Florida Parish News

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) discussed crime in Washington, D.C., economic policy, and the current direction of the Democratic Party during an appearance on Fox Business Network's "Mornings with Maria" from Des Moines, Iowa. Scalise criticized what he described as ineffective leadership by local Democrats in major cities and highlighted President Trump’s recent actions to address crime in the nation’s capital.

“It's been getting more and more out of control. You've got colleagues of mine, members of Congress, who have been accosted, who have been carjacked, who have been beaten. One of my colleagues had one of his interns murdered on the streets of DC just a few weeks ago. This is going on over and over again. I mean, as you saw, they put the National Guard troops in yesterday. They've already made arrests for a lot of violent crimes, including homicide. The DC mayor just let this get out of control. And this is our nation's capital. This is where people come to see their government work, to see the history of our country. And you look at capitals around the world, very few have this out-of-control crime, and President Trump's doing something about it. I'm glad he is.

“It's embarrassing, Maria. Look, local Democrat elected officials, you see this in every major city in America. They don't care about the safety of their own people. President Trump does. He ran on safety and security. It's one of the reasons so many people crossed over and voted for Donald Trump, and he's delivering. Even if their failed local Democrat leaders won't keep them secure, President Trump will. He can obviously do it in the nation's capital. He can't do it in every city in America. They're about to elect a socialist in New York who advocates defunding the police. The public doesn't want that. Democrats don't want that, but they've got a choice to make. Are you going to elect these kind of leaders? But at least Donald Trump is doing something about it to keep people safe, Maria.”

Scalise also discussed Republican priorities for economic growth and fiscal responsibility through legislative efforts such as the One Big Beautiful Bill.

“Well, Maria, continuing to getting spending under control is critical. It's something that matters to us in Congress, on the Republican side, at least. It surely matters to President Trump. You look at what the One Big Beautiful Bill was focused on. It was getting spending under control and putting a stable tax base in place so we can grow the economy. The only way to balance the federal budget is through a two-pronged approach. It's not through raising taxes. That's a Democrat approach, and not only increase spending and increase inflation. What you need to do is control spending in Washington and grow the economy.And in the meantime, if you look at the One Big Beautiful Bill, the biggest focus, the biggest area of growth in deficit spending, Maria, is what's called autopilot spending, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, those mandatory parts of spending. That's what we focused on, putting work requirements in Medicaid, putting work requirements in SNAP, the food stamp program. That's going to actually get people who didn't belong on those programs in the first place off so that they can get back under control and get a normalized growth rate. That helps get you back to balanced budgets.

“Yeah,[the debt ceiling was raised] roughly two years.And what that does is save ,by the way,hundreds of billions of dollars,because unfortunately ,these days ,Democrats in Senate ,especially Chuck Schumer ,if they're empowered to be able to control negotiations on something like debt ceiling ,they're going ask king's ransom add hundreds billions spending exchange avoiding debt crisis .President Trump didn't want that .Neither did we .That's why we put it One Big Beautiful Bill take negotiation off table so could focus controlling spending ,getting spending under control .We also did rescissions bill .Remember that ?Getting rid USAID ,public broadcasting .Look ,if want go watch public broadcasting ,can pay for it .People that want watch your show,and lot people do,pay good advertising dollars because it's popular show.If nobody's watching your program ,there are too many options today cable programming have taxpayers funding tune tens billions dollars.We got rid wasteful spending,and it's just beginning.”

Regarding government funding negotiations ahead of a September 30 deadline:

“Well,we're doing our work so that it doesn't happen,but obviously,it takes two tango.The House has passed over 60% all government funding bills,and Appropriations Committee ,Tom Cole,hismembers are doing great job getting all those bills out committee.We finally have Senate John Thune who's willing move appropriations bills.They've started move few.There negotiation going on,Maria,even during August recess,members are talking each other ,Republican ,Democrat ,House,S enate,to try get some kind agreement before September 30th deadline.Will we get there?I don't know .That's going be up Democrats see if Chuck Schumer his colleagues want government shutdown.We don't .That's why we are moving all these appropriations bills.When come back September,we'll see if there's real negotiation be had.”

On Democratic Party leadership:

“Yeah let's be honest.Safety not number two with Omar [Fateh].It's last.When say want some community organizer answer phone instead cop when call 911 because somebody's breaking into your house you're saying don't care about safety own people want represent.That 's going choice people there have make.But that's direction Democrat Party.He,Mamdani they are new face Democrat Party.They have admit it.Press DC says there no leader Democrat Party.There is.Itsocialist like Mamdani this guy Bernie Sanders,AOC wing party has taken over.You want find blue dog DC you're better off finding spotted owl.They don't exist because Socialists have taken over party.People across America I don't think recognize if you're middle America can't imagine how could Socialism truly take over must be just some meme It's not It's where Democrat Party We have deal with it DC because that's core party there It's what's taking over big cities That's why they're failure.

“Yeah,Bernie started it,and then others picked up on it,and now it's taken off like cancer.They've got confront it.They won't.We're going at least focus getting country track,Maria for working families.”

Steve Scalise has represented Louisiana’s 1st congressional district since 2008 after succeeding Bobby Jindal; prior to his tenure in Congress he served both as a member of Louisiana’s House of Representatives from 1996-2008 and briefly as a state senator during 2008 (https://scalise.house.gov/about). Born in New Orleans in 1965 (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S001176), Scalise holds a BS from Louisiana State University.