MSNBC Interview- Transcript

Interview

MS. O'DONNELL: Joining us now is Democratic Congressman James Clyburn. He voted in favor of the House bill and is also whipping the Democrats there to find out if they have enough votes.

Congressman, first, will this bill pass tomorrow?

REP. CLYBURN: I'm very hopeful that it will. I'm -- like the Speaker, I'm very optimistic about it. We've been whipping this afternoon. In fact, I've been making phone calls since Monday night, and I think that Democrats really want to get this done.

MS. O'DONNELL: I -- the House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer, was here yesterday. I asked him pointedly, can you assure me and viewers watching that this bill won't go down in flames like it did on Friday. He said to me, quote, "I can't make the assurance."

Have you lost any votes of those Blue Dog Democrats now that there has been those tax extenders and pork added to this bill?

REP. CLYBURN: Well, the tax extenders, as you know -- every one of those taxes -- maybe with the exception of the disaster stuff that's in there, because the last time we passed this bill, we had not had Hurricane Ike as well as Gustav. But -- and then there is some flooding out in the Midwest. All that's new to this bill. But everything else we have passed in the House before, so we don't have a problem with the extenders. What we do have a problem with is that we passed those things paid for. They're coming back to us partially paid for. So that gives concern to quite a few of our members, especially among the Blue Dogs.

MS. O'DONNELL: And Congressman, let me hit on that. You said possibly (sic) paid for. We're talking about a $700 billion bailout or rescue plan, which a lot of Americans opposed and were nervous about according to our NBC News Wall Street Journal poll. And then Congress says, oh, by the way. I'm going to add on another $150 billion in tax extenders, some pork for -- for the Virgin Island rum producers, and then it's not paid for, and it's going to be added to the deficit? How is that going to be politically -- how is it going to play with Democrats who face tough races?

REP. CLYBURN: Well, that's the problem and that's what we'll be meeting on this afternoon on into the evening and maybe as late as tomorrow morning. So that's --

MS. O'DONNELL: Can you take out that pork?

REP. CLYBURN: Well, I think we can. Whether or not we will, I don't know. I wouldn't call it pork, though. I think that if you're giving tax breaks to various businesses, it may, in fact, have a positive impact on the businesses going forward. And so what we have to do is to find out whether or not this is too insulting to some of our members.

MS. O'DONNELL: I hear you. So let me ask you, how many more Democratic votes do you think that you have?

REP. CLYBURN: Well, remember, when we took this vote, 60 percent of the Democrats voted for this bill, only 33 percent of the Republicans did. And now all -- if we just hold those votes, those 140 votes that we got before, that would be 64 percent of what is needed to get to 218. And so I'm hopeful that my friend Roy Blunt will be able to get at least 35 (percent), 40 percent of the Republicans to vote for it.

MS. O'DONNELL: So it -- but it sounds like to me you guys are betting on that the Republicans come onboard, that you haven't been able to convince any more Democrats.

REP. CLYBURN: Remember, the Democrats are not writing this bill. We believed that this ought to be done in a bipartisan way. This is all about our country, and our country -- it would be a shame for us to talk about stabilizing the markets and trying to get people to have confidence in that market if we don't do things in a way that will build confidence in us. Now the best way for people to have confidence in us is for us to work together in a bipartisan way. So if -- I think -- if the Democrats put up 60 percent of the vote, it's not all that unheard of for the Republicans to put up 40 percent of them.

MS. O'DONNELL: All right, Congressman, I have a feeling we're going to be watching this very closely. Tomorrow's going to be a close vote.

REP. CLYBURN: Thank you.

MS. O'DONNELL: Congressman James Clyburn, as always, great -- great to have you on.

REP. CLYBURN: Well, thanks for having me.

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