MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript: Government Shutdown and ACA

Interview

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For more, let me bring in House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland. My sources are telling me behind closed doors, this is the man that is very responsible for holding the Democrats together. There have been no breaks in ranks for the Democrats. And it`s almost like it`s a moment of real severity for the progressive movement in American. They cannot allow ObamaCare to be taken down in any form or fashion.
Congressman, great to have you with us tonight.

STENY HOYER, (D-MD) HOUSE MINORITY WHIP: Good to be with you Ed. Thank you.

SCHULTZ: Is there anyway Democrats are going to let Boehner chip away
at ObamaCare?

HOYER: No. This bill was hard fought. We now see the first day in my state, a literally tens of thousands of people were signing up early this morning. They were so excited about having at finally access to affordable, quality health care and have insurance.

So that Democrats are going to stand strong on this bill. We think it`s good for America. We think it`s good for the people. We think it`s good for our families and children, and we`re not going to allow this to be turned around and to be repealed. I might say, Ed the irresponsibility that we`re seeing on the other side of the aisle, shutting down government, taking hostage a bill which as you pointed out, supported by the President of the United States, the issue in the last presidential election was this very Bill, Obama was reelected, but elections apparently don`t make a difference to this crap.

SCHULTZ: Yeah. They don`t care.

HOYER: So we`re going to fight to make sure that the Affordable Care Act goes into a fact, gives the kind of protection and security that people in this country need. I want all Americans healthy because we`ll be a better, stronger country and our economy will grow, and will create jobs, if that`s the case.

SCHULTZ: Congressman, is this John Boehner`s fault?

HOYER: It`s certainly the fault of the Republican leadership of which John Boehner is one.

SCHULTZ: OK.

HOYER: He has the ability to put on the floor, the continuing resolution which funds government and by the way, Ed and this is important for your viewers to know at the levels set by the Republicans.

SCHULTZ: Yes, the sequester.

HOYER: They won`t take the yes for an answer.

SCHULTZ: Yeah.

HOYER: The sequester level and by the way, in the next few months we have to change the sequester because it will undermine the national security of our country, undermine the economy, and undermine job creation.

SCHULTZ: And so, is this the pre-game show? I mean the big play is going to be, you know, the debt ceiling coming down the road and the budget and whatnot. So is this just going to be the way the country is going to be running? I mean, what`s the solution here Steny?

HOYER: Well, the solution is the reason together and to stop simply following unreasonable ideological courses that says my way or the highway. That doesn`t work in a Democracy. In a Democracy, we come together and reach an agreement. Realizing that some were elected by Republicans, some were elected by Democrats, some were more independent, but the fact and the matter is the American people expect the democracy to work.

SCHULTZ: Yeah. Congressman.

HOYER: And the only way our families work and our democracy work is if we work together.

SCHULTZ: Congressman, keep that caucus together. That is the real key. I hear it on the radio all day long, progressives in this country are concerned that there`s going to be a break in the ranks and that the Republicans will get something on ObamaCare. It`s great to hear you say that`s not going to happen tonight. I appreciate what you`re doing. Thanks so much.

HOYER: We`ll keep working that. Thank you, Ed.

SCHULTZ: Thank you, sir. Congressman Steny Hoyer with us, he`s the Minority Whip for the Democrats in the House.

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