Who?
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) — Chair, Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee
LISTEN: Sen. Sherrod Brown
Ask a Pol asked:
How big of a priority is taking up the SAFER Banking Act in this Congress?
Key Brown:
“It’s a high priority,” Brown exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “[Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer wants to do it. I want to do it. [Ranking Republican Sen. Tim] Scott's not up for it, but plenty of members of the committee are.”
Vice President Kamala Harris’ marijuana summit?
“I don't make much of it, because I didn’t know about it,” Brown says.
Ever talked to the Vice President about SAFER?
“I’ve actually not,” Chair Brown tells Ask a Pol.
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Sherrod Brown
SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo is exiting a Senate elevator in the Capitol’s basement as Chair Brown and a staffer are entering the elevator, so Laslo tells Brown he’s staying on for their ride as he turns his mic on.
Matt Laslo: “Going back up.”
Sherrod Brown: “What an honor.”
They laugh.
ML: “What do you…”
A Senate attendant directs traffic — “head to the left” — outside the bank of elevators in the Capitol basement.
ML: “Vice President Harris, have you ever talked to her about SAFER Banking?”
SB: “I’ve actually not.”
ML: “What’d you make of her marijuana summit?”
SB: “Her what?”
ML: “She had a marijuana summit last Friday.”
SB: “I didn’t know about it.”
ML: “No?”
SB: “So I guess I don't make much of it, because I didn’t know about it.”
ML: “Did you…”
SB: “We passed legalization in Ohio, as you know, by a wide margin.”
ML: “How big of a priority is SAFER?”
SB: “It’s a high priority.”
ML: “Yeah?”
SB: “Schumer wants to do it. I want to do it. [Ranking Republican Sen. Tim] Scott's not up for it, but plenty of members of the committee are.”
Brown talking to his aide as they reach the Senate chamber.
SB: “I’ll be right here.”
Brown aide: “Alright, meet you over there.”
Brown heads in to cast a vote.
ML: “Preciate ya.”
Matt Laslo’s covered drug policy for Playboy, Rolling Stone, VICE News Tonight, Daily Beast, VICE News, etc. He’s also a new media prof. & the founder of Ask a Pol — a new, people-powered press corps.
Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. @AskaPol_drugs
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EXCLUSIVE: Banking Chair Sherrod Brown says SAFER Banking “a high priority”