MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript

Interview

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Congresswoman, great do have you with us. I think it`s the perfect irony that they are talking about social issues at CPAC, and they`re talking about religious freedom and the president gave them all the freedom
they wanted to day.

Are you satisfied with the president`s decision?

REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D), ILLINOIS: Well, I think it`s actually brilliant. We have the women`s organizations, the health care organizations, saying that now women can be guaranteed, regardless of where
they work, that they will get access for free to the birth control that they need. You know, Rick Santorum scoffing at the amount of money birth control costs really does show how out of touch he is.

It can be -- it`s between $600 and $1,200 a year what many of the modern birth control methods can cost. That`s a lot of money. And actually, 50 percent of women from 18 to 34 years old have expressed
concern about being able to afford that.

But remember that old game "the farmer and the dell," it`s the cheese stands alone. Well, the cheese stands alone, the Republicans are by themselves.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

SCHAKOWSKY: And I felt like Romney was really saying to the Catholic hospital association, oh, you`ve been duped, you don`t know what you`re doing. How condescending is that?

SCHULTZ: Congresswoman, what`s the next heavy lift? Here is Roy Blunt. He is introducing a measure that would give insurers the right to deny women contraceptive coverage. Now, I understand that abortions are as low as they have been in decades. A lot of that has to do with contraception, I understand.

But how much of a fight is this going to be? Can you see the insurance lobby going to work on this?

SCHAKOWSKY: Well, first of all, you understand that the insurance companies prefer to insure contraceptive care, because pregnancy is much more expensive. So, it`s really actually good for employers and certainly
good for insurance companies.

But, you know, if I were texting you right now, I would say the Republicans are likely to continue to move ahead, that`s how out of touch they are.

I`m on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I fully expect to see this bill there, supported by the chairman, supported by the chairman of the subcommittee on health. And just -- they will just plow ahead despite the American people, especially American women being on the other side.

SCHULTZ: Today`s decision got a lukewarm response from health insurance industry. They put out a statement saying we are concerned about the precedent this proposed rule would set.

A lot of people think this is a good step towards universal health care, which, of course, I know you and I would be very much in favor of. I like the idea that poor women in this country are going to get an
opportunity to move forward in life because obviously, it`s hard for them economically, especially when they get pregnant and have children at an early age.

Everybody is in favor of this. But when you see that the insurance company is saying that this is -- this sets a tough precedent, the precedent the proposed rule would set -- doesn`t that mean they are ready
to fight this?

SCHAKOWSKY: Well, I don`t know. But once again, if the Republicans and insurance industry is on one side, and women and the Catholic health association and all the health care experts are on the other side, I think
that is a pretty good team. I`d rather be on that team.

SCHULTZ: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, great to have you with us tonight. Thanks so much.

SCHAKOWSKY: Thank you.

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