Here & Now

Chris Larson Discusses New Leadership Role

Frederica Freyberg:
Meanwhile, over in the senate, the Democrats elected a new minority leader this week, Senator Chris Larson. He joins us by phone from Washington, D.C. Senator, thanks a lot for being so.

Chris Larson:

Thank you very much. Happy to be here.

Frederica Freyberg:

Well, I wanted to ask you first what your reaction was to Governor Scott Walker’s decision to reject developing a health care exchange in Wisconsin.

Chris Larson:

Well, I mean, it’s one of disappointment. Look, I think if a lot of Wisconsinites wanted to see what we could do by setting up our own exchange, something made in Wisconsin, something that would be uniquely us. We prided ourselves on being, I think, the second highest rate of insurance in the country for any states, we wanted to continue that tradition by showing our own Badger way of how we could do it, and I think it’s unfortunate that Governor Walker punted on this one for somebody else to solve the problem. Now, I think that the feds will do okay job. I just think that, you know, it would have been nice if we could have actually, you know, jumped in there and done it. What was interesting is there’s actually unique coalition of people who wanted to see this, including many in the business community and many in the health care industry, who wanted to see this happen. I think they’re disappointed as well.

Frederica Freyberg:

Moving along to your new status as minority leader. Some majority Republicans regard you as, a gift because of your inexperience. What is your reaction to that?

Chris Larson:

Well, look, I think we ended up, through my leadership, we ended up electing seven new people into the assembly this last session. And, yeah may be young, yeah, I may you new, but what I make up lack there, I make up there in energy. And I like being an underdog. I like being able to get out there and prove people wrong. And I think a lot of folks are going to take their comments back. We’ve reached out to the Republicans and trying to find ways to start working together and talk to them about, look where our shared value are going to line up, and what a we can do. Hopefully, it’s not a sign of things to come and a refusal to work in a bipartisan way. But time will tell.

Frederica Freyberg:

I did want to ask you why you wanted to be minority leader and how you will do that differently?

Chris Larson:

Well, I saw the challenge that we have ahead, and being somebody who is young and somebody who is invested in the long-term future of our state, I wanted to make sure we’re set out on the right course for Progressives, for Democrats and for our state. And what’s exciting about it is, it just two years ago I ran against my own party and had a lot of people fighting against me. After we won that, I was able to get out there and earn the support, and earn the respect of my colleagues, in getting the vote earlier this week to lead them. And I think I’m uniquely qualified to do that. And being able to corral all of the experience that we have, and use all the energy I’ve got, to move Wisconsin and move progressive ideas and our values of fighting for the middle class, of fighting for women, and fighting for folks who are down for a little bit in our society, and fighting for those in education. And making sure that they have a voice in our state.

Frederica Freyberg:

All right. Well, Senator Chris Larson, thanks very much for joining us.

Chris Larson:

Thank you.