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Congress needs to come together on policing: GOP Sen. Rick Scott

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Congress needs to come together on policing: GOP Sen. Rick Scott

Talking to comments from President Joe Biden and Rep. Maxine Waters about the case, Scott added,"I believe we ought to bring people together, not sort of incite individuals to do precisely the wrong thing, but it is dreadful that (the murder) occurred. I hope it never happens again."

The National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman proposed to Stephanopoulos that when it came to police reform, Democrats didn't want to negotiate with a Republican proposal, led by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.

"I am disappointed with all the Democrats. Tim Scott worked hard last year on police reform bill, and the Democrats obstructed it in the filibuster, therefore all of us would like to be sure we keep our communities safe," he said.

Senate Democrats blocked a reform bill from their GOP counterparts in June of this past year, citing that it stopped short of several measures they deemed necessary. Last month, the House passed the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, which was introduced by Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., but Democrats are short the 10 Republican votes necessary for the bill to pass the Senate unchanged.

But, Scott of South Carolina reported this week that he believes progress could be made in the coming weeks in negotiations between Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Bass. Bass herself told Stephanopoulos in a separate interview Sunday she thinks a compromise can be reached as bipartisan discussions are ongoing.

Asked about qualified immunity -- the United States' standard of protecting police officers from claims of violating a individual's rights, and what appears to be the dividing line in additional bipartisan discussions on reform -- Scott of Florida said Sunday he was expecting to find common ground on"best practices."

"I have always listened to everyone's proposals, but what I'm not likely to do is put a law enforcement in a position that they've got to second guess themselves if they're trying to make certain people are staying safe," he explained. "The vast majority of law enforcement officers, appear every day, put their own lives at risk daily and do the ideal thing."

Stephanopoulos also pressed Scott on immigration policy, yet another area of contention between Democrats and Republicans, as the Biden government struggles to deal with the huge influx of unaccompanied minors at the boundary. He also raised a quote from former President George W. Bush, who called the Republican Party"isolationist, protectionist, and also to a certain degree, nativist."

In response, Scott again said Democrats aren't prepared to meet in the middle when it comes to tackling a number of the country's most pressing issues.

"The Republican Party is the land of opportunity. I live in an immigration condition, but I think in legal immigration," he started. "But look, the Democrats don't want to do anything. I think we've got to figure out how to look after the DACA kids. We must create security at the border and let's figure out how we create us a nation where people that are looking to live the dream that we would like to live, can come in here on legal foundation"

Biden said in a meeting this week with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus he supports using the Senate's reconciliation abilities if Democrats can't discover that the 10 GOP votes necessary to pass reform.

Stephanopoulos contested Scott, who's responsible for electing GOP senators in 2022, about the effect of former President Donald Trump over the celebration after he vowed to encourage moderate Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski's eventual competitor when she's up for reelection next year.

Scott said he considers Murkowski, who won her last election through a write-in campaign, will serve another term.

"Well, I think Lisa Murkowski will have a great triumph. We're gont have -- you know, Republicans are united, we don't like the Biden schedule," he explained. "That is a nation with the land of opportunity, and I am pleased to be Republican, and that I know we are gont possess a large win in'22 and Biden is helping us each and every day."

Stephanopoulos also pushed Scott on his decision to award Trump with a"Champion of Freedom Award," after Trump was subject to the most bipartisan impeachment trial in this nation's history.

"And you did that in spite of the fact that the former president continues to spread lies about the election, about Mike Pence and the Capitol siege on January 6th. He said there was no threat there," Stephanopoulos said.

Scott said the award was to recognize Trump's achievements, because he"worked hard" on different problems.

"I gave him that award for the proper reasons. He worked on border security. He worked on producing the best economy we have had probably in my lifetime," he started. "I mean that he worked hard. You know, every president know would love to get more things accomplished, but, I mean, he did some things ahead presidents hadn't gotten done."

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