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President Biden Proposes First Part of Infrastructure Spending Bill; Justice Department Investigating Congressman Matt Gaetz for Possible Sex Trafficking Violations; Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) is Interviewed on Trump's Failures in Pandemic Response and Biden's Massive Infrastructure and Jobs Plan; Pfizer Reports Vaccine 100 Percent Effective in Kids Aged 12 to 15. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired March 31, 2021 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[08:00:00]

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: So what our focus, we're in a different stage now, clearly, than we were a year ago, and we've still seen encouraging outcomes in a lot of places. But what our focus is on is getting this vaccine out to states, our to pharmacies. We've doubled, more than doubled the number of pharmacies who have access to the vaccine. We've invested in mass vaccination sites, community health centers, because the more quickly people can be vaccinated, the more quickly we can go back to normal.

But we also know that people need to be vigilant now. We know people are frustrated. They're tired of sacrificing. We get that completely here. But we need to keep at it. And that's why you saw Dr. Walensky, the president reiterate that earlier this week.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Dr. Walensky was very concerned. So just to be clear, no push from the White House to close anything while we get our arms around this?

PSAKI: I think what should be clear is our push is to follow public health guidelines. So when you're seeing states roll back mask mandates, that's not abiding by public health guideline. When you're seeing reopening prematurely, that's not abiding by public health guidelines. So we're conveying that clearly to governors, but we're also conveying that clearly to businesses, to local leaders. Even in states where governors have rolled back these requirements, Alisyn, there are businesses, there are mayors, there are local leaders who are keeping them in place because they know it will save lives, that it will help return the communities to normal.

CAMEROTA: OK, let's talk about your big announcement today on infrastructure. This is part one, and here's what we believe is in it. You can correct this if it's wrong. It is $650 billion for physical infrastructure, $300 billion housing infrastructure, $300 billion manufacturing, $300 billion to work on the electrical grid, $400 billion for home care takers, care for the elderly, disabled. And the cost of part one is $2.25 trillion. So just quickly, what's the price tag for part two? PSAKI: We're not quite there yet. In a couple of weeks, the president

will roll out that proposal. But the second proposal will focus on more on childcare, more on caregiving, more on addressing the costs and accessibility of health care. He knows those are key components of addressing what many families are going through, and frankly what we see as a crisis which is the number women who have left the workforce because of childcare needs, because of elder care needs. So it will hopefully help address that.

But the proposal today will be focused on investing in infrastructure, a historic investment in infrastructure. And as you noted in your rundown of the numbers there, it's more than roads, railways, and bridges. It's also broadband. One-third of the country doesn't have access to broadband. It's also ensuring people have access to clean water, something that should be a human right in this country. So there are several components that will be a job creator. But it's an historic investment that we're really excited about.

CAMEROTA: As you know, the price tag is the sticking point. That's the nonstarter for certainly many Republicans, such as Senator Mitch McConnell. So let me just play for you what he said about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL, (R-KY) SENATE MINORITY LEADER: They want to do another massive spending bill which will include additional debt and, by the way, big tax increases on companies like this one. So I think this new Democratic government is heading in the wrong direction. The economy is getting better on its own. People are moving around. You're seeing it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Very quickly, before I get to his reluctance on this, is he right, that the economy is already getting better on its own, therefore, you might not need something this big?

PSAKI: Look, Alisyn, I think the 10 million people who are still out of work would disagree. And certainly, we're seeing some positive signs. We're seeing some positive signs in the data. But there's no question that more needs to be done. And this is about creating jobs now. It's also about investing in industries of the future so that the next generation and workers of the future can have industries that they can have long careers in.

CAMEROTA: So do you think you have a realistic chance of getting any Republicans on board with this price tag?

PSAKI: Let's start on the areas where we agree. I think on infrastructure, one-third of our bridges around the country need to be rebuilt, need repairs. I think people can agree, Republicans, Democrats, independents, people who aren't even political, we need to do something about that. One-third of people in this country don't have access to broadband. There's agreement we need do something about that in rural areas, underserved communities. So let's talk about that investment and then figure out how to pay for it. Some people may think we don't need to pay for it. Some people may have alternative ideas.

What the president proposed is changes to make the corporate tax code more fair, bring the rate from 21 percent up to 28 percent, what it was before former President Trump took office, and disincentivize sending jobs overseas, something I think most Americans don't think we should be doing anyway. If people have alternative proposals, we're happy to hear them. Let's talk about them. This is just the beginning of a process.

CAMEROTA: How about the -- not only do you have intransigent Republicans about this. Some Democrats, some swing-state Democrats don't like the idea of taxes being raised, and some blue state Democrats say that they have something they want in return.

[08:05:08]

And what they want are those state and local tax deductions restored. Here's what Tom Suozzi says of New York. "No SALT, no deal. I'm not going to support any change in the tax code unless there is a restoration of the SALT deductions." So he means that your idea of raising taxes to pay for this infrastructure is a no-go with him unless he gets that. What's your response?

PSAKI: Let's hear his ideas. We're open to hearing them. The reducing the SALT deduction, eliminating it, is not a revenue raiser, so it wouldn't pay for any proposal. But my question is, he or anyone who has concerns already, do they not think that we should invest in infrastructure, that we should do an historic investment in infrastructure? Do they think the number of people who are out of work is acceptable? Do they think it's OK that one-third of the country doesn't have broadband? If they agree, we need to address these issues, let's work together on it. Let's figure out how to pay for it. That's how you get legislation done. That's how democracy should work. So we're open to having that conversation. We expect this to be a bit of a journey.

CAMEROTA: But how about the debt and deficit? I know that Republicans always find religion on this whenever it's a Democratic president, I get that. But what about Democrats? Are you telling Americans that for the next decade, they're going to have to get comfortable with ballooning deficits and debt?

PSAKI: Well, actually, the president's proposing a way to pay for his historic. Making the corporate tax code more fair. He believes that the number of people, the number of companies that didn't pay taxes in the last couple of years is just insane. And most Americans would agree. We need to change that. We shouldn't incentivize companies sending jobs overseas. We can make changes in the tax code. And all of those things will help pay for historic infrastructure investment. So he believes it's responsible to propose a way to pay for it and to pay for his plan. So that's going to be a part of his speech today.

CAMEROTA: Jen, I know that you've said that President Biden is watching the Derek Chauvin trial closely. What has struck him so far from it? PSAKI: Well, I think, Alisyn, anyone who heard the testimony of the

young girl yesterday, that sticks with you. It gave me chills, I'll tell you, hearing her testimony. And I think the president was so struck when this horrific event happened last year. And he spoke about how it just exposed a hole in this country, how it reminded him and reiterated his own personal commitment to making equity a part of what we do in this government, addressing racial equity. It's not just about one horrific incident and one horrific death, as we saw in this case. It's also about ensuring we as the federal government are making equity, addressing racial injustice a part of what we do every single day, putting policies in place, making sure there are people at the table, working with Congress to get necessary police reforms done. And it's just a reminder of how much trust needs to be rebuilt in society and in communities.

So he has been watching it, as we all have been, thanks to you guys showing it all day and others. But he's been struck, I think, as we all have been by really the heartfelt testimonies.

CAMEROTA: And I know in the days after George Floyd's death, President Biden, at the time candidate, and the vice president, visited the Floyd family.

PSAKI: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Does he have plans to reach out to them again?

PSAKI: I don't have any -- he obviously knows this family is going through watching the trial of somebody who without this action their loved one would be alive, right? So he knows that they're going through a difficult time right now. I don't have anything to predict in terms of a visit with them or outreach. He did speak with them at the time. He's thinking of them. He was struck by their courage, by their grace. And that's something that has stuck with him since last year.

CAMEROTA: Jen Psaki, we really appreciate all of your time. Thank you.

PSAKI: My pleasure. Thanks, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Thanks so much for covering all this.

So Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz is under investigation for allegedly having some sort of illegal, improper sexual relationship with a minor? His denial is raising a lot of questions this morning. We have the latest, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:13:08]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MATT GAETZ, (R-FL): It is a horrible allegation, and it is a lie. "The New York Times" is running a story that I have traveled with a 17-year-old woman, and that is verifiably false. People can look at my travel records and see that that is not the case. What is happening is an extortion of me and my family involving a former Department of Justice official.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN AVLON, CNN ANCHOR: Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz denying allegations he had an illegal relationship with a 17-year-old girl. "The New York Times" reporting the Justice Department opened an investigation last summer into whether Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws, and that's in the final months of the Trump administration.

Joining me to discuss this, but a lot more, is House Majority Whip Congressman Jim Clyburn. Congressman Clyburn, before we get to infrastructure, an investigation you're doing, issues of voting rights and the filibuster, I want to just get your take on these troubling and bizarre allegations being denied by Congressman Gaetz that he's been under investigation by the Justice Department, and whether you think specifically this is something that the Office of Congressional Ethics should be looking into.

REP. JAMES CLYBURN, (D-SC) HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP: First of all, thank you very much for having me. Yes, I do think that Congressional Ethics Office needs to look into this because it seems that no one was thinking about him. They were investigating another corrupt politician down there in Florida and ran across information indicating that something was going on involving Gaetz. So he was not the target here. Someone else was.

So I think that someone needs to get to the bottom of all of this because I think Gaetz has been speaking out pretty loudly recently. And since this started -- this investigation started with the Trump administration, it may be explaining why he was deeply and so articulately involved with Trump during all of these allegations last year.

[08:15:08]

AVLON: We shall see, as they say. But now, let's move on to a committee that you are leading, a look into really the Trump administration's record with regard to these critical supply shortages at the beginning of the pandemic.

I want to read an excerpt from a letter that you've sent and get an update on where this stands. It says: These documents provide further evidence that the Trump administration failed to implement a national strategy to alleviate critical supply shortages that were putting American lives at risk and pursued a haphazard and ineffective approach to procurement.

What have you learned today?

CLYBURN: We have learned that the Trump administration's failure to develop a national policy as they were urged to do resulted in a hodgepodge of activity going on. Each state left to its own innovations and it resulted in a failed policy.

You may recall he famously said, we are not shipping clerks, implying that he was not there to coordinate things and get things out to the states, but simply to shirk his responsibility and leave the states on their own. So, we sent him a letter.

AVLON: In fact -- in fact, we have that clip from President Trump just to refresh folks' memories.

CLYBURN: Sure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT: The federal government is not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping. You know, we're not a shipping clerk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AVLON: So that dismissive approach, obviously, ended up having really large effects on our ability to respond. My question to you as you've engaged in this fact-finding, are you encouraging the Biden administration to develop a national strategy? And specifically, what about domestic manufacturing of critical supplies?

CLYBURN: Absolutely. Made in America has been the theme of the Biden administration, the theme of mine for a long time. We believe, especially in a field like medicine, and we need to develop things here in this country. We need to manufacture things in this country.

When you start talking about life-saving machinery, I'd much rather see that close to home than just relying on China for respirators when we know we are kind of leery about what role China played in this in the first place.

So we want these things to be here at home. We want people who have each other's interest at heart to be involved in the process and we need to have an administration coordinating this in such a way that the American people will have confidence, not just in what their dreams and aspirations are, but in whether or not their government is doing everything it can to protect them.

AVLON: For sure.

CLYBURN: That's why we're asking the Biden administration to do what we could not get the Trump administration to do, and that is to be transparent in these issues.

AVLON: I want to hit two other things. You just heard Jen Psaki talk about the president's big announcement, the rollout of the infrastructure plan.

Have you spoken to the president about the infrastructure plan? I know one of your big focuses is rural broadband. Do you know if that's the kind of thing that's going to be included? What kind of input you've had? CLYBURN: Absolutely.

AVLON: Go ahead.

CLYBURN: Absolutely. What we call the accessible, affordable broadband for all, that program passed the House last year. It's going to pass the House again, and I think the Senate, Senator Amy Klobuchar has presented that bill on the Senate side, and it is going to be a part of this effort.

As Jen said this morning, we cannot expect rural communities to get the health care that they need, their children to get the education that they need, if we do not have broadband. I think broadband to the 21st century is what electricity was to the 20th century.

AVLON: No question.

CLYBURN: So I have been pushing that now for almost ten years, and I am pleased to see that the Biden administration has decided that it is going to treat the information highway the same way it streets the interstate highway.

AVLON: That's the -- the more expansive and forward-looking view of infrastructure for sure.

Finally, I want to discuss voting rights, an issue near and dear to your heart and to the country's conscience. You have raised the issue of creating an exception to the filibuster, filibuster reform that would put issues of civil rights and voting rights outside the 60-vote threshold.

You've also been an advocate for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, saying, look, if HR-1 doesn't pass, let's move that forward.

[08:20:01]

Have you discussed that filibuster reform, the specific exception of civil rights and voting rights with President Biden? If so, what was his response?

CLYBURN: Well, I have not discussed it with President Biden personally. I discussed it with several members of his staff because I feel very strongly that when it comes to voting rights, constitutional issues like civil rights, it ought not be sacrificed at the altar of filibusters.

I know the history of filibuster. We all know the history of filibusters. Strom Thurmond was a South Carolinian who set the filibuster record, 24 hours and 18 minutes, I believe. That record was set over a Civil Rights Act of 1957. Not '64, not '65. 1957.

Nothing but a basic philosophy that he filibusters against. He left the Democratic Party because his filibuster was not successful.

I keep telling people, it's the Democrats did this. No. Strom Thurmond left the Democratic Party because the Democratic Party refused to adhere to his foolishness and the Democratic Party still will not adhere to this kind of foolishness.

It's the Republican Party that seems to want to suppress voting rights and we will not have any of that in the Democratic Party.

AVLON: Well, we will see if that legislation moves forward, but certainly the urgency could not be clearer.

Congressman Jim Clyburn, thank you so much for joining us on NEW DAY, sir.

CLYBURN: Thank you very much for having me.

AVLON: All right. Pfizer releasing the results of coronavirus vaccine trials on teens. So, how soon could they start getting shots? We're going to discuss this big news, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:25:45]

CAMEROTA: We do have some breaking news.

Drugmaker Pfizer just announcing the results of its vaccine trial for adolescents. It says its coronavirus shot was 100 percent effective at preventing infection, sickness, among 12 to 15-year-olds.

This could be a major game changer for reopening schools across America.

So, joining us is Dr. Chris Pernell. She's a public health physician and fellow at the American College of Preventative Medicine.

Dr. Pernell, great to see you. A hundred percent effective? Is that -- I mean, John and I haven't heard numbers like that. Is that unusual to find that efficacy rate?

DR. CHRIS T. PERNELL, PUBLIC HEALTH PHYSICIAN: Well, that's even higher than what we were reporting when we had 95 percent efficacy in adults. Look, we know these mRNA vaccines are a game changer. The technology is different and very promising.

But then again, these results haven't been peer-reviewed. The FDA will comb through the data and will be able to verify if it's 100 percent effective. But bottom line, those are remarkable results.

AVLON: I mean, it's 100 percent. I mean, you know, it does not get any better. This one goes to 11.

So my question is, what does that mean for opening schools in particular? Because that's been one of the real stumbling blocks for families. Even amid this new variant. It's been a real frustration for the Biden administration, despite their vaccine numbers. So how do you see that playing out, given the age group?

PERNELL: So we'll still need to focus on distribution and administration of doses when and if those vaccines also get approved under emergency use authorization. But what we know and what we've learned from the adult satisfaction plan is that logistical planning has to start now. Logistical planning has to think through those equity issues to ensure that black and brown children are getting vaccinated at comparable rates as others. And we have to ensure that parents accept this data, that parents believe that this science is valid and they're eager to see their children be vaccinated.

Bottom line, we want to return to as much as normal as we can and we're hopeful we can do that.

CAMEROTA: Is there any way to predict this morning when my 14-year- old son would be able to be vaccinated?

PERNELL: You know, I can't give you 100 percent accurate prediction, but I'm really impressed if I can say by how much science is accumulating real-world evidence. And so, it will be really encouraging if we're able to get adolescents vaccinated by late summer, early fall. And if that's the case, then we'll see even younger age groups, perhaps those in the 5 to 11-year-old age range vaccinated by the end of this year or the first quarter of the following year.

So let's just keep faith. Let's stay vigilant and let's keep exercising hope.

AVLON: That's right. Vigilance is key. And that's an important part of the reason we've seen an uptick. People letting their foot off the gas a little bit. But this news is extraordinary.

It's 12 to 15, but if it can apply to kids even younger and certainly older, that is a game changer.

So, when you say late summer, that indicates that schools and universities logistically should be able to open. And that means that, is there any barrier you can see to that full implementation? Either bureaucratic from the FDA or the issue that these are minors and you could have some parents resisting compliance.

How do you deal with that as a public health professional?

PERNELL: You think about the real world scenarios, right, John? So we were just talking about how Pfizer is promoting that the vaccine is 100 percent effective. That's under the clinical trials.

Real-world scenarios will also have to consider logistics. Real world scenarios will have to consider acceptance. Real world scenarios will have to consider confidence.

So we in public health have to continue to message, message in plainspoken terms, continue to communicate the efficacy and communicate the urgency and the need to stay ahead of variants. We see B.1.1.7 actually exploding across the nation and we see a rise in over 26 states.

So helping parents to understand that their children are a part of that community immunity will be very important. But, likewise, states, regions, municipalities, institutions, schools, will need to be poised and ready to execute on a distribution plan when that vaccine.