Transcript: Sen. Tim Scott on “Face the Nation,” Oct. 8, 2023

The next is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Tim Scott, Republican of South Carolina and 2024 GOP presidential hopeful, that aired on “Face the Nation” on Oct. 8, 2023.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We wish to go now to South Carolina Senator and Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott. Welcome again to Face The Nation.

SENATOR TIM SCOTT: Thanks, Margaret. Good to be again with you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: , Friday’s jobs quantity shattered expectations. It confirmed some financial momentum. In truth, restaurant hospitality hiring again to pre-pandemic ranges. That appears to undercut your argument that the financial system is damaged.

SEN. SCOTT: Properly, all you must do is speak to the typical American household and ask them what they feel- how they really feel about “Bidenomics.” The reply could be very easy. We have misplaced over $5,000 of spending energy since January 2021. You can too ask them in regards to the worth of gasoline, 40% increased immediately than it was then, 20% increased to your electrical energy, 20% increased to your meals. For a man who grew up in a family with a single mom mired in poverty, while you see this sort of inflation over the past two years, it’s devastating to the typical American household. We must always at all times have a good time the creation of jobs, however we should always always remember that we went 52 consecutive paychecks, 52 consecutive paychecks with a lack of spending energy.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And also you blame political management, not the Federal Reserve?

SEN. SCOTT: Properly, if you concentrate on the truth that over the past, I suppose 12 months and a half, we have seen a 16% inflation since Joe Biden’s taken workplace, which led to 11 consecutive fee will increase, that downward strain on financial system definitely created cracks and fissures all through the financial system. That was brought on by Joe Biden’s lack of management and understanding of methods to create jobs in America. The primary quarter of this 12 months, we noticed our- progress of our financial system at one %. As the subsequent president United States, what I’ll do is give attention to creating jobs right here in America. My “Made in America” plan is the bedrock of my “construct, not borrow” by having greater than three million jobs created within the vitality sector, seeing two million jobs by means of innovation–

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Jobs aren’t the issue although.

SEN. SCOTT: – and one other 4 million jobs due to bringing excessive tech manufacturing jobs created in America by bringing our factories dwelling. I am sorry, Margaret, what did you say?

MARGARET BRENNAN: I stated jobs are not the issue, although. However- however I wish to convey up one thing particular about your financial plan as a result of the Wall Avenue Journal editorial board, which is conservative leaning, it did reward many components of it. However they zeroed in in your promise to supply the kid tax credit score to pregnant ladies, criticizing it saying “that’s social coverage masquerading as economics.” Why are they and different Republicans unsuitable?

SEN. SCOTT: Properly, here is the query. Can we wish to discover a approach to encourage life on this nation? I believe the reply is sure. Making a tradition that advantages a single mom just like the one which raised me when she will get pregnant, why not lengthen the kid tax credit score to when the mom understands that she’s pregnant? Let’s give her that profit. Each single factor that we try this encourages household and encourages moms to proceed ahead, I believe that is a superb factor. As a matter of reality, for those who have a look at the tax code of our nation, the one factor for the reason that Thirties, that we have seen in our tax code, is having the tax code create the form of America that we wish. It is one of many the explanation why in 2017, I wrote the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. One of many issues I did I took in consideration my mother, a single mom, the one mom in 2017, averaged about $40,000 per single mother, slicing her taxes by 70%, produced extra sources in order that she might put extra meals on the desk and preserve the lights on, I will by no means again down from serving to single moms just like the one which raised me and moms total, be in a greater place to deal with their households. I do not care who disagrees with that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I am questioning right here in Washington in regards to the paralysis that we’re seeing within the Home now that they don’t have a speaker they usually cannot transfer fundamental laws on a protection invoice or authorities funding till they type that out. The Senate is in recess till October 16 they usually have not handed any spending payments. So how assured are you Congress goes to keep away from a shutdown subsequent month?

SEN. SCOTT: Properly, you may have till November the 17 to determine that out, Margaret. I’ll say with none query, the street to socialism runs proper by means of a divided Republican Social gathering. When you may have 221 members of the social gathering within the Home, you want 218 to decide on a speaker. One of many issues they need to do is go behind closed doorways. Let’s determine this out upfront. I’ll give attention to making a crimson wave the place now we have higher majorities within the Home than now we have immediately, win again the bulk within the Senate and because the subsequent president of america, we’ll get the job achieved.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you may have a Speaker of the Home in thoughts?

SEN. SCOTT: I do not. One of many issues I’ve seen about these of us exterior of the Home, the very last thing we’d like are extra voices within the Home. You- you- you’re a good lady you perceive this in addition to anyone else, there are a number of factions within the Home. The very last thing we’d like are extra voices on the surface weighing in on the Home of Representatives.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So it sounds such as you disagree with Donald Trump on his determination to wade into that, you understand, one of many sticking factors on aid– 

SEN. SCOTT: — I do.

MARGARET BRENNAN: — One of many sticking factors is help to Ukraine, which I do know you may have stated is significant to U.S. pursuits. How do you persuade reluctant Republicans to signal on?

SEN. SCOTT: Properly Margaret, one of many issues that we noticed within the final help package deal that was completely lacking, was solely 4 billion {dollars} to complete the development of the wall, 5 billion {dollars} to make use of the out there military- navy grade expertise to surveil our border, to cease 70,000 People from dropping their lives within the subsequent 12 months, as a result of we noticed that within the final 12 months. So for those who have been to have the ability to, so to talk, stroll and chew gum on the identical time, for those who solved our nationwide safety problem on our southern border, along with help to Ukraine, you’d have the form of package deal that the majority People and admittedly, most members of each homes will log off on.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you’re saying moderately than make an affirmative case on Ukraine, to influence Republicans, you must provide them an incentive primarily based on the border, that they should be bundled collectively?

SEN. SCOTT: No, I am saying that our border- I am saying that our border is insecure, unsafe and broad open, as a result of that is simply the way in which Joe Biden has wished it. To ensure that us to make progress– 

(CROSSTALK) 

MARGARET BRENNAN: — However Congress additionally hasn’t legislated something to vary that.

SEN. SCOTT: — we have to cope with the national- it’s good to cope with your nationwide emergency that features our southern border. I am sorry, I could not hear you. I used to be already speaking. What’d you say?

MARGARET BRENNAN: I am sorry. I am sorry. I do know it is at all times arduous on a distant. I stated, nicely Congress additionally hasn’t legislated. 

SEN. SCOTT: Properly, now we have. I imply, frankly, the very fact of the matter is that Joe Biden has left our southern border broad open on function. It was intentional. He has not lifted a finger to do something aside from actually dump the development materials for the wall. That tells us precisely how he feels about it. It is the mayor, the mayor of- Mayor Adams of New York Metropolis, Governor Hochul, that has introduced this consideration to him, as a result of there’s an election cycle developing. And they also’re extra involved in regards to the opinions of blue states, blue cities, than they’re 70,000 People and people households who misplaced their family members due to fentanyl: one thing, if we had a wall, if we had the expertise on the border, we might save tens of 1000’s of American lives. And because the subsequent president, that is simply what I will do.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So- however you’re in Congress proper now, and it’s Congress that will write and doubtlessly transfer a few of these border payments. So what’s it that you just wish to see particularly bundled into the Ukraine help package deal that you just referenced? If- if border must be a part of it, what’s the backside line for Tim Scott?

SEN. SCOTT: Let me provide you with a number of items of that. Primary, $10 billion to complete the wall. Quantity two, 5  billion {dollars} for the navy grade expertise. Quantity three, let’s restore the “Stay in Mexico” coverage. Quantity 4, let’s reinstate some type of a Title 42, a well being emergency for fentanyl, not for COVID, in order that we will proceed to cut back the numbers. And quantity 5, let’s change the asylum coverage in order that we’re in a greater place for these searching for asylum, to first search them in a rustic contiguous with the one they’re coming from.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So this week, the Venezuelan authorities introduced that they’ve agreed to simply accept again into their nation a number of the migrants who crossed unlawfully into america. That hadn’t been taking place for a while. Do you assist that Biden administration diplomatic initiative?

SEN. SCOTT: Properly, there isn’t any doubt when the Biden administration determined to present work permits to these Venezuelans, you’d solely count on for an acceleration of extra Venezuelans coming to our nation, frankly, illegally. And so to see the Biden administration discover frequent sense is an effective factor. I want they only would have discovered it in January of 2021.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There are a variety of issues on that, that- that we might dig into, however I am cognizant of the time. And I wish to ask you- you have been on the Capitol throughout the assault on January 6, and I keep in mind vividly a picture of you, together with your eyes closed in prayer, holding fingers with then Vice President Mike Pence throughout the violence that day. Donald Trump, in fact, as you understand, did not need that election licensed. Simply this week, Liz Cheney, who was one of many January 6 investigators stated Jim Jordan knew greater than anybody else about what Trump had deliberate, quote, “if the Republicans resolve Jim Jordan ought to be Speaker of the Home, there would now not be any doable approach to argue a gaggle of elected Republicans could possibly be counted on to defend the Structure.” Does that revelation by her concern you?

SEN. SCOTT: Properly, primary, I don’t know what Jim Jordan knew or did not know. I don’t know what Liz Cheney has stated or has details in direction of. I am gonna give attention to the issues that I really know one thing about. And what I do know is that preserving the American Dream for the subsequent era is why I am operating for president. So I’ll give attention to restoring hope, creating alternatives and defending the America that we love. The innuendos and the rumors, I can not reply to these as a result of I’ve no clue what on the earth she’s speaking about, or what he did or didn’t know.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, she was one of many investigators. So presumably, it is greater than innuendo. In truth, one of many lead investigators. Are you in any respect interested by whether or not there have been complicit members of Congress?

SEN. SCOTT: Hear, I believe there’s an investigation, that a part of the process- that is a part of the method. This is what you are asking: you are asking me to weigh in on one thing that I’ve no information of. I am not going to fake to know one thing that I simply do not know.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, having- having been there that day, and clearly involved, as that picture captures, I- I wished to know the way you consider it, provided that’s fairly the allegation. And this individual is somebody as potential speaker you- you would be working with fairly immediately. And in case you are president would possibly doubtlessly should proceed working with.

SEN. SCOTT: Properly, I definitely would proceed to work with anybody who desires to place America’s agenda, America’s priorities primarily based on what the American individuals are speaking about first. Meaning wanting on the Biden financial system and discovering a approach to make it possible for that does not occur throughout my administration. It means creating jobs. I am prepared to work with the Home and the Senate, frankly, hopefully a brand new majority within the Senate, to not solely end the border wall, however to make it possible for we use the expertise that you just and I mentioned earlier. I am prepared to work with anybody on unleashing each single vitality useful resource that now we have on this nation and doubling nuclear manufacturing within the subsequent 10 years. What I am not prepared to do is to have a dialog about somebody and one thing that they supposedly know, however I haven’t got the flexibility to-to discern.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. If somebody aside from Donald Trump, like your self, wins this Republican major. Do you concern future political violence on this nation?

SEN. SCOTT: I do not. Hear, one of many issues that we should always all recognize and respect about America is that we are actually town on the hill. We’ve got a polarized America in some half. However each single place I journey, each state that I am going to, each metropolis I am in, the one factor I stroll away is I am marveling on the goodness of the American folks. Our individuals are robust, our authorities is weak. We simply have to proceed to convey this nation collectively, and that is one of many issues that I have been championing for the final 5 months, and I hope to champion as the subsequent president of america.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Tim Scott, Senator, thanks to your time immediately.

SEN. SCOTT: Sure, ma’am. Sure, ma’am.