MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript: Minimum Wages

Interview

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SCHULTZ: Joining me now is Congressman Mark Pocan of Wisconsin. Congressman, good to have you with us tonight. I want to point out, according to the study by the Economic Policy Institute, increasing the minimum wage would affect almost 30 million workers in this country and create around 85,000 new jobs by 2016.

You believe these numbers? And how can the Republicans be against it if it`s true?

REP. MARK POCAN (D), WISCONSIN: Ed, not only do I believe those numbers when I was in the Wisconsin legislature and we were looking at raising minimum wage, looked historically and every time we raise the minimum wage in Wisconsin, more people entered the workforce.

So I know what happens from practical experience in my state, we`re seeing it happen from that report and we need to do what we can to help that rising tide lift all boats so we can help improve the economy. The best way to do that is to raise the minimum wage.

SCHULTZ: Well, Harry, Reid on the Senate side says that raising the minimum wage is a priority once everybody gets back to work in 2014. Does the Senate plan have a shot of passing and I think they`d pass it, you know, in the Senate. Who wants to stand against workers? I think there will be some Republicans that would break to get the 60 vote threshold.

But what kind of pressure would that put on Boehner in the House if anything at all?

POCAN: Well, that`s the pressure we have to put from the outside. People in districts, other members of Congress to make sure that we`re making it an issue of priority just like making sure people have their unemployment benefits. And these are bread and butter issues that affect middle class families and when you look at the people who actually make the minimum wage, that myth of a high school kid who`s doing it for a little part time income isn`t true. These are head of households, these are people who are working two or three jobs to get by and this is a sort of case we have to make in Congress if we get this passed it`s really important and we have to do everything we can to get more Republicans to realize if they don`t do this there could be a political prize.

SCHULTZ: Recent ABC News-Washington Post poll is showing that 66 percent of Americans support a minimum wage increase. Is it a political loser for the GOP? I mean do you think that this would put the GOP in a position if they were to be against the minimum wage and not -- a vote not to come up that it would be a factor at the polls that it would straight the Democratic candidates in the midterms?

POCAN: Absolutely. You take this on top of the fact that they didn`t want to an employment benefit that there`s cutting things like food stamps and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. There`s really been these so many attacks on the middle class that I`ve seen just in the last year that, you know, people are really going to start wondering who has their back.

And clearly the Democrats have been putting an agenda out there to raise the minimum wage, to make sure we`re extending unemployment benefits, to invest in the economy and create jobs. And the Republicans want to take care of the special interest in the most wealthy. That message just gets reinforced every time they turn down an idea like raising the minimum wage.

SCHULTZ: But how aggressive, Congressman, do you think that Democrats ought to get with their messaging, OK? They`re doing this PR thing trying to get, you know, the unemployment extension going in the New Year. They`ve got -- no doubt about, they want to make sure that the minimum wage goes. But what if Boehner doesn`t do it? I mean how tough can the Democrats going to get? I mean if Boehner doesn`t go along with it and the Republicans bad mouth that I mean isn`t it enough for the Democrats to come up with probably one of the most aggressive strategies ever?

POCAN: I agree with you, Ed. I mean absolutely. This is important to middle class families across the country and this is who we need to be fighting for. The special interest have plenty of lobbyist in Washington, they`re getting their way with the Republican majority. We`ve got to fight for the average family. And one of the ways we do that is an unemployment extension and raising that minimum wage.

And I think the Democrats should have a very aggressive messaging, not let off, just keep pushing that issue because the more people see who`s on their side, it will only gives them a little bit of rhetoric but doesn`t vote on their behalf. That`s going to change the face of Congress.

SCHULTZ: OK. Congressman Mark Pocan, great to have you with us tonight.
Appreciate your time on the program .

POCAN: Thank you.

SCHULTZ: . thank you so much.

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