You're watching...
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) tells Alan how the new Contract for the American Dream can get our economy back on track.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
-- -- -- doing congressman thank you went on the program tonight a very good thank you you are involved with the much progressive people in congress promoting the contract for the American dream tell us what that is.
Well attended basic principles developed by over a 100000.
Americans -- The kinds of things that they want in order to get our economy.
The doldrums things like.
How about Medicare for all or.
Packet and as a way to reduce the debt that the tax millionaires then and billionaires.
To.
Get -- The wars and the military spending that that were involved and and -- put people back to work I've -- really emphasizing the the jobs portion.
This.
People contract.
The American dream.
He thought He got a ten point plan here He talked about 2.2 million jobs school improvement core part of -- core fiscal job -- neighborhood -- -- teachers cops firefighters.
But then heading to pay for -- Well but the bill is actually pretty reasonable price then -- -- it could be paid for.
By and other ability to do is -- fairness and taxation act that says that.
We're gonna -- we're gonna have raised the tax bracket for people who earn a million dollars a year ratcheting up.
-- 49%.
For people who -- a billion dollars a year and yes there are Americans.
Who bring -- a billion dollars -- year and the top tax bracket that I offer 49% as lower.
The bad under Ronald Reagan and historically a pretty low tax practice it's about fairness is not about revenge or punishment -- out.
People paying their -- -- I make -- a billion in taxable income you pay 49%.
In federal income tax.
-- well you pay you not starting at 250 like the president would do by repealing.
The bush attacked -- I'm not I'm not saying that we we we shouldn't do that I think that's that's fine -- We did you know repealing those those tax cuts are people -- that -- that.
For the for the super rich for people who really -- and tons -- money I think that they ought to pay.
A bit more -- -- benefited from our.
Good for -- -- a good economy.
Not so for the rest of.
They're happy with the deal the president made with the Republican.
House.
You know I've I've voted against step but I you know I can't.
The -- that when you're dealing with people.
Who clearly stated that they weren't kidding they were bringing they were willing to bring -- -- meaning the American economy.
Down.
They really wanted to do that it's unbelievable that there are people elected to the United States congress.
That wanted to -- fault the debt that the Americans.
-- -- It's -- -- for the and you know get around to avoid debt default but that's it you know it's it's not a good deal it's one side -- totally.
How do we get beyond that though because you still have as you point out these people in congress who -- -- in the country default.
You've got a Republican House even among Democrats not many -- as progressive as you are.
And -- like to see.
And into the -- -- got a president started -- -- Libby of 30000 more troops in Afghanistan.
Even the Democratic Party isn't progressive enough it seems to get the things -- you'd like to get done.
You know I think that we all have to have the courage to stand up and follow -- the American people.
You know it in poll after appalling and I'm not want to put my finger to the wind -- it -- -- -- -- states.
What people say what you ask.
The question 81% of Americans think the best way out of this.
The the deficit is ask millionaires and billionaires DePaul.
It's.
-- -- want the American people including -- years not to Taiwan but a majority.
Think that.
Job.
Are more of an issue then net reduction right now so it is -- listen to the American people and boldly and probably go out there.
And and put -- that program which we really have.
That's what this the American dream contract is about.
And -- for.
You don't believe that America is broke Greg you -- say America is not broke.
-- -- America is not broke.
You know what's happened is that all of the growth in the economy overlooked since 1979.
-- has gone to the wealthiest Americans.
We now have the greatest think of this severity and thank you 28.
And what we have of the disappearing middle class but we have eight.
-- A leaked the rich really are getting richer -- -- -- absolutely we are not broke therapy but -- resources and our country.
When you say Medicare -- -- -- I like to see single Payer I think if we'd simply said Medicare for all as our revised health care plan it would have been letting users understand.
We got this this Affordable Care Act which they derisively call obamacare on the other side.
How do we get from from there to where we'd like to be which -- single Payer or Medicare overall it seems like there's a there's a big mountain to climb there.
-- out frankly.
I think we'll probably try everything else.
That isn't going to do that job of providing product adequate quality healthcare for all America's.
And finally at the end of the day it will do something sensible like a Medicare for for.
-- had to take to get there.
Well I think that -- been make some progress when the full you know -- -- I would we would embrace frankly obamacare because I believe that we will look back on the day -- Obama care is viewed as a good thing.
I -- an -- calling it obamacare right we know that that was invented by those on the right using it there is of -- everybody says it is a shortcut way to say it.
But you think that that will be a good first step toward where we need to -- I absolutely do I think when people get a -- that everybody don't know what have to work has been having to worry about pre existing.
Conditions.
That there's -- actually be help for all people to be able to afford to get.
Health care listing that burden for for Americans I think we'll going to be looking for ways.
Increasingly to make it more efficient and make it more inclusive.
And I I I do think we're gonna end up with what every other country in the world has done which is -- true universal health care.
The question is whether or not the Affordable Care Act will stand up -- -- -- reaches reaches a Supreme Court -- those hell bent on making sure it gets there.
Will -- will will that law stand.
I think that I think the law will stand and you know and -- benefits Begin to.
To roll out.
I think it'll have more of the justice Supreme Court decision I think you'll have people -- I don't know I'm not gonna go back to the time where my mother with diabetes send my child -- -- and it's gonna be excluded from happening.
The but the kind of care that they need I don't -- that they coming.
The view a you -- you campaign -- to get on this committee this super committee that this being formed.
I haven't really campaign for and I certainly -- -- I I would.
Principles.
Commission.
You know I've learned a lot -- it and feel like a -- I can -- found some expertise that's.
You know what I'm.
That committee or -- -- by the way the Illinois.
GOP has started the petition drive specifically this agent's account.
-- -- Yeah at least I am amazed.
But.
You know I'm gonna keep pushing these kinds proposals my fair tax my -- still.
And and try and an influence be the debate a randomized tonight at dinner and -- have a great suggestion.
That that committee should -- not only in Washington but -- -- get out of Washington.
And and see what's going in in the heartland -- and around this country when it comes to the economy while it's making its decision.
What is your opinion of the people chosen so far to be on this so called super committed.
-- -- -- like the six are Republicans said the intact are not for the be amenable to any kind.
Revenue increase.
To have any kind of thing that is it is this gonna move the market is gonna move the ball Porter did was this just be another committee that's stock.
-- two opposing sides -- -- company great.
They -- it if the committee can't come up with the the prescribes.
Cotts of the the whole thing really called me anyway because the problem we have.
Is not the overspending right now you know -- we fell into that trap -- we we need to get out of it but if they can't come up.
With that deficit reductions.
And it bit dated you know supposedly to do -- by revenue increases that.
State triggers.
Lead to automatic.
Automatic -- and and defense and in you know these Medicare company and let will be -- that's the table.
And that purpose there was to make the incentives.
To come up with an agreement with Intel and it got six Republicans on their -- no way I would get federated anybody's taxes Africa -- they -- Or how you know being an oil company they are.
I it's gonna be -- Well Ali the poll shows of Tea Party losing altitude hopefully people Begin to realize but the right wing is doing in the center right now is not -- their best interest.
And always amazes me -- about twenty seconds here that people for whom.
Where their best interest of not being -- some of them still go for these people on the right anyway He and other policies aren't helping them.
-- go out with a with a -- a bold populist.
Progressive.
Economic map that we can't -- those people.
