Florida Parish News

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Congressman Tony Wied (R-Wis.), and rancher Kevin Kester in Washington, D.C. to discuss the legacy of Charlie Kirk, the media's influence on public discourse, and legislative efforts related to crime and energy.

Scalise addressed the impact of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point, who was recently killed. “We still mourn the loss of Charlie Kirk. For anybody that watched Friday night when his widow, Erika, spoke so powerfully about Charlie's impact, of course, on her and her family first, but on the country, and now, as we've seen on the world. It just reminds us how powerful the idea of one person's idea can be, because that's what Charlie represented when he started Turning Point at 18 years old. It was an idea, and that idea became a movement. And anybody who thought they were going to snuff out that movement with an assassin's bullet they were clearly, clearly underestimating the power of Charlie's idea and the inspiration that he has now given to millions and millions of people all across this country. And in that momentum, that inspiration is only going to grow.”

He reflected on the role of media in amplifying rhetoric: “His assassination also gives us a moment to reflect about how we can all do better, how we can try to stop this, unfortunately, too common cycle that we're seeing. And as we reflect, we all need to look at ourselves. Are the things we're saying – can we do better there? But I do think it's an important moment for the media as well, because when you look at just this example with Charlie, and there have been some studies that have been done that have taken, just for example, President Trump and the word ‘fascism.’ One network alone used that combination of words over 3,000 times. 3,000 times mainstreaming that combination of words in just the last three years. And whether some realize it or not, that magnification is heard by the wrong person. And we've seen people, deranged people, take action, think that that's a call to take action.

“In the case of Charlie, he was called those things too. And there are leaders up here that throw that word around about anybody that they disagree with. And if it's amplified in the media and the wrong deranged person hears it and decides to take action—in the case of Charlie's assassin—he wrote the word ‘fascist’ on the bullet. And it's just an example that we can all do better. And we can all do our part to not allow that kind of hateful speech to become mainstream and stand up against it so that we don't see this become the norm in America. It's not who America is. We are not a nation that settles our differences with violence. We settle our political differences at the ballot box; that's always how it has to be for a free and fair democratic society to endure. We will endure—and Charlie's legacy will endure—but it's only going to endure when we all resolve to do better.”

Scalise highlighted ongoing legislative efforts aimed at addressing crime in Washington D.C.: “I want to talk about this week. Obviously we have a very busy week—we are dealing more with DC crime—the Oversight Committee has passed out a number of bills—we're taking some of those bills this week and moving them on House floor—these are bills we worked very closely with President Trump to bring—he's done a lot on his own—to make DC safer—you could see numbers: thousands criminals arrested—seven young people lost now found—so many people around here feel safer because actions taken—but there's still ordinances books make hard hardened criminals get arrested—even if they're arrested—to get put jail held accountable crimes—we're bringing bills address week.”

On energy policy measures being advanced by House Republicans Scalise said: “We're also bringing some more good energy security bills to floor so America continue dominant energy nation world—it’s great families pay lower gas prices—it creates jobs—it helps friends around world—it takes away leverage from countries like Russia who make billions dollars month selling their energy world markets—if produce more here—we're continue advancing here House floor week.”

Steve Scalise currently serves as U.S Representative for Louisiana’s 1st district—a position he has held since 2008 after succeeding Bobby Jindal (source). Before serving in Congress he was part of both chambers within Louisiana’s state legislature from 1996 through 2008 (source). Born in New Orleans in 1965 Scalise resides in Jefferson (source) after earning his BS degree from Louisiana State University.