NBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript - Minimum Wage and Health Insurance

Interview

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SCHULTZ: And let me tell you folks, that's not California dreaming.
That's the real deal. And with us tonight is Senator Barbara Boxer of
California. Senator, great to have you back with us here on the Ed Show.
I appreciate your time. Thank you.

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D) CALIFORNIA: Well. Great that you're back, I mean
this was crazy, and now I'm glad the world is right again. Welcome back.

SCHULTZ: Thank you. Well, it is such a positive story. How often do we
see such a drastic economic turnaround. Your thoughts on what has happened
to the seventh largest economy in the world when the wealthiest residents
pay their fair share.

BOXER: Well, it`s very clear Jerry Brown had a vision. He shared with the
people when run as did President Obama. The difference is that Jerry has a
very strong legislature, democrats run the place. They run all three
branches with strong majorities. And we know because we look back when
Bill Clinton was the president working with us, we got that budget
balanced. I thin the biggest miss out there Ed is that democrats don`t
know how to balance budgets when we're the ones who do.

Because we do ask everyone to pay their fair share and we are tough on
spending that doesn't make sense, and Jerry has done an outstanding job,
and so has the legislature.

SCHULTZ: So this whole theory about you can't raise taxes on the job
creators. We heard it during with the Bush tax cuts. The democrats went
along, the first two years extended them, then they expired we're still
adding jobs in our economy in the private sector since the Bush tax cuts
expired. What does that model in the model of California really tell this
country about income inequality and people paying their fair share in a
growing economy?

BOXER: Well, there is one word that I think we always have to focus on and
that's fairness, Ed. Everyone has to do their part, and clearly, I mean
I've spoken to people in California who earn a lot, who were very anxious
to help the country and help their state. And I think here in California
we've proven the point you know, a rise in tide lifts all boats.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

BOXER: No question about it. And everybody doing their part. The workers
certainly have gotten more productive than ever, and by the way, I want to
tell you something. We need to raise the minimum wage. That will make a
huge difference out there. People are struggling. The difference between
the very wealthy and the working poor is grown. We raised that minimum
wage, and we move forward with the vision of this president that we have
which is everyone pays their fair share. We make investments where it
matters. We`re going to be.

SCHULTZ: What would you move the minimum wage senator?

BOXER: This is going to be a great century for us.

SCHULTZ: Give me a number. Why would you move the minimum wage?

BOXER: I think about $10 -- about $10, about $10.

SCHULTZ: Now, we have heard, you know.

BOXER: I think that would right.

SCHULTZ: We have heard, you know, can`t raise tax on job creators, blah,
blah, blah. And now we`re hearing that Obamacare is going to kill jobs?
That this is going to destroy our economy. You have been in home working
your state. What are Californians saying about Obamacare as we`re in the
verge of implementing this fully?

BOXER: Well, people are very excited here. Those who know it better are
big deals. We have to get everyone to know about it, but let me tell you
we have 7 million uninsured Californians out of the 48 million nationwide.
And our -- Obamacare which I was proud to vote for and still I`m proud that
I did that vote is going to cover 30 million people.

We`re going to take the working poor and get them Medicaid, and the rest
will go to the exchanges. Most of our people will go to the exchanges and
our exchanges here are really getting ready. We`re pouring a lot of effort
into it. Again, the state working with the federal government.

People will have the choice of gold plans, and bronze plans, and silver
plans, and platinum plans, and basic catastrophic coverage, Ed.

SCHULTZ: Sure. And I understand, premiums expected to drop some 29
percent? Is that an accurate number of what you hear?

BOXER: We`re doing very well. And here`s the thing about the Republicans.
First of all, the way we wrote the bill, its mandatory spending. So all
this talking about shutting down the government isn`t going to stop the
plan from going into place. They`ve tried to repeal it 40 times.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

BOXER: Now I`ve served with five presidents. I`ve never seen anything.
The President ran on this healthcare plan, we passed it, the court upheld
it. What is it the Republicans don`t like about it, the fact that it`s
helping people like Dan, your former guest. I met a lot of Dan`s when I
was home.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

BOXER: The fact that we`re saying to the insurance companies, "You have to
spend the money on your people, not pocketing it. You have to spend 80
percent of the premiums you get on the people. I mean.

SCHULTZ: It's -- Senator, don`t you think.

BOXER: ... we've got Medicare people getting drug -- yes, go ahead.

SCHULTZ: I mean, don`t you think the Republicans are pushing so hard
against this because they know the generational effect that this is going
to have? I mean these positive stories, the one that I've told tonight,
they`re going to melt over the year. It`s going to be an awfully a tough
time for them to go home and run against this in the midterm. I mean this
is a defining moment ...

BOXER: Yes.

SCHULTZ: ... in some respects for the Republican Party on where they land
up with people.

BOXER: Well, listen. They've already chosen their path. And their path
is to take benefits that the people are getting. Why don't they ask the
millions of 26 year olds -- millions who run their parents healthcare.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

BOXER: Do they want to lose that? Why don't they ask people like Dan,
"How does it feel to finally get interest?"

I mean -- I don't -- I think that their opposition to this president,
that's putting it amiably, is so powerful, Ed. They don't care who they
hurt. But we`re not going to let them get away with it. And I think if
people who marched in that wonderful march you were at -- and I watched
your reporting on that. It was so inspiring. If they get to the polls,
working people get to the polls, people who understand the healthcare gets
the polls .

SCHULTZ: Yes.

BOXER: maybe we can finally stop this attack on this president and his
plans

SCHULTZ: All right.

BOXER: because it`s not helping America.

SCHULTZ: Senator Barbara Boxer, California, great to have you with us on
The Ed Show. Thank you so much for joining us. I appreciate it.

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