. We're waiting for final text now, and we hope to get there. That's everything from child care to reinstating the state local tax deduction or SALT to universal pre- K. So, so much that's important, both bills would be a huge win for the country, and so, we're close.
COOPER: I know you want to see more details about the numbers and scoring information when it comes to the social spending bill, but clearly Speaker Pelosi feels it is ready to go to a vote now. Would you -- without seeing those numbers, would you move forward?
GOTTHEIMER: Well, I think it's very important and it is something I believe deeply that I should read the bills before you take a vote on anything, you should make sure you've seen the text and understand the impact on your district.
So there are still things that are being worked out. We don't have the final text just yet. We're close. I've seen a lot of it, and so much of it is, I think, good for the district. But we need to see the final text, and we have questions about some of the investments. And of course, some of the revenues that we have. We are still waiting on answers on from -- we got some information from joint tax today on some analysis and waiting for the Congressional Budget Office to give us some numbers and analysis on some of the investments.
COOPER: So without the CBO numbers, you would not move forward?
GOTTHEIMER: I think until we get some of that information, it would be irresponsible until we get the final text, of course, and before we see the impact on the economy and our country. But I again, we're supposed to get some of those numbers any minute now, waiting on those, and I think if we can get that analysis, that will be very helpful in moving forward.
COOPER: What -- do you worry, you know, Republicans are sitting back right now looking at all this and saying, look, Democrats can't even pass their agenda while they control both Chambers of Congress and the White House. I mean -- is this is this a gift to the G.O.P.?
GOTTHEIMER: You know, listen, I'll admit, I've been very frustrated with the fact that we -- you know, I worked with my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate, you know, most of summer, going back last spring on the bipartisan infrastructure package, which is your roads, bridges, the tunnel, the train tunnels between New York and New Jersey, water infrastructure, helping us fight climate change, two million jobs a year on the line. That was passed out of the Senate with 69 votes in early August, and it has been sitting in the House waiting for action.
So you know, I think we've got to act. I think the country has spoken pretty clearly they expect us to act. And you know, we're going to get that bill done. I am hoping any hour now and of course, get this reconciliation package the social infrastructure package across the finish line as well.
But I think, it is very important that, you know, we do our jobs and make sure we see final texts and do the analysis to see the impact on our district, in our economy, and in our country. And, you know, I believe Anderson, in the coming days, we're going to have two big victories for the country, and that's going to not just help the country, but of course, I think, you know, change some of the messaging for Democrats.
COOPER: On the messaging front, I mean, if progressive Democrats and moderate Democrats, you know, can't really trust each other to vote on two things separately at different times, I guess, there are some the country that might ask, why should the country trust Democrats?
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GOTTHEIMER: Well, I don't think it's a question of not trusting each other at all. I think, it is -- you know, would I've liked us to vote on the infrastructure package, the bipartisan one months ago? Yes. But I believe, we are going to work both these out. We've been all working very closely together. And everyone is, I think, acting in good faith and we'll get these across the finish line.
But I think the country wants to see action, they deserve it. They want us to produce commonsense results for them and for their families. And they expect not just Democrats work together, they expect us to work with Republicans, you know, and they want bipartisan solutions.
So, you know, I think that's why the structure package we are presenting is so important because it is great for families in the country, for our competitiveness, but also a strong sign that Democrats and Republicans can work together for them.
COOPER: Congressman Gottheimer, I really appreciate it. Thank you.
GOTTHEIMER: Thanks for having me.
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