>> GOOD MORNING, GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US, I’M MICHAEL PUTNEY. >> I’M CHRISTINA VASQUEZ, GLENNA
HAS THE MORNING OFF, AND WE
BEGIN WITH A SOUTH FLORIDA
CONGRESSMAN’S TAKE ON PRESIDENT
JOE BIDEN’S PLAN TO EXPAND THE
SOCIAL SAFETY NET.
THE PROPOSED 3.5 TRILLION DOLLAR
BILL WOULD FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE
THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET IT IS
CONSIDERED THE MOST AMBITIOUS
EXPANSION SINCE THE WAR ON
POVERTY IN THE 19 ’60S.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD EXPAND HEALTH
CARE, PROVIDE FOR FREE PRESCHOOL
AND FUND CLIMATE CHANGE
PROGRAMS.
>> BUT MOST REPUBLICANS AND SOME
MODERATE DEMOCRATS WORRY THAT
MR. BIDEN’S BIG PLAN IS TOO
SWEEPING, TOO EXPENSIVE, TOO
CLOSE TO SOCIALISM.
IT WOULD BE FUBDED BY HIKING
TAXES ON THE WEALTHY AND ON
CORPORATIONS.
THAT IS A HEAVY LIFT.
THE SAME OBJECTIONS COULD ALSO
DE RAIL A BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN THAT WAS
NARROWLY O PROSE-- APPROVED IN
THE SENATE.
IT IS WAITING A VOTE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
REPRESENTATIVE TED DOACH IS A
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE, A DEMOCRATS
FROM BOCA RATON REPRESENTING THE
22nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT,
PARTS OF BROWARD AND PALM BEACH
COUNTIES, CONGRESSMAN, GOOD
MORNING, THANKS FOR BEING ON THE
SHOW WITH US.
>> IT IS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU,
THANKS, MICHAEL.
>> CONGRESSMAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE
EXPLAIN WHERE YOU STAND HERE ON
THE 3.5 TRILLION DOLLAR PLAN TO
EXPAND THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET?
I MEAN AS YOU KNOW REPUBLICANS
SAY HEY, THIS IS PURE AN SIMPLE
SOCIALISM.
HOW DO YOU SEE IT?
>> SURE, WELL I THINK YOU NEED
TO FIRST LOOK AT THE BY PART SAB
1.5 TRILLION DOLLAR
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN AND DO THEM
TOGETHER AN HERE’S WHY.
IT HAS BEEN DECADES, THREE
DECADES AT LEAST THAT WE HAVE
BEEN SAYING WE NEED TO INVEST IN
OUR BRIDGES AN OUR PORTS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE
COMPETING GLOBALLY WITH OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THAT PASSING THE SENATE IN A
BIPARTISAN FASHION, THE SAME
THING WILL HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE.
AND IT’S IMPORTANT BUT WHAT IT
TELLS US IS WE’RE 30 YEARS IN
AND LOOK AT THE SITUATION WE
HAVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA WHEN IT
COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA
LEVEL RISE.
LOOK AT THE SITUATION WE HAVE
AROUND THE COUNTRY ON SO MANY OF
THE ISSUES THAT ARE IN THE OTHER
BILL.
WE DON’T HAVE 30 MORE YEARS TO
WAIT BEFORE WE ADDRESS CLIMATE
CHANGE.
THE SUMMER WILL TELL YOU THAT.
YOU LOOK AT THE STORMS IN
LOUISIANA AND NEW JERSEY AND NEW
YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA AND
TENNESSEE, AND THE HURRICANES
AND THE WILDFIRES.
WE DON’T HAVE 30 YEARS TO WAIT
ON EDUCATING OUR KIDS AND
PROVIDING UNIVERSAL PRE-K, WE
ARE FALLING FURTHER BEHIND THE
REST OF THE WORLD.
WE CAN’T WAIT DECADES TO ENSURE
THAT MEDICAID COVERAGE IS
AVAILABLE.
BUT THAT’S-- I JUST WANT TO MAKE
THIS LAST POINT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, IT’S NOT
ABOUT BUILD OR NOT WE CAN AFFORD
TO DO IT, WE CAN, AND I HOPE WE
TALK ABOUT HOW WE’RE GOING TO
PAY FOR IT, WITH WHICH WE WILL.
IT IS ABOUT WHETHER WE CAN
AFFORD TO WAIT DE
KATES-- DECADES MORE AND HAVE
AMERICA FALL BEHIND THE REST OF
THE WORLD WHERE WE SHOULD BE
WORKING TO.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I
HEAR YOU USE THIS LANGUAGE THEY
WANT TO BE VIEWED TOGETHER.
WE ALREADY KNOW THERE ARE
CENTRISTS IN THE PARTY, OUT OF
ARIZONA, MANCHIN OUT OF WEST
VIRGINIA WHO ALREADY STATED THEY
WOULDN’T BACK THAT BROADER
SOATION SPENDING PACKAGE.
YOU HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
RIGHT NOW FOR THE SLIMMER AND BY
SLIMMER WE’RE STILL TALKING
BILLION 1 TRILLION
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE’RE TALKING
ROADS, BRIDGES AND BROADBAND AM
WE KNOW BROADLY SPEAKING THAT
INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE
ARE SOMETHING THAT ARE SUPPORTED
BY THE PUBLIC AND SO MY QUESTION
TO YOU IS AT THIS POINT
STRATEGICALLY DOES IT MAKE SOME
MORE SENSE TO, YOU GET THIS
COMING OUT OF THE SENATE TO DO
THE HOUSE VOTE ON THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, GET THAT ON
TO PRESIDENT BIDEN’S DESK SO IT
GETS SIGNED AND THE FUNDS ARE
RELEASED FOR CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS,
INSTEAD OF THIS TWO TRACK SYSTEM
WHERE IT MIGHT BE CAUGHT IN SOME
QUAGMIRE WITH A BROAD ERBIL THAT
DOESN’T SEEM TO HAVE NOT ONLY A
LOT OF SUPPORT FOR REP CAPS BUT
EVEN SOME SENTED RESTS WITHIN
YOUR OWN PARTY.
>> SURE T IS AN IMPORTANT
QUESTION.
AND JUST A COUPLE OF WAYS TO
RESPOND.
FIRST OF ALL, THESE TWO BILLS
ARE GOING TO BE VOTED ON, WE’RE
MOVING FORWARD ON THE BROADER
PACKAGE.
WE’RE GOING TO VOTE ON BOTH OF
THEM VERY SOON.
AND SECRETARILY, I SAW SENATOR
MANCHIN THIS MORNING ON TV IN AN
INTERVIEW ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
THINGS THAT ARE IN THE LARGER
BILL ARE ALL IMPORTANT.
AND I’M CONFIDENT THAT WE’RE
GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THEM
BECAUSE AS I SAID, I THINK
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN’T
WAIT ANY LONGER TO ACT ON
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WE CAN’T WAIT
ANY LONGER ON THESE OTHER
ISSUES.
UNIVERSAL PRE-K IS SOCIALISM,
THAT IS WHAT MY REPUBLICANS WANT
TO ARGUE?
DO THEY ARGUE ALSO THAT OUR
PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS
SOCIALISM?
I MEAN IF WE CAN PROVIDE FOR OUR
KIDS AT THE EARLIEST MOMENT IN
THEIR EDUCATION, WE SET THEM UP
FOR SUCCESS IN OUR COUNTRY.
WE SET THEM UP TO SUCCEED
GLOBALLY.
WE’RE GOING TO FORWARD
FORWARD-- MOVE FORWARD ON BOTH
OF THESE BECAUSE THEY ARE SO
IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR
COUNTRY.
>> CONGRESSMAN, LET’S MOVE ON TO
COVID-19.
ON THURSDAY EVENING THE
PRESIDENT UNVEILED A SWEEPING
PLAN THAT WOULD DICTATE, HE
WANTS TO MANDATE THAT COMPANIES
WITH 100 OR MORE EMPLOYEES ALL
THE FEDERAL AGENCIES UNDER HIS
CONTROL THAT EVERY ONE INVOLVED
IN THOSE MUST GET VACCINATED OR
GET TESTED TWICE A WEEK.
AND THE REPUBLICAN OUTCRY HAS
BEEN LOUD AND YOU KNOW, THEY ARE
SAYING THIS IS THE KIND OF
INTRUSION INTO THE PRIVATE LIVES
AND MEDICAL DECISIONS THAT
GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT DO.
IS THE PRESIDENT RIGHT OR WHAT
DO YOU SAY TO THESE REPUBLICAN
CRITICS?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, STARTING
WITH THE GOVERNOR, I WOULD
SUGGEST THAT THE GOVERNOR TAKE A
LOOK AT HIS OWN DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH WEBSITE WHICH LIST THE
VACCINES REQUIRED FOR KIDS TO
ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE
STATE OF FLORIDA.
ST JUST NOT RIGHT TO SUGGEST
THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT CAN
SIMPLY BE LEFT FOR PEOPLE TO
DECIDE, THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC, THEIR DECISIONS IMPACT
ALL OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM,
SHOULD BE LEFT COMPLETELY UP TO
THEM.
BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT-- MICHAEL,
THAT IS NOT WHY THE PRESIDENT
HAD TO ACT.
THE PRESIDENT HAD TO ACT BECAUSE
GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS THE ONE WHO
HAS TOLD BUSINESS OWNERS IN OUR
STATE THAT IF THEY TAKE ACTION,
BUSINESS OWNERS AND HE CLAIMS TO
WANT TO PROTECT F THEY TAKE
ACTION TO PROTECT THEIR OWN
EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS BECAUSE
THEY WANT SUPPORT TO REQUIRE
VACCINES WHICH IS THE BEST STEP
FOR US TO TAKE TO GET THROUGH
THIS PANDEMIC.
LET ME FINISH-- HE’S GOING TO
FINE THEM FOR ACT MG WHAT THEY
BELIEVE IS THEIR OWN BEST
INTEREST.
SO IN EFFECT, THE GOVERNOR IS IN
LARGE PART RESPONSIBLE FOR
FORCING ACTION BECAUSE HE’S
TRYING TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM
ACTING REASON TO SAVE LIVES.
>> LET ME JUMP IN AND SIMPLY SAY
THE GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY TRIED TO
DO THAT WITH THE CRUISE LINES
AND THE COURTS YUN HELD THE
CRUISE LINES.
THE CRUISE LINES LINES CAN IN FA
DEMAND THAT ALL THE PASSENGERS
BE VACCINATED, SHOW PROOF OF
VACCINATION, SO THERE ARE OTHER
AVENUES THAT CAN BE TAKEN.
BUT BACK TO THE CONFLICT FOR THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IN YOUR COUNTY, IN, YOU LIVE IN
BOCA RATON, BROWARD COUNTY,
MIAMI DADE COUNTY, THE SCHOOL
BOARDS ARE DE SPHYING THE
GOVERNOR, 13 SCHOOL BOARDS IN
ALL IN THE STATE AND ARE SAYING
WE’RE GOING TO STILL SEND OUR
KIDS TO SCHOOL WEARING MASKS, NO
MATTER WHAT THE COURT SAYS.
ARE THEY DEFYING THE LAW OR ARE
THEY READING THE LAW THE RIGHT
WAY?
>> LOOK, THE QUESTION IS, WHY,
THE ON REASON WE’RE IN THIS
POSITION IS BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR
DECIDED THAT IT’S BETTER TO--
SUCH A TERRIBLE POSITION TO
BE IN.
THERE ARE MORE KIDS WHO HAVE
DIED FROM COVID-19 SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF AUGUST THAN IN THE
ENTIRE PANDEMIC BEFORE HAND.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF KIDS IN
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HUNDREDS
OF TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN SOUTH FLORIDA WHO
HAVE CONTRACTED COVID SO MANY
MORE HAVE HAD TO QUARANTINE AND
LEAVE SCHOOL TRK IS SAY
DISRUPTION.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD BE ABLE
TO DO WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS IN
THE BEST INTEREST OF THE
COMMUNITY, OF THE KIDS.
OF THE TEACHERS.
AND I DON’T UNDERSTAND,
ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE MARKING 20
YEARS SINCE 9/11, WHEN THE
COUNTRY CAME TOGETHER TO STAND
UP AND COMBAT A SHARED THREAT
THAT WE ALL HAD, WHY IT IS THAT
THE GOVERNOR OF OUR STATE
CONTINUES TO USE THIS MOMENT TO
FIGHT AGAINST EFFORTS THAT
SHOULD BRING US TOGETHER.
PEOPLE WEAR MASKS AND GET
VACCINATED TO GET THROUGH THIS
AND GET BACK TO A SENSE OF
NORMAL SEE.
>> WE JUST HAVE A FEW SECONDS
LEFT BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE
DISCUSSION OF MASKS IN SCHOOLS T
IS SUCH A FLUID CONVERSATION, WE
HAVE AN APPEALS COURT ON FRIDAY
SIDING WITH THE GOVERNOR, THEY
ARE REVERSING, THE JUDGES ORDER
SIDING WITH PARENTS THAT
CHALLENGE THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER
IN URT COULD.
WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION LAUNCHING AN
INVESTIGATION BUT WHAT I WANTED
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS THIS
RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT WITH THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO
CREATE FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP
SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT DECIDED TO
UPHOLD BEST INTERESTS IN CASE
MITIGATION AS RECOMMENDED BY THE
CD, C, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRICS AND VA MASKS IN
SCHOOLS AM HOW DOES THIS GRANT
PROGRAM EXACTLY WORK, WHEN CAN
CONDITIONS APPLY, WHEN WILL
FUNDING COME FROM, WILL IT LAST
THE ENTIRE ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.
>> SURE, WE’RE WORKING TO GET
ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TO OUR
LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUT IF I
MAY, THE FACT THAT WE’RE AT THIS
MOMENT AGAIN, WHEN THE RIGHTS OF
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE WHO SEND THEIR KIDS TO
SCHOOL AND THE KIDS IN SCHOOL TO
BE SAFE IN SCHOOL, AN TO NOT BE
EXPOSED TO COVID SO THEY DON’T
HAVE STO MISS SCHOOL OR GET
SICK, ARE THOSE ARE THE RIGHTS
THAT ARE BEING IGNORED AND WE’LL
FIGURE OUT, I DON’T KNOW THAT
THE GOVERNOR REALLY WANTS TO
SPEND THE ENTIRE YEAR AT WAR
WITH SCHOOL BOARDS AND PARENTS
OVER WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD BE
KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE.
I DON’T KNOW THAT WE WILL GET TO
THAT POINTMENT BUT FOR NOW I
JUST WISH THAT WE COULD
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN ACT
TOGETHER BY TAKING BASIC STEPS
TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED.
LET’S WEAR MASKS AND LET’S GET
THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
THAT’S WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE
DOING.
AND I JUST WISH THAT THE
GOVERNOR WOULD STOP FIGHTING AND
START WORKING WITH ALL OF US WHO
WANT TO HELP ACCOMPLISH THAT.
>> CONGRESSMAN TED DOACH GOOD TO
SPEAK WITH YOU AS ALWAYS, MANY
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS
SUNDAY.