Here & Now

Baldwin on New Administration

Frederica Freyberg:

Wednesday brought pomp and circumstance to the nation’s Capital, but under very different circumstances for presidential inauguration. Because of COVID-19 and extraordinary security measures, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president without the crowds and under a majorly enhanced police and military protection after the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol two weeks prior. Biden got down to work right away with a raft of executive orders, including at least ten pertaining to COVID-19. Those include easier access to COVID-19 vaccines at local pharmacies, using the Defense Production Act to address vaccine and PPE supply shortfalls, establishing a COVID-19 Equity Task Force, reimbursing states for 100% of the cost of deploying National Guard troops and buttoning down OSHA guidelines for workplace safety.

The new president says his priorities are COVID-19 and the economy. We check in with U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin who also finds her party in the majority in the Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic tie-breaker. Senator, thanks very much for being here.

Tammy Baldwin:

It’s a pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Frederica Freyberg:

So before we get down to brass tax, we’re now in day three of the Biden administration and a Democratic Senate majority although one now grappling over power-sharing as you well know, but how does it feel?

Tammy Baldwin:

Well, it feels hopeful. It feels like a page has turned and a new chapter is beginning, especially as we find ourselves in so many crises at the same time. The opportunity to really get to the other side of this pandemic and get our economy back on track, but building it back better, with greater equity and inclusion and all of that feels very hopeful to me.

Frederica Freyberg:

Now, the articles of impeachment will go to the Senate for a trial of Donald Trump on Monday. In your mind, does this timetable get in the way of President Biden moving his agenda quickly?

Tammy Baldwin:

I do think that we can work hopefully across the aisle to create a schedule for the impeachment trial and keep a schedule for assisting President Biden by confirming his cabinet nominees and helping him set up a functioning administration and federal government. Now, it’s been so hollowed out in the waning days of the Trump administration with secretaries resigning and people leaving the federal government. And given the crises we face, it’s really critical that we be able to do both of those critical tasks at the same time.

Frederica Freyberg:

Back to that day of the insurrection, what was it like for you?

Tammy Baldwin:

You know, I was on the Senate floor. Prior to walking on the Senate floor, I had gazed out one of the Capitol windows and saw large crowds of people headed up to — from the White House to the Capitol. But they were all outside when I entered the Senate chamber. It was very frightening to have it locked down and our proceedings interrupted. Vice President Pence whisked away. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris whisked away. We were just all told the safest place for us to be would be to remain in the Senate chamber with all the doors locked. Of course, shortly thereafter plans changed again and we were encouraged to leave and leave quickly. It was only afterwards when we started seeing images on television that it really I think hit home how close we came to a direct confrontation with the rioters and those participating in this insurrection.

Frederica Freyberg:

Terrifying. What is your position on getting rid of the filibuster or reforming it to allow legislation to pass?

Tammy Baldwin:

You know, I believe that we want to start out, just as the president said in his inaugural address, working together and recognizing the enormity of the crises we’re facing and endeavoring to work together to pass legislation to address the suffering that’s going on right now, the pandemic and the economic recovery. If not, we do have a tool at our disposal called reconciliation, and if we’re unable to especially pass this rescue plan, I think we will have to seriously look at using the reconciliation process to pass things with a simple majority.

Frederica Freyberg:

Because what is your expectation that that nearly $2 trillion COVID rescue package could move forward in a bipartisan manner without going to go to, say, reconciliation?

Tammy Baldwin:

Well, there’s certainly going to be key elements that I hope we can all agree on. You know, the expiration of certain programs on March 14 of next year was a number, it seems, or date pulled out of a hat. What we have to do is align our programs and our relief and our rescue to the pandemic and how long it remains gripping the United States. And so things like that, in my mind, should be — we should be able to achieve agreement on those. We also want to get the vaccine out and in people’s arms as quickly as possible. We know that we have not allocated sufficient funds to make that happen. So these are all things that I hope we can come together on. Small businesses that may close if we don’t continue some small business relief. And getting people back to work. All are critical elements that should have bipartisan support. But, again, if they don’t, we’ll look at budget reconciliation to get it done.

Frederica Freyberg:

So on the economy, a priority of yours is an expanded “Buy America” program minus kind of the loopholes. What are you urging President Biden to do on this, with about a minute left?

Tammy Baldwin:

Well, two things. First of all, we saw how problematic it was at the beginning of the pandemic that we were reliant on manufacturers across the globe for things that we no longer produced in America, whether that was N95 masks or gowns and gloves, tests, reagents, swabs. We can’t do that anymore. We have to be self-reliant, especially in a global pandemic. But we see this also as we look towards building back better with a renewed investment in infrastructure. Taxpayer dollars should not go overseas when we need jobs here in the United States of America. So taxpayer dollars should be spent on American workers and American products as we build back our nation better.

Frederica Freyberg:

All right. We leave it there. Senator Tammy Baldwin, thanks very much for joining us.

Tammy Baldwin:

Thank you.