CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript Interview with Jeff Merkley

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Senator Merkley joins me now. It's good to have you here. American -- to our knowledge, we looked -- did not directly reply to your accusation. They have said, though, that they've implemented many layers of protection and enhanced cleaning and they require face coverings.

[10:40:09]

So let's talk about you wanting to take legislative action here. You know, you've got American saying that, you've got United saying, when it comes to blocking middle seats, that's just a P.R. strategy, not a safety strategy. And the former head of Spirit Airlines said, "I've not seen any study that positively links empty middle seats with reduced virus spread. This bill should die quietly as it's bad policy and is out of step with the realities of science or economics." What say you?

SEN. JEFF MERKLEY (D-OR): Well, I doubt any of those executives have actually sat on a plane with someone who's -- basically, their exhaled breath is about 12 inches from your -- what you're inhaling. And they're eating and drinking on the plane, so they're taking off their masks.

And everything we've seen in the scientific realm is that this disease is transmitted more by the aerosol and droplets from people breathing out than it is by touch. It has to make a difference when somebody is that close to you. And if you've seen the modeling of different scientific studies online, every single set of inches that you're further away, there's fewer droplets, there's fewer aerosol.

HARLOW: So -- I have. And to note, I haven't flown yet during this pandemic -- I may in August, we'll see where things stand. But I do know, when I'm sitting, you know, in a plane, a regular economy seat, someone behind me and in front of me, they're closer than six feet for sure.

And given that, I just want your reaction to the Delta CEO -- who I should note, they are banning the sale of middle seats at least through the end of September, if not much past that into the fall and maybe into the winter. But here's what the CEO of Delta told me when I asked him if he's supportive of your legislation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED BASTIAN, CEO, DELTA AIR LINES: I think we're an industry that's got a lot of regulations, so I'm not an advocate for adding regulation at this point.

HARLOW: OK.

BASTIAN: But I think carriers will have to be responsible to their employees and to their customers in the messages. And I can tell you what the customers at Delta are saying, is that they really appreciate that the middle seats are being blocked on Delta.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Senator, I think his point is they think they've got a lot of regulation and they don't need another law. Why does this need to be mandated?

MERKLEY: Well, I'll tell you, it needs to be mandated because not everyone is following Delta's example. United particularly, and American Airlines -- very large airlines.

By the way, these top-flying (ph) airlines spent $45 billion on stock buybacks, money they would have had to get through this tough time. But instead, they did stock buybacks, they turned to Congress and said, Bail us out. So they're happy to take the American taxpayer's money, but keeping their airlines open as essential service shouldn't also be something that is done in the maximum mode to spread the contagion, endangering Americans' health.

Now, I understand that you aren't going to be able to spread people six feet apart and have the airlines operate in any kind of way that they financially survive. But that's that person who is just inches away from you that really feels dramatically offensive. It doesn't leave time for the air circulation system -- that the airlines brag about -- to filter the air because the person's exhaling inches from you.

And so it's a minimum request, really. And I'm hoping that at least the publicity of the issue will encourage the other airlines to follow the example that Delta is setting.

HARLOW: I will note, though, share buybacks -- that you note -- have at least been suspended for airlines that have taken -- all the big carriers right now -- taken taxpayer money through loans through the CARES Act, but I hear your point.

A few more questions, one on schools and then I want to get to the protestor shot in Portland over the weekend.

At least in Portland, Oregon, the schools right now are set to be open on September 2nd. There's a lot of concern about the safety of everyone: the kids, the teachers, the janitorial staff, et cetera.

Kelly (ph) Ryan (ph), who will be a first grade teacher at Oak Grove Elementary, says she's really worried about her 80-year-old father. And she said. "Whatever I'm exposing myself to, I have to be careful in taking that to him. So that's a part of it that's a little bit scary."

What do you think should be done in your state at this point, given the numbers you've seen? Should the schools be opened in a matter of weeks?

MERKLEY: Well, I totally understand that concern. My 93-year-old mother is living with me here in the house, and is very vulnerable. And it's an added stress whenever you have somebody in your close circle who you might transmit a disease to.

The schools are trying many different approaches in Oregon. Many of them are doing a day-on, day-off to cut the size in half so all the desks can be socially distanced, six feet apart. They're really struggling to figure this out.

[10:45:00]

I talk to teachers who are absolutely stressed about the ability to provide an education to the children, and stressed about the potential spread of contagion. So I'm just encouraging them to follow the best possible scientific advice from CDC. Our individual school boards are making individual decisions.

So I don't know the right answer to this but I know that they are struggling with that question of how to educate our kids and how to protect their health and the health of the entire community.

HARLOW: Senator, something tragic happened over the weekend in Portland. Many people have seen the video on social media of a protestor outside of the federal courthouse there, 26-year-old mean, being shot with something. It's been reported as impact munition, shot in the head. His mother, saying that he had a skull fracture and facial fractures as well.

You tweeted about this, I know you have a number of questions about what happened. Do you know who fired the round and what led to this?

MERKLEY: Well, the video shows a peaceful protestor holding up a sign, a tear gas canister or some kind of canister landed at his feet, he kicked it or moved it back away from him several feet. And then seconds later, he's shot in the head. And it's just a horrific example of what should not happen. We do not know the rules of engagement for these federal forces, we do

not know how many there are or what groups they've come from. We don't know if they're properly identified, we don't know if they're coordinating closely with the mayor.

It is just a real concern that this feels like an occupying force with no transparency. And this type of assault, shooting a protestor in the head who's holding up a sign, absolutely makes the situation so much more tense and worse. So rather than helping, it's inflaming the situation.

So we do not trust that these federal forces are trained, have protocols, are working in cooperation, are helping in any way.

HARLOW: OK.

MERKLEY: We don't have answers.

HARLOW: Senator, I know that the U.S. Marshals Service put out a statement that they are investigating, and so I hope there are some answers for everyone and for his family and him, soon. Thank you, Senator Jeff Merkley. Appreciate it.

MERKLEY: You're welcome, good to be with you, Poppy.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source