On CBS This Morning, Schumer Laments Republicans’ Planned 30% Pay Cut To Unemployed Workers, Stresses Need For Real Solution That Provides For Americans’ Needs Amid Historic COVID Crises
Washington, D.C.—Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer today appeared on CBS This
Morning and lamented Republicans’ proposal to cut pay for unemployed workers by
30 percent while helping big corporations. Senator Schumer also stressed the
need for a real solution that provides help for Americans’ needs amid the
historic COVID economic and public health crises. Below
is a transcript of the interview:
Anthony Mason: Joining us now from Capitol Hill is New York Senator and
Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Senator, good morning. Negotiations
with the White House started last night. You and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
were there. Where do we stand right now?
Sen. Schumer: Well, unfortunately, we're pretty far apart right now, although
I'm optimistic we could have a good solution at the end. Here's where we are
now: we Democrats have put together a package that's bold and strong and deals
with the average needs of people. We don't let them get kicked out of their
homes because they’ve lost their jobs through no fault of their own. We give
them a good amount of unemployment insurance so they can pay. We put in money
to feed kids. We put in money to open schools safely. People want schools
opened but it has to be done safely. And we give money to state and local governments
because thousands, hundreds of thousands of firefighters and bus drivers and
garbage workers will be laid off. The Republican plan does almost none of these
things. It is stingy. It doesn't provide any money for instance for food, for
people who need to feed their kids. Their unemployment insurance, you're
telling people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own you get a 30%
pay cut. It does nothing for state and the local governments. It is woefully
inadequate in helping our schools open. Instead, Anthony, amazingly it has all
these corporate benefits. No money for food stamps but a deduction for a three
martini lunch for a big businessman. Big cushion for defense contractors, no
cushion for people who have been kicked out of their house. And to boot, they
threw in there, President Trump wants the FBI headquarters built near his hotel
so no new competing hotel can come in, $2 billion for that. One more point.
Half the Republicans in the Senate even think that's too generous. So we're
pretty far apart. And the negotiations were disappointing.
Anthony Mason: Senator, the supplemental benefit, unemployment benefit has
already run out for a lot of people, it’s due to run out for a lot more by the
end of the week. So, if you're this far apart what's the real hope here of
getting a deal so these people aren't in a panic as David Begnaud reported from
Florida already today.
Sen. Schumer: Even if you did the Republican plan, most states said
unemployment benefits would be cut off anyway because it's a whole new plan
anyway and they have to readjust their computers, hire new people. Many states
say it would take months before people would get their checks. There’s a simple
solution, the House has passed and we Senate Democrats support simply extending
the existing $600 a month until January. That could go into effect easy. That
can help our economy because it puts money in people's pockets and then they
buy things and go to the stores. That's the only thing that's kept the economy
going. And we can get it done. So we urge our Republican colleagues, you know,
in the last two bills, the last two COVID bills, they were very stingy. We said
it had to be better and they came in our direction, I am hopeful that will
happen again.
Anthony Mason: The Republican argument senator, as you know, is that the $600
supplemental is essentially, not an incentive for people to go back to work,
it’s actually keeping the from going back to work, what would you say to that?
Sen. Schumer: That misreads the American people. People want jobs. They want
permanent jobs. They don't want to stay on unemployment. And the evidence of
how many people doing that is very, very small. What's really happening is that
they want to favor the big corporate interests as opposed to the average person
who needs this money, and every economist has said the unemployment insurance
has done more to prevent the recession from getting greater than now. Why cut
it and instead these money in these corporate things? I don’t get it.
Anthony Mason: The White House says that if you can't reach an agreement you
should pass a narrower bill. Would you support that?
Sen. Schumer: Well, you're going to choose – we should help the unemployed but
not help people getting kicked out of their homes, not help feed people, not
help schools open? There are so many needs. Remember, this is the greatest
economic crisis we've had since the Great Depression. This is the greatest
health crisis since the Spanish flu. We need a bold package. We believe that
the Republicans will have to move in our direction because the public is
completely on our side. Even Republican economists are on our side. They are
being held back by a group of hard right-wing people in the Senate who don't
want to spend any money on anything and say let the people be damned.
Anthony Mason: Is eviction protection part of this bill?
Sen. Schumer: It's part of our bill but not part of theirs. People will
be kicked out of their houses starting next week. We can't let that happen.
Anthony Mason: You're going to have to give up something, senator. Where
do you think you can meet the Republican side?
Sen. Schumer: Well look, we're happy to sit down and talk and roll up our
sleeves and try. We sat down with Mnuchin and with Meadows last night. There
has to be some kind of a meeting. But you can't forego the desperate needs of
people because there's a small band of hard right Republicans saying don't do
anything. As I said, the last three bills, the Republicans started out very
narrow, we Democrats held our ground and said there are a lot of needs and they
moved in our direction. I'm very hopeful that will happen again and we'll be
able to meet these needs.
Anthony Mason: So, both bills prioritize schools but you're offering
significantly more money.
Sen. Schumer: Not only more money, we offer money -- schools have real problems
in opening up. If you give every kid a mask and every teacher a mask, that's
hundreds of thousands of dollars. You probably have to have two bus routes. If
the kids are sitting in a bus right next to each other you can only have one
seat and double the bus routes. A lot of schools want to convert their
gyms, their cafeterias to classrooms, you need some help with distance learning
for people who don’t have adequate Wi-Fi. There's a lot to be done and we
provide for it. This is a huge crisis and if we are too stingy it’s going to
get worse. That’s what the president’s actions have shown thus far. We're
trying to overcome it.
Anthony Mason: Senator, the clock is ticking here. Can you reach a deal by
the end of next week?
Sen. Schumer: I hope so, and that's what we're working for. We'll sit down.
We’re going to sit down again today. We’ll sit down 24/7. People's needs are so
great that we'll do whatever we can to reach a deal. But without foregoing
their basic needs.
Anthony Mason: Senator Schumer, thank you very much for being with us.
Sen. Schumer: Good to talk to you.
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