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♪ >> STEPHEN: WELCOME BACK.
JOINING ME THIS EVENING IS A SENATOR WHO HAS REPRESENTED THE
STATE OF NEW YORK FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
PLEASE WELCOME SENATE MINORITY LEADER, CHUCK SCHUMER!
SENATOR, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
HOW ARE YOU RIDING OUT YOUR QUARANTINE?
>> I AM HERE AT MY HOUSE.
I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE WEEKS.
WE FINISHED THE COVID BILL, THREE -- FIVE WEEKS AGO
WEDNESDAY AT 9:30.
VOTED AT 10:30.
COULDN'T WAIT TO GET HOME AND BE WITH MY FAMILY.
I HAVE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.
I'VE ONLY TUMPED VOWR HUMANS IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS.
MY WIFE, DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW AND MY 16-MONTH-OLD GRANDSON.
I WORK 24-7.
I SLEEP ABOUT THREE HOURS, THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.
THE MOST EXHAUSTING HOUR IS THE HOUR I'M ASSIGNED TO CHASE NOAH
AROUND THE HOUSE.
WE'RE NOT CHILD PROOF ANYMORE.
HE PULSE THE BOOKS OFF THE SHELVES, BANGS THE POTS AND
PANS.
I ONLY GOT IN TROUBLE ONCE, I WAS ON THE PHONE AND HE BROKE
SOME CHINA PLATES.
NOT A HAPPY MOMENT FOR ME.
>> Stephen: WE'VE ALL BROKEN A FEW PLATES OVER THE LAST SIX OR
SEVEN WEEKS.
>> THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE KNOWN TO BE CHEESECAKE-DEPENDENT.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: I HOPE YOUR CHEESECAKE DEPENDENCY HASN'T
GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL IN QUARANTINE.
>> NO, BUT I DO THINK OF IT, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I'M GOING TO
DO WHEN ALLOWED TO RESUME NORMAL LIVES, GO TO JUNIORS, SIT AT THE
TABLE BY MYSELF, DOWN A FEW CHEESECAKES AND WASH IT DOWN
WITH AROMA PIZZA, THE BEST PIZZA ON BROOKLYN AVENUE.
>> Stephen: A MINI PIZZA WOULD MAKE A NICE FACE MASK!
>> STEPHEN, MOST STORES ARE CLOSED, AS ARE THESE.
>> Stephen: OH, GOOD.
I FOUND OUT THEY'RE BOTH GOING TO OPEN AGAIN, PRAISE GOD.
>> Stephen: YOU DON'T HAVE A STOCKPILE OF CHEESECAKES AT A
MOMENT'S NOTICE?
>> NO, WE'VE REPLACED IT WITH MISS EDIE'S SWIFT CHURN ICE
CREAM, THE COFFEE AND VANILLA BEAN.
GOOD.
>> Stephen: CHUCK SCHUMER, BROUGHT TO YOU BY EDIE'S ICE
CREAM.
>> NOT GETTING ANY MONEY FROM EITHER OF THESE PLACES.
I JUST THINK THEY'RE GOOD.
>> Stephen: NOW, SIR, TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S OFFICIAL STAY-AT-HOME GUIDELINES.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: DO YOU THINK ENDING THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES
NOW IS A GOOD IDEA.
>> NO.
>> Stephen: IS IT OVER, CAN WE START LOOKING DOOR KNOBS?
>> NO, IT'S A VERY, VERY BAD IDEA.
WE SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THE MEDICAL EXPERTS, AND THEY ALL
TELL US THAT WE SHOULD NOT GO TOO SOON BECAUSE IT WILL COME
BACK WITH A VENGEANCE, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TESTING,
STEPHEN.
THIS IS ONE OF THE KEYS HERE AND IT'S ONE OF THE MYSTERIES, AND
HUGE SHORTFALLS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
EVERY COUNTRY THAT HAS OVERCOME THIS QUICKLY HAS DONE IT WITH A
WHOLE LOT OF TESTS, AUSTRALIAN, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH KOREA,
GERMANY AND EVEN, JUNE, NEW ROCHELLE, THE PLACE WAS
QUARANTINED AND I CALLED UP THE MAYOR AND SAID WHAT'S GOING ON,
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
HE SAID IF WE COULD TEST EVERYBODY AND SEE WHO HAS THE
VIRUS, TELL THEM TO STAY INSIDE, SEE WHO DOESN'T HAVE IT, THEY
COULD GO TO WORK, WALK ON THE STREETS, SHOP IN STORES, THE
AMAZING THING, WE'VE ASKED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE A
NATIONAL PLAN FOR TESTING TO USE THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT WHERE
THEY COULD COMMANDEER THE FACTORIES AND SUPPLY CHAINS AND
REQUIRE ENOUGH TESTS BE MADE FOR EVERYBODY, THEY JUST USED IT FOR
THE MEAT FACTORIES, WHY AREN'T THEY USING IT FOR TESTING?
WE COULD HAVE ENOUGH TEST IFS THEY DID THAT.
I'VE ASKED THE PRESIDENT TO DO IT ON REPEATED OCCASIONS AND HE
HASN'T DONE IT.
I GOT A NASTY LETTER BACK ONCE BUT NO GPA.
D.P.A.>> Stephen: WE CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS UNLESS WE KNOW THE LAY
OF THE LAND.
>> FIEF ONE'S AFRAID TO GO OUT, NO ONE'S SHOPPING AT THE STORES
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE TESTING, WHAT GOOD IS IT GOING
TO DO IS THIS IT'S A MYSTERY.
AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS IDEOLOGY, I DON'T WANT TO
COMMAND PRIVATE INDUSTRY WHAT TO DO, ALTHOUGH TRUMAN USED IT IN
WORLD WAR II AND OTHERS USED IT AS WELL.
BUT HE WAS RESISTANT.
NOW HE DID IT WITH THE MEAT FACTORIES, WHY CAN'T HE DO IT
FOR TESTING WHICH IS ESSENTIAL?
I DON'T GET IT.
NO ONE GETS IT.
>> Stephen: MITCH McCONNELL HAS CALLED THE SENATE BACK TO
VOTE ON JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS, AND I KNOW SOME SENATORS ARE SAY
I THEY MAY NOT GO BACK.
CAN YOU SAY I WON'T COME BACK OR DO YOU HAVE TO GO BACK IF THE
SENATE GETS CALLED BACK TO SESSION?
>> I'M GOING BACK AS MINORITY LEADER.
BUT IF WE GO BACK, LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT COVID.
WE SHOULD HAVE TOUGH, STRONG HEARINGS.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL DR. BIRX AND FAUCI BEFORE US WITHOUT
TRUMP HOVERING OVER THEM AND CORRECTING THEM AND ASK THEM
ABOUT THE TESTING AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I'D LIKE TO BRING THE HEAD OF THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION BEFORE THE HEARING AND SAY WHY ARE THE BIG
SHOTS GETTING IT AND NOT THE LITTLE BUSINESSES, THE BUTCHER,
BAKER, CANDLE STICK MAKER?
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE SECRETARY OF LABOR AND SAY HOW DO WE GET
THE UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS OUT FASTER?
INSTEAD, MITCH McCONNELL HAS A PROTOJAY, A FRIEND IN KENTUCKY,
HE WANTS TO PUT A VERY RIGHT-WING JUDGE ON THE SECOND
MOST COURT IN THE LAND, THE COURT OF APPEALS, IT HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH COVID, AND THE GUY WAS RATED UNQUALIFIED BY THE BAR
ASSOCIATION.
THAT'S WHY HE'S CALLING US BACK.
IF WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK, WE OUGHT TO BE FOCUSING ON COVID
AND MAKING THINGS BETTER?
WHAT'S HE LIKE WHEN THE CAMERAS AREN'T ON?
>> HE, LOOK, I TRY TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY, AND -- BUT HE'S
NOT VERY TALKATIVE.
LET'S PUT IT LIKE THAT.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
NOW, YOU WANT THE NEXT BILL TO BE LIKE THE $2 TRILLION
CARES ACT.
>> YEAH?
WHAT SHOULD THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS -- HOW SHOULD IN T
UNITED STATES CONGRESS ALLOCATE THE NEXT 2 THERE WILL TRL --
>> RIGHT, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE SHOULD HAVE IN IT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER ARE FAIR
AND SAFE AND FREE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T WANT TO GO TO FOLLOWS.
WE OUGHT TO HAVE MAIL BALLOTS FOR EVERYONE, BUT WE OUGHT TO
ALLOW PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO TO FOLLOWS TO BE THERE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE SOME TO HAVE THE BARRIERS, THE STATE OF
ALABAMA, TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE MAIL, YOU NEED A NOTARY PUBLIC
TO CERTIFY.
WHY IS THAT DONE?
TO PREVENT MINORITIES AND POOR PEOPLE FROM VOTING.
THREE THINGS.
THE SECOND THING IS WE NEED A HERO'S FUND.
THESE FRONTLINE WORKERS, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM, THEY'RE
SUCH AMAZING PEOPLE, RISKING THEIR LIVES GOING TO WORK EVERY
DAY.
AND THEIR BURDENS ARE AMAZING.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN NEW YORK, EVERY NIGHT AT
7:00, ABOUT AN HOUR, WE LEAN OUT OUR WINDOWS AND WE CHEER THESE
WORKERS.
WE'RE ALL ISOLATED NOW.
WE HATE BEING ISOLATED AS NEW YORKERS.
WE LOVE TO GO TO THE PARKS AND THE SUBWAYS AND BE NEAR EACH
OTHER.
BUT AT LEAST PEOPLE ARE CHEERING.
WHO ARE WE CHEERING?
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY OF ONE GUY I TALKED TO ON THE PHONE, A
HOME HEALTHCARE WORKER.
HE TAKES CARE OF TWO ELDERLY PEOPLE AND GETS PAID A LITTLE
BIT ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE.
HE SHOULD GET MORE.
HE TOOK A BUS TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE EVERY DAY, AND HE
CARED FOR THEM.
BUT NOW, WITH COVID, THE BUS ISN'T RUNNING.
HE PUTS -- PAYS FOR A CAB TO GO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE AND COME
BACK.
HE HARDLY HAS ANY MONEY.
SO WE OUGHT TO GIVE THESE HEROES, THESE FRONTLINE WORKERS
WHETHER MEDICAL, GROCERY STORE WORKERS OR BUS DRIVERS SOMETHING
EXTRA.
WE PROPOSE EXTRA HAZARD PAY, A HERO'S FUND OF $13 AN HOUR.
THE THIRD THING WE OUGHT TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THE STATES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE MONEY.
THEY'RE GOING BROKE.
MITCH McCONNELL SAID LET THEM GO BANKRUPT.
THAT'S NOT AN ABSTRACT CONCEPT.
THESE ARE PEOPLE.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LAY OFF FIREFIGHTERS WHO PROTECT US,
POLICE OFFICERS, BUS DRIVERS, SAFETY WORKERS, HOSPITAL
WORKERS!
SO WE OUGHT TO GET REAL MONEY.
THE STATES AND LOCALITIES ARE SPENDING A TON OF MONEY ON
COVID, BUT THEY'RE ALSO NOT GETTING REVENUES BECAUSE NO
ONE'S PAYING TAXES.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DELAYED TAXES TILL JUNE 30th, SO THAT
MEANS MOST STATES DON'T GET THE TAXES EITHER BECAUSE THE TWO ARE
DONE IN SYNC.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK.
STICK AROUND, WHEN WE COME BACK, WHY THE SENATOR DOESN'T WANT
PRESIDENT TRUMP TO SIGN ALL OUR INDIVIDUAL CHECKS.
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