Good? All right, good. Representative cat chemic, thank you so much for joining us on the Capitol Report.
Thank you so much for having me.
No, Congresswoman, I want to ask you about President Biden's build back better agenda. He says that, you know, this bill will actually help the current problem that we're seeing with inflation. If this bill were to actually get passed, it's a massive spending bill. How do you see this affecting inflation?
Well, the the suggestion that President Biden has made that inflation somehow is helping Americans, all I have to say to that is, bless his heart. You know, we all know that inflation is just a tax in another form. And you know, listen, I'm married to a firefighter, you know, we're working class and I see it every day at the gas pump or in the grocery store, my mother who's on a fixed income, she's seeing it and getting hit particularly hard when you have an inflation. And right now we're seeing about an increase of $175 a month, per family across the country. That's not sustainable. And that's not helpful. And we know economics 101 tells us that the more that the government spends, the less that we the American people get to keep in our pocket. And I don't think that there's any government bureaucrat or politician who can spend money better than the American people. And so when we talk about a package, the build back broke, or build back the bureaucracy or whatever you want to call this bill, when it has a price tag of about 4.7 to 5 trillion, no one exactly knows. But then you look at it, what it costs over the course of 10 years, upwards of 60 to $68 trillion on top of the inflation that out of control spending that we've had existing, and all the mandatory spending, that is really the lion's share of our budget, none of this is sustainable. So you have record inflation, you have massive spending in one year, some of it COVID related others just because there's a radical leftist agenda here at play. But none of it is making life better for Americans today. And it won't make life better for Americans tomorrow. And I think that's something that we need to be exceptionally cautious and wary of that once you start a government program, it's virtually impossible to get it off the books. And I think when we talk about the way this bill has been sold to the American people, that it's an investment, no one wants to make this investment, it's a bad deal. And the rate of return on this is non existent, it's going to continue to garnish the wages of our children and our grandchildren. And that's why I'm going to fight it every step of the way. Now, I
want to dig into some of the points that you just made a little bit there. You know, a lot of times the points of you know, how this will affect them, and it gets lost in the political debate. Yeah. How do you see this affecting truly affecting what are the implications for your children and your grandchildren?
Yeah, you know, when you talk about the national debt as a whole approaching $30 trillion, when you attribute that portion to a family, you know, that's somewhere in the ballpark of a $200,000 just burden of debt on that family. If you put it to a person, you're looking somewhere in the ballpark of $75,000. Now think about what that means to you. That's, that's a down payment on a house, and then some, that's two vehicles, that's college, you know, these have real consequences. And when I think about my kids, my future kids, I don't ever want them to step into a world where they already are saddled with debt, expected to pay for the mistakes of previous generations and political wish lists that they had nothing to do with. Every time the bureaucracy grows, our freedom becomes more and more diminished. And I want them to have the exact same opportunities that I had, as someone who was able to go from a working class family, the daughter of a single mom, who you know, I'm a third generation commercial sandblaster. But then having lost everything going from homeless to the House of Representatives. That's only possible if you live in a country where it's equal opportunity, not equal outcome. And these big bureaucratic programs are all about equal outcome. So when we're talking about our future generations, our kids and our grandkids, we're setting them up for equal outcome rather than equal opportunity. And that's not right. It's not fair. And it's not who we are as Americans.
Now, you just didn't sort of touch upon it there. But you do have a personal story of how you you know, overcome some very tough times so you can relate to people that are less fortunate. Yeah. Inside of this bill, the Democrats say that you know, universal pre K, there's a lot of social welfare programs. What do you say to those folks that, you know, maybe thinking that it's, it's something that will help them?
Well, listen, there's nothing that's actually free, right? There's no such thing as a free program. There's no such thing as free health care or free universal pre K. And the very families that the left wants to claim to be champions and advocates for, well, through their ridiculous out of control spending, they're actually hurting them. Again, you you're not going to be able to have these programs with no price tag. And the notion that we're going to continue to tax the wealthy Well, this, this bill actually, is a tax break for the wealthy. There's tax credits for people who make $400,000 or more $800,000 or more, if you make $800,000 or more, you get $118,000 in tax credits under this bill. But if you make $75,000 or less, your targeted by the 87,000, new IRS agents, because they are designed in this bill, to go after the working class, and for families that have young kids that are just getting started in life, you know, my generation, I'm in my early 30s. When I look at this bill, it's not designed for people like me and my husband and my friends and people that I grew up with with their families, because we're going to pay for it at the pump, we're going to pay for it in the grocery store, there's going to be an increasing costs and goods and services across the board. So if you get free pre K, that's wonderful. However, you're going to be paying a ton more on all the other services. So is it really a wash? Or are we actually hurting them more than helping, and we're taking away the most important part of this aspect. It's it's choice. It's the individual's right to spend their money on what they need and how they see fit. And that's the problem.
Now, you just mentioned that you'll be paying for it at the pump. Yeah, right now we're seeing gas prices skyrocketing. President Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki said that this is cause for people to look for green energy solutions. You know, what do you what do you say to,
you know, listen, I have been my entire career for and above all approach when it comes to energy. But the fact remains is that we're not going to be able to run our economy on hopes and dreams and, you know, fairy dust and, and solar and wind, wonderful, wonderful alternatives, but they cannot provide the the needs that our economy has. And this broad brush that the federal government tends to have when it comes to energy, this notion that a one size fits all approach is going to work in every part of the country. It's a misnomer. And it's misleading. And I think when you look at a state like Florida, for example, we have a booming economy, but we also have a diversified portfolio of energy. We have everything from solar to LNG to traditional fossil fuels. We had nuclear, but nuclear has become it yeah, basically taboo. And I think if we're serious about providing clean, efficient, inexpensive energy, we need to look at all options on the table. But again, this one size fits all approach of we're going to go green, you know, you look at the electric vehicles that are being promoted and incentivized in these bills, particularly within the infrastructure bill. One, they're quite expensive. So you're working class families that are being told that they're going to benefit by this bill. Well, only if you can afford a Tesla. And you look at the batteries for these vehicles, the carbon footprint on the batteries is more detrimental to the environment than traditional vehicles. So I know that the facts and science can sometimes be hard for the left because it doesn't match their narrative. But at some point, people around America and I think that is happening right now they're waking up and saying this doesn't make sense. Sometimes the simplest answer is the answer.
Now, just briefly, you know, one thing that I've learned from being in Washington DC for my short time here is when things don't quite make sense, always follow the money. And, you know, people love to talk about the fossil fuel lobby. From your experience here. Is there a green energy lobby as
well? Absolutely. In fact, I can tell you that I have never had an oil or gas lobbyists come to my door. But I have had environmental lobbyists under the guise of green New Deal and electric vehicles. Come to my door. And I think that, to your point, follow the money. I encourage people to look and see where and who is benefiting from these pieces of legislation. We know that the electric vehicle industry makes out like a bandit in the infrastructure bill. We know that the green New Deal is really championed and established in the build back broke bill. So when you look at how much money 7.8 billion for example, going to the civilian climate corps, they exist to provide propaganda to the American people about these very As electric vehicles and green initiatives, but we know that the green initiatives aren't scientifically backed to, in fact, improve the environment. And the other thing that I continue to tell people is it doesn't make good business sense. For a healthy economy to thrive, you need a sound economy. And for a sound economy to thrive, you need a sound environmental policy, they coexist. But in these pieces of legislation, you're seeing a lot of special interest benefiting at the expense of either the economy or the people. And that when you have it out of balance, it reflects that maybe there's something at play here. So the special interests have made out wonderfully in these bills at the expense of the working class. The American people know, Congresswoman.
Yesterday there was a landmark case in front of the Supreme Court. Yes. That could potentially reverse Roe vs. Wade have long lasting implications on abortion. I want your opinion on on that case. What what's your take?
Well, obviously, this issue is pretty, pretty personal to me. You know, I'm, I've shared before that I'm actually not even supposed to be here. My mom, when she was 27 years old, she suffered a stroke, while she was pregnant with my sister and was told then that she would never be able to have kids safely again. So years go by, and she finds herself pregnant with me and alone, and it was a very scary time for her. And the doctors told her, then you're not going to be able to carry this baby to term, it'll certainly die. And it'll probably kill you in the process. And so that obviously scared her. When she told her family, eventually, they also encouraged her, you need to abort this child, because you won't survive, the child won't survive. And against all odds, no support from family, she chose life. And she delivered an eight pounds six ounce, healthy baby girl. So this issue is really personal to me. And I tell people all the time that it's it's an emotionally charged issue. But how can we as Americans say that we uphold the very tenant, the very basic foundation of our country of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness if we can't advocate and protect life. And I think the science has caught up. Roe v. Wade came at a time when the science wasn't reflective of the fact that life begins at conception. And so today, we know that to be true. And we know that the child in the womb can feel pain. We have science on our side. And I think when you talk about this issue, it is about empowerment. It is about speaking up and protecting those most vulnerable, but also from the government side. I also question the hypocrisy of government. Why is it that we classify bacteria on Mars as life, but not a child in the womb that has its own DNA that has an entire nervous system and functioning organs. When the DOJ takes up a case that is a pregnant woman who has been murdered, it's classified a double homicide. So in so many ways, they want to recognize a child in the womb, but only when it's convenient. And this landmark case dobs V. Jackson, this is going to I think be the turning point where we really stand up as a nation and say that we recognize that that tiny baby in the womb with its own DNA as an individual has the same inalienable rights that every American has to life liberty and pursuit of happiness and I know that again this is a very emotionally charged issue and I think as long as cooler calmer heads prevail we'll get it right
no Murphy's Law is alive and
well hey, I can't do that again. So we're gonna use it
I wish our segments are shorter than I wish you know find a way to use
up on time so yeah
it's all right they they're hard workers we're fighting for the working class here what'd he say he's not gonna move on you added on you might need to add want to speak Spanish? Mike good
happens to he understand you if you understand this, do I need to speak to him in Spanish?
We Okay, okay. Now, Congresswoman, a lot of people get their headline, their their news from the headlines. When it comes to Roe vs. Wade, they think that abortion is just going to be wiped off the map completely in the country. Yeah. What is your interpretation of, you know, what could potentially happen?
Well, what we're seeing with this dobs V. Jackson case, it's really about upholding a couple of things. It's upholding the science about viability. This is the Mississippi case. And again, 10th amendment, the state of Mississippi is asking for the Supreme Court to uphold their right as a state to ban abortions after 15 weeks. And I don't think that is unreasonable. We know, again, going back to the science, about the viability, we know more about the development, we know that life begins at conception. So the Mississippi case still allows for the exceptions of the mother's health of incest and rape. And I think that's important to note, because you hit on it, the headline will read that this is going to obliterate Roe v. Wade, and women will be you know, seeking out dangerous abortion alternatives in a dark alley somewhere. And that's not the case at all. No one's advocating for that. But in this hyper political environment that we're living in, I think it's dangerous when people read the headline, but then not the full story. There's a lot of context that goes into understanding what this case is about. And it's really about bringing us as a nation into the 21st century, really relying on the science really understanding that we can't be hypocrites, in one way when a federal agency wants to classify life as one thing, but then there's something else that says no, that's not life. So I think it's really important for people to look beyond the headlines to really understand the context of what this is about, because it is so much more than just the Roe v. Wade. It's about who we are as a country, but it's also about our Constitution. And there's nothing in the Constitution that guarantees an individual's right to an abortion and terminating another individual's life.
Now, your personal story, your mom's personal story was quite powerful. Is there anything else that you would like to add or say to those who think that, you know, by eliminating abortion after 15 weeks, or just the abortion issue in general, is an attack on women's rights?
No, you know, I think that today, there are so many options. And women have so many, so many different organizations that provide support. There's there's not a singular black or white option here of just abortion is the answer. There are so many different organizations crisis prep, yes, adoption of prep pregnancy crisis centers offer incredible resources to women. We have these available to women who find themselves in what they consider crisis. But there's simple things and tweaks that we can be making at the federal and state levels to help provide these alternatives to women, these resources, and adoption is an incredibly important way that we can talk to women about the options available to them, it doesn't have to always end in abortion. And I know that for my mom, when in 1988, she was faced with this, this very, very difficult situation. She looked around and there weren't a whole lot of resources. Today, that's not the case. So for women who are finding themselves in this very difficult situation, know that there is an army of fellow women and advocates out there that can help you through this, and that there are resources available. And that it doesn't mean that Roe v Wade and the change of what comes when dot v Jackson is successful. That doesn't mean that that's an attack on women's health. Abortion is not women's health, it is not reproductive health, it is the harming of two individuals, one who ultimately is murdered in the process and the lasting effects of what happens to that woman who had to undergo that that is not women's health. So there are alternatives and there is a path forward. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Cami Thank you. Thank you. Right.
Would you mind just very briefly it's I mean, it's it's just like a you know, 22nd half, you know, half 2022 Happy New Year to NTV viewers.
NTV. Yeah. NTD sorry, NTD viewers out there. Like Nancy Tom NTD All right. All right. Tell me what when you're whenever you're okay. Hey to all our NTD viewers, this is Congresswoman Kat Kammok, proudly representing Florida's third congressional district, the Gator Nation. And on behalf of gators everywhere, we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very joyous Happy New Year. Let's make 2022 the best yet fantastic. Oh, right. Your wire. Yeah. She always really good all the time.
