Florida Parish News

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) appeared on Fox News’ The Big Weekend Show to discuss President Trump’s actions aimed at addressing drug cartels and crime in U.S. cities. Scalise said that the impact of drugs entering the country has resulted in “about 150 dead young people in America every single day.” He stated, “President Trump said he would do something about it. It's not just pictures of drugs that are going to stop these narco-terrorists. It's going to be the image of the boat being blown up and the idea that if you send another boat, the next boat, and all the people you bring on it with all the drugs is also going to be blown up. That's going to stop the infiltration of drugs into the United States.”

Scalise criticized current border policies and linked an increase in fentanyl deaths to what he described as looser border enforcement under President Biden. He continued, “It's been a war, but it's been a one-sided war. The narcos have been sending drugs into our country, laden with fentanyl made in China, for decades now. It's gotten worse the last few years when Biden opened up the border. We saw the flow of illegal drugs and things like fentanyl coming into our country even more, killing people every single day. It's primarily young people that it's killing.”

On public safety issues, Scalise accused Democrats of turning away from law enforcement efforts: “You've been seeing this for years as the Democrat Party shifted to the socialist left... They want to defund the police. They've turned their backs on people who want safe communities.” He praised President Trump’s approach: “President Trump is trying to keep communities safe. He did it in DC... You look at Chicago, some of these other cities where he's talking about bringing help... At least President Trump cares about crime and safety and reducing it.”

Addressing economic policy, Scalise promoted Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cut: “The tax cuts that are new in this bill are for working families, waiters and waitresses, no tax on tips, people that work overtime.” He claimed this measure would provide an additional $1,700 or more for workers earning less than $100,000 per year.

He also noted opposition from Democrats: “Every Democrat voted no. Every Democrat voted to keep that money in Washington and grow government.” Scalise contrasted this with Republican priorities: “Democrats want power and control in government. Republicans want to give hardworking families more of their tax money so they can control their own destiny.”

Discussing energy policy changes included in recent legislation, Scalise argued that opening up energy production could lower costs for American families.

On presidential pardons during Biden’s administration, Scalise questioned accountability regarding use of autopen technology: “Autopen is a great example of the abuses... there was one day... where almost 2,500 people were pardoned in a day by the autopen machine...” He called for further investigation into who authorized such decisions.

Steve Scalise currently serves as U.S. Representative for Louisiana’s 1st district since 2008 after replacing Bobby Jindal (https://scalise.house.gov/about). Before his time in Congress he served both in Louisiana's House of Representatives (1996-2008) and briefly in its Senate (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S001176). Born in New Orleans in 1965 and residing today in Jefferson Parish (https://www.congress.gov/member/steve-scalise/S001176), he holds a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University.