Phil Scott on Fox News Sunday
Chris Wallace: Well, now, it looks like we have Governor Phil Scott of Vermont, coming off his debate performance, Governor?
Phil Scott: Hiya Chris.
Chris Wallace: So Governor, almost a month into the campaign, you've had your first debate, what's the campaign trail like?
Phil Scott: It's really awesome Chris, we've gone across New Hampshire, bus touring to every town and city. We opened a headquarters in Des Moines, and this October, we'll be taking things up to an 11. We'll be tearing across Iowa, we'll be going to Tulsa and Charleston, back in Manchester and Nashua. My goal is to meet as many voters as possible, and hear their concerns.
Chris Wallace: Now in the debate, you came under attack from Senator Haslam and Governor Huntsman, they accused you of being too liberal for the Republican party, what do you say to that?
Phil Scott: Now I'll say the same thing I said in the debate. These claims are unfounded and ridiculous. It's clear that Senator Haslam wanted to get me off the stage and fast. But I'm not going anywhere Senator. His attacks of North Eastern Republicans like myself was typical.....politics. That's the new normal we've fostered these past years. Personal attacks and political point scoring are unfortunately, the norm in congress and the white house. Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty. It's time for a new kind of politics, and for that, we need a new kind of leadership, I hope to be that leader.
Chris Wallace: Now, a lot of Republicans, including Senator Haslam, and I'm sure many voters are concerned about your views on the President, who's still popular with most Republicans, and particularly impeachment, would you have voted to impeach the President?
Phil Scott: Absolutely not Chris. The impeachment was a partisan sham, and a shameless power grab. I have no doubts they would have impeached Vice President Pence too to get a Democrat in the White House, it was frankly disgusting. I would have been an emphatic no. That's the kind of politics we need to move on from, or we're never gonna getting anything done. That's what I'm saying to voters. But that being said, I'm gonna be honest. I have never, and do not approve of Donald Trump. I think he's a nasty individual, the things he's said about hispanics, women, and other minorities are frankly disgusting. But you know, I think there's a huge gap between what's going on in Washington and what's been going on in Montpelier, in Boston and recently in Baltimore and Providence, in state houses across the country. Where bipartisan cooperation has been fostered to pursue growth and development. That's what we did in Vermont, where we balanced budgets without raising taxes, and you'd never see the childish behavior in Washington in Montpelier. But Washington, time's up really, it's gotta change.
Chris Wallace: And what policies would you push through in Washington?
Phil Scott: Great question. My first priority is fiscal restraint. The fiscal policy of Washington, hell, Washington doesn't have a fiscal policy. We've drowned in debt, the deficit is over a trillion, and the economic growth of 2018, and 2019 has subsided. Unemployment has actually gone up from 2017. What we need to do is cut spending, we need to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse across government. We need to reduce earmarks, earmarks are wasting millions that we could use to reduce the deficit, or invest in the programs that matter. Programs that have been cut unnecessarily. We need to fund things like the Appalachian regional commission, we need to keep our promises to seniors, but we can't do that if we're wasting millions on congressional pet projects. A Scott administration will be an administration of real fiscal responsibility, and fiscal conservative leadership. Just like in Vermont, where we balanced budgets. But also, on immigration, we need a DREAMers solution, they should be allowed to stay and pursue the American dream like the rest of us, to enjoy the promise of America. And at the same time, we must secure the border and show a strong commitment to border patrol officers, and make sure ICE has the resources to stop criminals, and pursue child pornographers and drug dealers. Americans agree on this, and we can get it done. But we need new leadership, now more than ever. I hope, and I have made the case to Americans that I can be that leader.
Chris Wallace: Now, Vermont and Iowa are both agricultural states, how do you use that and talk about that in Iowa?
Phil Scott: That's a good question. Vermont's agricultural sector is key to it's economy, and it's the same in Iowa. One of the most encouraging things in Washington, amid all the chaos and circus, is how we manage to pass a Farm Bill each year. Bipartisan leaders like Senator Jones, Senator Romney, Senator Murkowski, and Senator Ben Sasse are able to work to pass a Farm Bill, because they're able to put partisanship aside for our farmers. The farmers are so important to our economy, and too our social fabric. I will continue robust support for the Farm Bill, work to continue robust crop insurance, and do the same things I did in Vermont, work across party lines to keep taxes low, and give constant support to our farmers, Iowa I think, deserves the same.
Chris Wallace: Thank you Governor for coming here, good luck.
Phil Scott: Of course Chris.
Phil Scott Campaign Schedule: October
September 15th-18th: Hold series of town halls, New Hampshire
September 19th-22nd: Gubernatorial Duties
September 23rd-25th: Bus Tour in Rural New Hampshire with Fmr. Vermont Governor Jim Douglas
September 26th: Televised Joint Campaign Rally with Larry Hogan and Charlie Baker in Nashua, NH, local and national media appearances
September 27th-29th: Bus Tour of Eastern Iowa, from Davenport to Iowa City
September 30th: Open Iowa Campaign Headquarters in Des Moines, Give speech on trade (condemning trade war)
Note: Larry Hogan and Charlie Baker are simultaneously door knocking and speech giving in New Hampshire
Phil Scott Ad: "Responsible"
My name's Phil Scott, and I've been Governor of Vermont since 2017. As governor, my promise to Vermonters was simple. Balance the state budget, without raising taxes. Responsible leadership, leadership that produced results for our teachers, seniors, first responders, and farmers. In government, we treated each other with dignity and respect. Because responsible leadership, that produces results, requires one key ingredient, respect. I'm Phil Scott, respectfully asking for your vote, and I approve this message.
(Running in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Iowa Media Markets)
October Endorsements
Charlie Baker
As a fellow New England governor, I've gotten to know Phil Scott well. And I know he's a fantastic guy. He's a great family man, a fantastic race car driver, and a real leader who puts results first, and special interest partisanship last. Governor Scott is a leader for the future, somebody who cut bring spending under control, work for middle class tax cuts, and to end the culture of gridlock and nastiness in Washington. I'm proud to support Governor Scott as a moderate problem solver, and I'll be spending a lot of time these next few months supporting him in these early primary states
Larry Hogan
Governor Phil Scott is exactly what we need in Washington. After too many years of partisan gridlock, and nasty politics, what America needs is a leader. A leader who finds common ground, fixes problems wherever he finds them, and always puts our children and our future first. Phil Scott will create consensus in Washington, I know he'll be able to work to fix our biggest problems, because that's what he did in Montpelier. He fought for farmers, seniors, policemen and fire fighters, and I know he'll do the same in Washington. I will be with him and Governor Baker on the campaign trail in October and beyond. Phil for 2024!
