Exclusive: US Chamber CEO on his Keystone pipeline push

This transcript is automatically generated

Yes -- it it is time to pump it up.

Not only would -- in the Keystone Pipeline helped bring down gas prices it would help bring on 250000.

New jobs.

Here -- exclusive chat US chamber of commerce president.

Great to see him on.

It seems to think the president.

When he does decide on this will decide.

Two to resume it much to environmentalists.

-- -- -- it deplorable.

I'm -- -- I think at some point as far down the road as he can push it.

It will be approved and I would say there -- three overriding reasons.

The third being the most interest thing first ball it's a great way to get more loyal.

To the right place at a reasonable price.

And have an effect on prices second.

What people don't usually think about but we true gets mentioned you've got to get the oil from the refinery and -- -- where we're venues -- refining his.

Really you're not connect camp that says keystone -- really.

All the candidates benefit -- It's to our benefit -- so those environmentalists say we get very little bang for the buck and and destroy the environment in the meantime you say.

I say to suggest that that's what these destroys the environment.

And doesn't recognize that we're the only major.

Sophisticated economy.

That has been improving our environment for a long period of time including year.

The big other issue on why we have to do this our relationship.

Can.

Who are extraordinary.

People in helping the United States all the time and we helping them -- will be seriously deteriorated the.

Yeah it's really -- that a big issue with them -- -- -- would forget they look at the Canadian -- there did.

I don't have a revolution against us if we turn this thing down why isn't so big did that because that.

-- the issue again will this must be more important to capita than it is to us.

Now I think in the big issue with them now it's gotten personal because whenever that.

We need troops here are troops there are held from the UN and all that McCain's feel that they always.

And they always get there and for long periods of time they feel they have been ignored I put secretary and secretary of state.

Kerry went out in his first meeting who has with Canadian farm insurance -- -- Is this month -- Smart strategy.

-- -- wanted to obtain -- you don't mind -- used to that partners -- this whole -- a battle over how to solve the illegal immigration mess you -- I want the Chamber's position known because it's -- -- -- within.

The Republican community what is it that that it.

You you obviously want to.

Make sure we have the right legal people here but.

Will you tell me what is the overall goal the chamber -- -- -- That's about that's only solving a mess since about.

Filling a fundamental need you know 101000 people in day retiring United States every day we're an aging population now we have eleven.

Maybe eleven million workers -- in the United States from -- have lots of companies and countries that are here illegally.

And we have to get some form of legalization so that we can -- things citizenship.

But they have have ID we -- to be -- to get their taxes we have BO puts in the work.

Well this had on him or know -- again and some who think interpret that -- the -- way of saying.

Any any such -- high tech -- we can get particularly.

Is better from over there we don't have -- over here -- speed up the process so we.

You know on the high tech labor we train them in our university.

And we used to keep them.

Now they're going home had to work elsewhere and if we can't keep enough of them.

Then there's no choice but to send the -- win them.

Where the workers are.

You don't want to Chase Utley were well no not at all now on the other hand we need a lot of workers on the other end of the system.

Particularly.

Part time workers who work and seasonal thing ski slopes right right you know.

Entertainment places.

Agriculture.

All kinds of people in California are growing their plants now -- And in Mexico and moving them -- and -- so it's not a chamber of quest for cheap labor -- not at all article how would -- be making a deal.

With a trunk -- the runs -- AF of LC IO of it was a question cheap labor it's a quest for competent labor read over work.

Then while -- -- -- Jeff Sessions Republican senator who's normally a fan of the chambers surprise a lot of folks with this statement about the chambers.

Immigration position -- -- you respond as the -- -- ago.

Has never been to establish a lawful immigration system and secure our borders put together what's cheap labor as possible regardless of out impacts American workers.

Legal immigrants and taxpayers and generally goes on to say normally.

I commend the chamber reports initiatives and Lotta good it does this is -- example of that what's -- you.

I suggested.

-- Probably had a staff -- -- didn't know what Kelly was talking about.

So the impression that you represented business interests who don't.

Care about what kind labor gets as long.

As it's more likely cheap labor.

It's better than we alternative we have been trying to get it rational immigration program.

For three president.

Now.

We need to stop for a minute and remember who we -- We -- a nation of immigrants.

Of people -- had the courage to come here.

To bring their skills and hard work here and you track the extraordinary success in this economy oval all of our time.

And you'll find immigrants at a critical place do you think whoever.

And whatever we do with these millions who are here illegally.

On the president says they would go and that's -- the back of the line and citizenship process put many of crunch the numbers and looked at the various ways you'd get there that they.

Many could move ahead but look on that line and that's not -- but he just let me.

The legal more fundamentally if those people that are here have to have some legal status as long was not people who -- you are.

You know because they're criminals or something but a lot of states have different steps -- -- by the definition of having those documents wouldn't they be movie technically.

Sort of Frontline.

I'm going to I'm not going to -- that at all.

But I'm going to tell you that what we need and -- had a lot of discussion -- senate and house bipartisan.

In the business community.

Will find a way to do that in a fair and open way but if you're a citizen let's take Mexico and you decided to get on the line and come here legally could take you 25 year.

You're right about it who say it's that you want to know -- quite as it is is.

I could see some Republicans points that you you do -- -- -- to the Obama approach to this then then then there there for a.

You know I don't run the Republican National Committee.

What I do is represent the American business community who believe that one of the three fundamental things in an enterprise economy.

Is human capital and we don't have enough of it.

That and that doesn't -- like announced it absolutely you would be dead set against look I it would work.

Yeah I am and decides I don't want -- situation against everybody you know they think they better hurry up here.

Before it happens and you know winning most of them come them from overboard and most people get a decent -- in the United States and then disappear.

And that's a lot we can do about that but where we are now we desperately need -- Legalities system we need high tech people we need.

You know special part time and seasonal workers why do you think that -- my extraordinary.

Any discussions and working relationship on this subject.

With mr.

trump prompted that runs AF of LC IO because we both understand this is all about human capital.

Welfare analysis into the ticking everybody.

How well listen I've done that before dislike you all right it's always good seats on -- thank you never let it create.

Watch Live

Exclusive: US Chamber CEO on his Keystone pipeline push

Details

Clips

Powerful Politics

Obama pushing spending amid scandals

Trump's advice for dealing with Washington scandals

Mounting similarities between Benghazi and Watergate?

Rep. Bachmann demanding answers on Washington scandals

Growing pressure on Obama to get in front of latest scandals

Rep. Gowdy: Holder had 'a lot' of explaining to do

Health care law under scrutiny amid widening IRS probe

Enron whistle-blower on controversies looming in Washington

Romney donor claims unfairly targeted by IRS

Sen. McCain on Benghazi, IRS scandals

Ohio lawmaker calls IRS targeting GOP a 'crime'

Benghazi probe an effort to undermine Hillary Clinton?

Transcript

Recommended