The next is a transcript of an interview with Area Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, on “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Oct. 13, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we move now to Area Speaker Mike Johnson, who joins us from Benton, Louisiana. Just right morning to you, Mr. Speaker.SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MIKE JOHNSON: Hi there Margaret, nice to peer you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sir, we all know there were those two devastating hurricanes simply previously 16 days. You’ve gotten visited a few of these crisis zones your self. And Punchbowl Information quotes you as pronouncing that Congress might ultimately must cross an help bundle that might succeed in as top as $100 billion. Ultimate Sunday in this program, Thom Tillis, the senator from North Carolina, stated to us he’d like for Congress to offer some walk in the park through vote casting now on help after which come again after the election to do extra. Lawmakers are not scheduled to come back again for some other month. Why do you suppose it may possibly wait?SPEAKER JOHNSON: Neatly, it may possibly wait as a result of have in mind, the day sooner than Typhoon Helene hit, made landfall in Florida, after which went up in the course of the states and wound up in Senator Tillis’s state of North Carolina, Congress appropriated $20 billion further to FEMA in order that they’d have the essential assets to handle rapid wishes, and so we put that into the coffers. I simply checked Margaret as of this morning, lower than 2% of that investment has in fact been disbursed, proper round 2% of it, so we’d like FEMA to do its task. That- the ones finances, that cash is supplied in order that typhoon sufferers will have the rapid must haves met. After which what occurs after each typhoon is that the states must assess and calculate the true wishes, after which they post to Congress that request. Once this is achieved, Congress will meet and in bipartisan style, we will be able to deal with the ones wishes. We’re going to give you the further assets. However it could be untimely to name everybody again now, as a result of those storms are so huge of their scope and magnitude, it is going to take just a little little bit of time to make the ones calculations. In North Carolina, I used to be there within the worst hit spaces round Asheville with Senator Tillis and Senator Budd, Chuck Edwards, the congressman that represents that house, the devastation is large, and other folks had been nonetheless being rescued 13 days out from the typhoon. That was once only some days again. So that they nonetheless have so much to do. It’ll take a very long time to make the ones calculations, however Congress is able to act, and we will be able to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neatly, the FEMA Director says there may be handiest $11 billion left from that $20 billion that was once allotted. In order that’s a special accounting than this 2% you are saying was once disbursed.SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah. So they have obligated some finances, however they have handiest disbursed 2%, and when I used to be there at the flooring, and also you will have to move, I imply, deliver the cameras and communicate to the folk there, they are going to let you know, don’t- do not take politicians phrases for this or the management’s phrase, communicate to the folk there at the flooring that they had no longer been supplied the assets nearly two weeks out from the typhoon that they desperately wanted. And when I used to be there 13 days, post- you realize, publish the typhoon hitting that state, persons are nonetheless being rescued. They are caught within the upper elevations within the mountains for the reason that roads are down and all of the leisure. So they want every- each to be had useful resource and all arms on deck. The rescue and restoration efforts are nonetheless happening, after which we deal with the remainder of it. However FEMA was once gradual to reply. They didn’t do the task that all of us be expecting and hope that they’re going to do, and there may be going to be a large number of review about that as neatly within the days forward. MARGARET BRENNAN: However typhoon season, as you realize, final in the course of the finish of November, you might be from Louisiana. You may have handled this sooner than. NOAA, the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Management, is forecasting this might be one of the crucial busiest seasons on file. So why no longer get forward of this? Is not it a little of a raffle to attend?SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, it isn’t. Margaret, as I simply stated, Congress can not meet and simply ship cash on a bet or an estimate of what the damages are. The way in which supplemental crisis investment is supplied is that, you realize, the state sends in exact wishes. It is assessed through Congress after which passed out that method. However once more, have in mind, they have got billions, tens of billions of greenbacks that had been already despatched to FEMA, sooner or later sooner than Helene made landfall. So they have got a number of assets. And if truth be told, the management Secretary Mark- Mayorkas stated himself, DHS, FEMA is division- department of Fatherland Safety. He stated only some days in the past on his telecast to the media that they’ve what they want presently. Everybody understands and is aware of extra will probably be essential. But when we meet in a couple of weeks, proper after the election, when Congress is about to return, this is about the correct amount of time the place we will have the ability to care for the ones wishes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And that $100 billion is a proper review that you just made?SPEAKER JOHNSON: Neatly, glance, that is my guesstimate. You recognize, I used to be at the flooring within the worst hit spaces in Florida. I went the place Helene made landfall. Entire communities are wiped available in the market. It is devastating. It is going all of the method inland. The rural spaces are devastated through it as neatly. And then you definately move as much as the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, this is a large scope. As Governor Kemp stated, in Georgia, it was once as though a 250 mile vast twister ripped via his state. So that is going to take a while to recuperate from. You discussed, I am from Louisiana. We are nonetheless coping with the after results of Katrina nearly twenty years later. So those are giant ones.And it is going to take a large number of paintings, however the excellent news is, you realize, the heartening factor about this Margaret, if you find yourself there at the flooring, you communicate to the folk, you might be reminded of the American spirit, and other folks pull in combination, communities, pulling in combination, church buildings, nonprofits, Samaritan’s Handbag, all of the leisure, they are doing ordinary paintings there, and it it makes you inspired to be a few of the other folks, even in regardless of of that devastation, they are pulling in combination, and that’s the reason that is the beauty of all this. MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ve some new CBS polling out this morning, and it displays a majority of electorate do agree with their state’s election machine. Just a quarter of electorate suppose there will probably be standard fraud on this upcoming 2024 election, however part of Donald Trump electorate need him to problem the election effects. If Harris wins, many of the Vice President’s backers need her to just accept the effects regardless of who wins. MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re the Speaker of the Area, which means that you’re one of the crucial officers with some say concerning the safety scenario main as much as January sixth and election certification. Are you able to guarantee the rustic, we will be able to no longer see the violence that this nation skilled in 2021? What are you doing to forestall it?SPEAKER JOHNSON: Sure, I do not believe we will see anything else like that. I undoubtedly pray and hope that is true. There may be a large number of nice paintings that is been achieved on the federal, state and native stage to stop the chaos that ensued after 2020. The Covid election 12 months, when all of the states had been converting their rules and laws with out the legislatures approving that. That introduced up constitutional questions. There have been all forms of considerations about fraud and irregularity and all the ones issues. The nice factor is, and I believe everyone will have to be inspired, that since that point, many of the state legislatures went to paintings to shore up their methods to make certain that the ones types of issues did not occur one day. And I believe that that is going to offer us a top stage of walk in the park, and undoubtedly hope that this will probably be a loose and honest and prison election. I believe everyone on either side will have to be praying and hoping for that, and that’s the reason what I’m hoping and be expecting. And so after we get to January sixth, as you realize, the Charter, our rules require us to get this achieved on a definite timetable, and we will be able to. Congress will apply the Charter. I ensure you that I have made a profession of that. You recognize, I have demonstrated it time and again and over right through my existence, and as Speaker of the Area. And we will be able to care for this so everyone can will have a way of walk in the park about that. Now glance, there are participants on either side of the aisle who might object to slates of electors. This is not unusual now. In reality, Democrats have objected to slates of electors after each unmarried Republican presidential victory this century. So there may be not anything in point of fact abnormal about that. And when other folks say that they have got were given to observe it intently, they are pronouncing that they are going to do their task. So– MARGARET BRENNAN: however again in–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: We are going to have the non violent transition of energy. Yeah, I consider President Trump’s going to win, and this will probably be looked after. MARGARET BRENNAN: However again in 2020 you supported a prison problem to the end result of the election. The Ideally suited Court docket rejected that try to problem it. Since then, the Electoral Depend Reform Act has been handed. Are you sure that on the country’s capital, the lawmakers who you’re employed with, may not be difficult the end result?SPEAKER JOHNSON: Glance, we will see what occurs. I will be able to simply let you know that we are going to apply the regulation, and we will be able to make certain that our colleagues apply the regulation. The Electoral Depend Act and the Charter itself calls for. The cause of the objection in, you realize, the final election cycle in 2020 was once what I referenced previous, is that we had all forms of adjustments to election rules within the states and opting for electors the mechanism through doing that beneath article two, segment one, clause two says that handiest the state legislatures can make a choice the ones methods. So when elections officers and secretaries of state and a few state courtroom judges and whomever the governors, once they modified their laws as a result of Covid, they did it in an unconstitutional method. And that was once a very powerful prison query. The Ideally suited Court docket by no means addressed it, as a result of, have in mind, they only rejected all that on status. However we aren’t re-litigating–[CROSSTALK]MARGARET BRENNAN: However 62, no I am notSPEAKER JOHNSON: We are speaking about 2024-MARGARET BRENNAN: Precisely, and 62 prison demanding situations, as you realize, failed with the Trump demanding situations to
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah however no longer on that foundation, Margaret. Margaret, wait a minute. Wait a minute. No longer on that foundation. That prison query is, I believe, objectively confirmed to be true. Clearly, we all know the legislatures were not assembly in 2020 as a result of Covid. So it is article two, segment one, clause two, everyone google it and browse it says handiest the legislatures could make the ones laws. However glance, I am comfy to let you know that this 12 months–MARGARET BRENNAN: – However at the safety pictureSPEAKER JOHNSON: That is not a subject, proper? MARGARET BRENNAN: At the safety image on the country’s capital, what measures are you taking? [CROSSTALK ENDS]SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah. Glance, now we have an all arms on deck method in this. The Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol and everybody have achieved ordinary measures. They have got hardened the amenities across the construction to stop anything else one day from international terrorists or any person else who would possibly wish to, you realize, attempt to invade the Capitol, k. That is looked after. However I believe the higher factor and the larger tale is that you’ve got had in point of fact nice paintings achieved in many of the states to shore up their methods and to ensure that that we have got a loose and honest election. Now glance, as President Trump says at all times and I agree, our facet, what we are saying on the rallies you might have heard is we’ve got were given to make it too giant to rig. I believe that is in point of fact essential. I believe there may be going to be some dishonest on this election. I believe noncitizens are going to vote. Glance, living proof– [CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: You recognize that it’s in opposition to–SPEAKER JOHNSON: Glenn Youngkin, the governor of the Commonwealth of VirginiaMARGARET BRENNAN: The regulation for noncitizens to vote in federal elections that is established regulation. SPEAKER JOHNSON: After all it’s, after all it’s, however after all it’s. However this is the issue, there may be plenty of states that aren’t requiring evidence of citizenship when illegals are noncitizens sign in to vote. We all know that is taking place. Glance, Glenn Youngkin in Virginia, I used to be going to mention he issued an government order to scrub up their vote casting laws heading into the election. Not up to 30 days out, a few days in the past, the Obama, I imply, the Biden management, Division of Justice, Biden Harris management, sued the governor and the state, the Commonwealth of Virginia, to take a look at to stop them from cleansing up their voter rolls. Their voter rolls. See, that roughly factor creates a large number of doubt and fear within the minds of a large number of the American other folks. Why would they do this? MARGARET BRENNAN: However respectfully, Speaker –SPEAKER JOHNSON: Everyone will have to need the regulation to be adopted MARGARET BRENNAN: Completely. respectfully, Speaker, you each, all through this interview, stated that you just do consider that states have taken measures that may assist the integrity of this election
SPEAKER JOHNSON: That is true-MARGARET BRENNAN: – and then you definately simply additionally appear to undermine self assurance within the integrity of the state elections– SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, no. Margaret. Grasp on. Wait a minute. Wait, wait only a minute. It is not me undermining it. It is the movements of the Biden-Harris management and a few of these states. Noncitizens aren’t allowed to vote beneath federal lawMARGARET BRENNAN: Proper SPEAKER JOHNSON: However the states have prohibited it. We handed the SAVE act. You recognize, in the home, the SAVE Act says you gotta have evidence of citizenship sooner than you sign in to vote. And Chuck Schumer and the Democrats blocked that within the Senate. We will have avoided this, the questions that individuals have about that, however the Democrats selected to not. They opened the border vast. A large number of other folks theorize that that was once in order that they may have non voters to vote. Those are realities, Margaret. I want it were not true, however that is what’s, that is the fear that individuals have. And Wisconsin–[CROSSTALK] MARGARET BRENNAN: – However, however. Folks will have a number of considerations, however it’s already regulation that noncitizens can not vote in federal elections.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: This is a regulation. That is proper, however now we have to ensure the regulation is adopted. And that’s the entire level. That has all the time been the entire level of the SAVE Act and all of the measures that we’ve got attempted to verify. I consider, through my rely, now we have about 16 million unlawful extraterrestrial beings within the nation since Mayorkas and Harris and Biden opened the border vast. And as a result of that, there may be fear, as a result of the ones persons are disbursed everywhere in the nation, as you realize, there may be fear a few of the ones other folks will take a look at to take part within the elections. Glance, a few of our Area races. I consider the Republicans are going to win the home, develop the home majority, win the Senate and the White Area. However in a few of our Area races, I imply, I’ve a colleague who was once elected through six votes in 2020. A few of these are made up our minds through masses or a couple of 1000s of votes. So when you’ve got non voters taking part a criminal offense, and you don’t have any mechanism in some states to forestall it. That’s the root of such a lot of the worry. And naturally, you realize, in California, they have got poll harvesting proper? Poll harvesting is infamous for opening the door for fraud in Wisconsin, they will put—MARGARET BRENNAN: — Mr. Speaker, you appear to be SPEAKER JOHNSON: – In some counties unmanned poll containers in public parks, againMARGARET BRENNAN: Contradicting your self. The states are run through the state govt–SPEAKER JOHNSON: No. I am mentioning the information, Margaret.MARGARET BRENNAN: – No longer the government.SPEAKER JOHNSON: That is proper. That is proper. And that’s the reason yeah we are hoping and pray-
MARGARET BRENNAN: So in case your factor is with sure governors, should not you be chatting with them? SPEAKER JOHNSON: We’ve been- now we have been and the Republican governors have achieved heroic paintings. They have got achieved their very own audits of the voter rolls to take a look at to verify and do their best possible responsibility to ensure that this can be a loose, honest and prison election. We are calling on all of the governors to do the similar factor, Democrat governors as neatly, and Democrat led states within the legislature, they wish to do the similar factor. A large number of just right paintings has been achieved since 2020, however there may be nonetheless questions available in the market. So what we need to do, and now we have been on the congressional stage, is attempt to drive up to imaginable, voter integrity measures. Attempt to inspire that that may be going down in each state. Since you’re proper, your level is easily taken- those elections– are are treated through the person states– MARGARET BRENNAN: – However you might be no longer convening Congress till after the election, you stated, Sir, so that you will not be able to do any of what you’re speaking about in idea. SPEAKER JOHNSON: Hi there, Margaret, Margaret, we’ve got been doing this for nearly 4 years because the 2020 debacle, that is what’s been taking place. And the Republican led states and the Republican governors have achieved an ordinary task. One of the crucial Democrats have no longer. It has no longer been observed as their best precedence, and that’s the reason the cause of the debate and the worry. However once more, I will reiterate what I stated within the outset. Despite all that, I believe it is going to be too giant to rig. I believe we are going to have a loose and honest and prison election around the board. I undoubtedly hope and pray that is true. And I believe each member of Congress joins in that- that- that hope and fear. MARGARET BRENNAN: Speaker of the Area Mike Johnson, thanks in your time. We’re going to be proper again with much more Face the Country. Stick with us.
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