CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript: ACA and Government Shutdown

Interview

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BLITZER: We have a Republican congressman, Trey Radel, joining us from Florida right now.

I know you're from Florida, but you're here in Washington in the Congress, Congressman.

I assume you were listening to the president of the United States. Did you hear something encouraging from him that would lead you to believe this government shutdown will end and the nation's debt ceiling will be lifted?

REP. TREY RADEL (R), FLORIDA: No.

He had a press conference to talk about what he was not going to talk about. Look, if I can just have a moment of honesty and then be a policy nerd for a second, look, this entire place is failing the American people, period.

There's a real conversation that needs to be had here, where the adults need to come to the table, as Republicans are asking, and let's talk about what matters. And that's this, to be that policy nerd for a second.

Every single dollar that this government receives simply goes to Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security. Pretty much everything else is borrowed. And unless we do something about this, in the big picture with Obamacare and with entitlements, in the future, short future, we may not have any of these things that the poor, the needy, and our seniors are dependent on.

The adults need to come to the table here. And that's really all we're asking.

BLITZER: Well, so, what's your proposal, Congressman? How would you get the government fully operational once again right now?

You know the positions of both sides, the speaker's position. You know the president's position. How do you fix this?

RADEL: Well, how do you fix it? I'm here nine months. And I promise you I'm working as hard as I can. But I think that the adults need to come to the table here.

And every time that you hear the president say that he's not going to negotiate, not going to talk, I'm sorry, but this is democracy. Republicans are a small part of this picture. The Democrats are in the Senate and the White House. Democracy works through compromise, through talking, and through negotiating.

And that's what we need to do. And you know what? In the past, with Clinton, with Bush, and with Reagan, deals were made and done, including under President Obama, over the debt ceiling and things like a C.R.

BLITZER: Would you be willing to accept some other concessions from the president, but forget about Obamacare for now, in order to vote for favor of legislation in the House of Representatives that would end the government shutdown?

RADEL: I'm open to all ideas here. That's why I keep going back to the really big picture here, which is not to throw out -- go on CNN, throw out talking points to you about Obamacare or this or that.

The big picture is how we are responsible to the American people. My door is open to President Obama and any Democrat that I'm serving with today to find ways, to find solutions and get something done here.

BLITZER: And on the debt ceiling, are you open to voting in favor of raising the debt ceiling by October 17?

RADEL: We will see. I want to make sure that -- again, I cannot stress this enough -- the adults come to the table here, we find some solutions and move forward in a way that is responsible to you.

BLITZER: One final question, Congressman. You appreciate what could happen to the overall U.S. economy, so many of the middle class, your constituents out there, if the U.S. defaults on some of its financial obligations?

RADEL: I understand that.

And I understand the ramifications of what we're looking at on both sides of the issue. I understand the ramifications that if we don't do anything, our government, our country is going to be in a terrible, terrible, awful situation.

We default, again, a pretty bad situation. I think that we're willing -- I know that we're willing to be able to come to the table, get something done, and make sure that we do not have catastrophic consequences for our country and our economy.

BLITZER: Because when you said "We will see" when I asked you if you're willing to vote to raise the debt ceiling, that leaves open the possibility you wouldn't vote for it.

RADEL: Wolf, you know, we will see. I want -- I'm not going to sit here and speculate, but I know what else I'm not going to do. I'm not going to accept that this president or Harry Reid simply shutting the door on all of our faces.

This is democracy. This is about compromise. This is about working together when you have a divided government. Seriously, is that too much to ask? I know that I'm a freshman here, but, really, is it too much to ask for a little compromise, some negotiation, to put us on a better, more sound path for the American people? I don't think so.

BLITZER: Congressman Trey Radel, Republican of Florida, thanks very much for joining us.

RADEL: Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity.

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