The next is a transcript of an interview with Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida that aired on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott who joins us from Naples. Good morning to you, Senator.
SEN. RICK SCOTT: Good morning, it is actually robust down right here, it is unbelievable lack of life. And we nonetheless have people who they hope are alive that they are nonetheless attempting to rescue. So please pray for every a kind of.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll and I do know that while you have been governor of Florida, there have been 4 hurricanes in your watch. Governor DeSantis has stated what is going on now could be biblical? How would you describe the impression?
SEN. SCOTT: Effectively, the storm surge was unbelievable, you realize, the worst, the worst storm surge we had with Irma was down within the Keys. And it simply, it was 9 foot. It simply sucks the whole lot out and in of a one story home. After which we had as you realize, Mexico seashore with Michael, my final 12 months. However, you realize, in Lee County, they're speaking about, they may have had 18 foot of storm surge at Sanibel. And also you take a look at, you realize, 12-15 foot of storm surge of Fort Myers Seashore and Pine Island, I imply, that is exhausting to outlive, it's a must to be fairly, it's a must to rise up fairly excessive and your construction has to outlive. We sadly, a few of it is older development. And so we misplaced a number of quite a bit, a number of buildings.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The President stated that he might have more cash from Congress to assist with the response. And I do know you and Senator Rubio have talked about extra emergency reduction being wanted. For those who're calling for an emergency, supplemental does it should be paid for -- offset?
SEN. SCOTT: Effectively, I've supported catastrophe reduction. And look, the whole lot you do, you'd find it irresistible for to be paid for. However you realize, we have now we have now dedicated made, we have made commitments, and we will assist our our households, our companies, our states and native governments, and as federal authorities, we have to do our job. Now. We bought to look at how we spend our cash. So at all times attempt to determine the way you pay for issues. However I am very supportive of FEMA. My expertise with FEMA and I used to be governor is that they did their job. They have been companion. They don't seem to be a lead company. There a Assist Company, and so they acted like that once I was governor.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the catastrophe modeling corporations have, you realize, scale of injury right here from 30 billion as much as 100 billion. How a lot cash is it that you simply assume it's essential go ask Congress for?
SEN. SCOTT: We're gonna discover out hopefully, most most issues are lined by insurance coverage. That is what that is what you hope. Now Florida has been has had an issue the previous few years with their property insurance coverage market. So hopefully, the insurance coverage firms will have the ability to, to cowl a number of that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However not flooding?
SEN. SCOTT: However you will see the way in which the way in which this has labored in whereas I used to be governor. Yeah, completely. Proper. And in order that's one of many points. Florida has been a major donor state to flooding. Sadly, there's many individuals that do not have flood insurance coverage, both as a result of they did not know they should purchase flood insurance coverage, or as a result of it bought too costly. So we have got to have insurance coverage merchandise, that work that individuals can afford. And that is what they bought to attempt to proceed to construct the personal flood insurance coverage market. And I used to be governor to attempt to verify folks can get flood insurance coverage and might afford flood insurance coverage. Since you're proper, a number of it isn't lined. If it isn't, it isn't lined by regular coverage. It is lined by a flood insurance coverage coverage. And I used to be up in in Kissimmee yesterday, and there was some flood up there. And so they weren't in a floodplain, no one was informed get flood insurance coverage, and so they had about most likely a foot of water of their houses, and so they have been simply fully shocked.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, I imply, is the underside line right here, although, Senator, that a number of the communities have been so exhausting to hit that it's essential take a re-examination right here, I imply, possibly a few of them shouldn't be rebuilt, due to the danger stage from excessive climate.
SEN. SCOTT: What I feel it's a must to take a look at, take a look at must you construct in locations, I imagine these locations are locations the place folks wish to reside their lovely locations. So what you actually need to do is it's a must to say, 'I'll construct however I'll do it safely.' After Andrew in 1992, the state fully modified its constructing codes, which is dramatically cut back the danger of injury. Whereas I used to be governor, we improved our constructing codes. And I feel after this, we will be taught that we're gonna you realize, have to enhance our proceed to enhance our constructing codes
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, earlier than I allow you to go, I do have a much bigger image query as a result of you realize, disasters are a time when folks can come collectively. And our nation is so extremely divided. I do know you realize that. Over this weekend, we heard some fairly disturbing rhetoric from the previous president who tweeted that Senator McConnell has a demise want. He stated some racist issues about his spouse, the previous Cupboard Secretary Elaine Chao. Final night time at his rally, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene made a false declare that Democrats need Republicans useless, and so they have quote, already began the killings. Given the extent of safety menace proper now. Would you rebuke these feedback?
SEN. SCOTT: However I feel what we bought to do is we bought to convey all people collectively. I might additionally say that might vice versa. Harris stated yesterday that our day earlier than yesterday that, you realize if you happen to when you've got a unique pores and skin shade, you are going to get reduction.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is not what the vp stated. She talked about fairness and the issue inside FEMA. However I am particularly speaking about Marjorie Taylor Greene.
SEN. SCOTT: No, no, no. Wait, wait, Margaret. Margaret, let's be sure. FEMA needs to be colorblind. FEMA has to offer assist to all people. Now, I this is what I this is what I will let you know, I imagine that we have to do -- President Trump has talked about this unbelievable spending that is inflicting inflation hurting the poorest households. I grew up in a poor household. I watched him play ought to damage my mother. We have gotten a home, watch how we spend this cash. I do know, you are speaking about.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know sir. You are speaking about substance, and I might love to speak to you about that. However what I quoted you as a phrase saying McConnell has a demise want. He stated racist issues about Elaine Chao. After which they've already began the killings. I imply, that is not a coverage dispute, Senator, the language is what I am speaking about. Is not that harmful?
SEN. SCOTT: I feel all of us have to determine how will we begin bringing folks collectively and have a standard objective to offer each American the chance to get an awesome job their children to have an training, they imagine they are often something and ensure all people lives in a secure committee. That is what I do every single day. And I've tried to convey folks collectively to try this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And you'll agree that that language would not convey folks collectively?
SEN. SCOTT: I imagine that what I imagine what the President Trump was speaking about is the truth that we won't preserve spending cash. We're -- We'll damage our poorest households probably the most with this reckless Democrats spending and we can't we bought to cease it. We won't cave into their spending.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. That is not what the previous president stated. And Coco Chow was the phrase he used to consult with a former Cupboard Secretary Elaine Chao.
SEN. SCOTT: He look -- he likes for you realize, he provides folks nicknames. I am certain he has a nickname for me. Alright. So you may ask him what he means by his nicknames, what I what what I wish to be sure I hit what I can do. I can attempt my finest to convey folks collectively and I am gonna attempt to convey folks collectively.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, however I do know, Senator, you realize that Democrats haven't already began the killings of Republicans as Marjorie Taylor Greene has stated.
SEN. SCOTT: I did not see what she stated. However it's additionally not useful what the Vice President says when she when she thinks that well-known gonna deal with folks in another way primarily based on their pores and skin shade.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We could have the feminine administrator on this system to speak about fairness. However already began the killings actually stood out to me. So I wished to be sure you responded to that remark. We'll go away it there. Thanks and good luck.
SEN. SCOTT: I did not hear it, We have to convey folks collectively. Please play pray for our state.