Story highlights "Any good idea that is presented, we have to be open-minded to receive it," Crist said

Trump plans to charge a 35% tariff for "any business that leaves our country"

Washington (CNN) Congressman-elect Charlie Crist said he is willing to consider President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariff on businesses for the sake of keeping jobs in the United States.

"Whatever it is that we come to to help American workers get back to work and help the middle class and our country, we need to do it together and do it in a spirit of cooperation," the Florida Democrat told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" in an interview that aired Sunday.

Tapper then asked if the former Florida governor is open to backing Trump's support for a 35% tax or tariff on businesses wanting to take American jobs overseas.

"Yes," Crist replied. "It's all about jobs and making sure that we have American jobs protected, we protect the American worker, give them the opportunity to be able to provide for their families, get a college education."

"Any good idea that is presented, we have to be open-minded to receive it," said Crist, who supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. "I mean, just because the messenger is somebody that was in a different party is no reason to cast it out."

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