Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R) once locked the clock for Floridians as governor; now, he wants to do the same nationwide.
Scott’s position on Daylight Savings matches President Donald Trump’s, who told the Washington Reporter in his latest interview that “we’re going to be doing” legislation to permanently increase the daylight Americans see every year.
“Of all the things I did as governor, people know and like this so much more than a lot of other things I did,” Scott said in an interview with the Reporter. “In Florida, we like to have daylight extend later. Floridians are outside a lot, we like to get home from work and play with our kids, or play tennis, ride a bike, or go for a walk, we just like the sun. It’s healthier for families. And it’s safer for all our communities.”
Scott dismissed critics of the move, telling the Reporter that there were “no” downsides. The bipartisan push for Congress to lock the clock, which has brought Scott, Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R., Ala.), James Lankford (R., Okla.), Patty Murray (D., Wash.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.) together, has not borne fruit yet.
“It’s just that it has not had a vote,” Scott said. “What I’ve got to do is get a vote on the Senate floor, and when I get a vote on Senate floor, I’m very hopeful that it will pass.” His optimism has precedent; in 2022, a version of the Sunshine Protection Act passed unanimously on the Senate floor.
But in order to lock the clock, the Senate will likely have to deal with the ongoing partial government shutdown first. In order to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, Scott wants the Senate to do away with the filibuster.
“We’ve got to do reconciliation to do Homeland Security funding,” he said. “And the only way I think we’ll get the funding for the supplemental is through a reconciliation. What reconciliation is telling us is that we’re trying to do something where we don’t have to deal with the filibuster.”
“My view,” he added, “is get rid of the filibuster. We recognized a year ago when we changed the nomination process and got rid of the filibuster for that, now with Homeland Security, we’re going to fund all of that without the Democrats. So we’re going to do that without the filibuster. So we ought to just get rid of the filibuster and we can start passing the stuff that Trump wants done.”
Scott is running out of patience with his Democratic colleagues, who he said are preventing TSA workers from getting paid on time. He said that the perseverance of TSA employees across America is the shutdown’s only “positive.”
“Senators make $174,000 bucks a year,” he said. “I’ve had a bill that says that if we don’t pass a budget, we shouldn’t get paid. And I’ve had Democratic senators say ‘I’ve got a mortgage. I’ve gotta get paid.’ Well, what about all these TSA workers who, on average, make $50,000 bucks a year? Another one said ‘let’s use this as a way to get amnesty done.’ That’s not how this government ought to work. I appreciate what the president did, he got Homeland Security paid. We’ve got to do a ten year reconciliation package for Homeland Security.”
Scott is also concerned by the “disgusting” weaponization of government that he’s experienced firsthand across two millennia. “We’re gonna have to come up with something to make sure that we can’t be surveilled,” he said, referring to legislation that would reform non-disclosure orders so government appointees can’t spy on him again in the future.
“If they can surveil a U.S. senator, then you know that you can be surveilled very easily,” he said of the Arctic Frost revelations.
“But this is not my first time,” he added. “When I was in the hospital business, Hillary Clinton went after me because I opposed Hillarycare, and then the Biden administration stole my tax returns. I’m suing Booz Allen right now over that. And then Jack Smith went after me. So this weaponization of government is disgusting, and one of the things we’ve got to make sure of is that they can’t surveil Americans.”
Some in the Democratic Party wanted Scott killed. Hasan Piker, a far-left streamer, told his followers to “kill” Scott, and he has recently appeared as a high-profile surrogate for Democrats across the country.
“That’s who they are,” Scott said. “He wants me killed. He also said kill all the capitalists. He said Jewish people should be deported to Israel. He said America deserved 9/11, he celebrated Charlie Kirk’s murder. He just got back from a five star vacation to Cuba to support the regime down there. That’s the Democratic Party today, that’s who they are, and that’s what they believe in.”
Scott also criticized Democrats who haven’t appeared with Piker yet, like Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.). “By the way, Schumer’s not separating himself from him, same with AOC and Mamdani. Bernie Sanders also hasn’t. This is the anti-Semitic, anti-Jew, anti-capitalist, willing to use murder to get what they want, party.”
He contrasted that with Trump’s muscular foreign policy, which would prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Scott said the president is “absolutely” right to view that as a red line.
“We know what they’re going to use it for,” he said. “They’ll use it to kill us. If somebody wants to kill you, take them seriously. First off, the Democratic Party is telling us who they are; let’s all make sure we understand this is who they are. The Iranian regime, the ayatollah, has said that if they get nuclear weapons, they will destroy us. Take them seriously.”
Scott also took aim at fringe anti-Semitic figures who have recently joined the Republican Party, like Dan Bilzerian, who is primarying Scott’s “friend,” Rep. Randy Fine (R., Fla.) in Florida.
“Randy’s a friend, Randy works hard. He needs to win,” Scott said. “I want him to win. Hasan Piker said Randy ought to be deported. Randy’s not a dual citizen, and Randy’s opposed to that. The Democrats have gone crazy. What the Democrats are doing with regards to Iran is crazy. The Iranian regime wants to kill us. They want nuclear weapons to kill us. They want to destroy your life and and these Democrats are okay with that. These people are crazy. They’re insane, and Hakeem Jeffries is a complete idiot.”
As a senator from Florida, Scott also keeps close tabs on what is happening to the south in Cuba. He told the Reporter that he believes that the Trump administration is correct in predicting that change will come soon to the country.
“In doing these jobs, being the governor and now in the senate, you know that your time is limited, that you’ve got to work to get these things done,” he said. “I’m anxious to get on with getting a new regime in Venezuela and a new regime in Cuba, because it’s not easy, but I believe it’s going to happen. The nice thing is we have a president who cares, and we have a Secretary of State who cares, and so I think the odds of it happening are really high. I’d be optimistic if I were Cuban right now.”
Scott also wants the Trump administration “to indict Raúl Castro and bring him to trial in the United States.” He added that Democrats, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) and Jonathan Jackson (D., Ill.), who visited Cuba’s communist government are “insane.”
“In Cuba, they have these kids in prison,” he said. “There’s a 16 year old boy in prison because he complained that his family didn’t have electricity. So he’s in prison. Did they go see him? Do they talk about getting him out? No. These people are insane. A 16 year old boy who’s worried about his family is now in prison because he complained about just wanting to have electricity. These people have lost their minds.”
Below is a transcript of our interview with Sen. Rick Scott, lightly edited for clarity.
Washington Reporter:
Senator Scott, I hope you’re enjoying this sunny day. Can you talk about why this is an important issue to Floridians?
Sen. Rick Scott:
It’s really interesting how much nicer it is to have the sun go down later. Of all the things I did as governor, people know and like this so much more than a lot of other things I did. In Florida, we like to have daylight extend later. Floridians are outside a lot, we like to get home from work and play with our kids, or play tennis, ride a bike, or go for a walk, we just like the sun. It’s healthier for families. And it’s safer for all our communities.
Washington Reporter:
For years, you have been squarely in line with President Trump when it comes to locking the clock. But I am wondering about a point raised by your critics on this issue. They have pointed out that when this has been tried in the past in America, it’s been reversed. Were there any downsides that you noticed when this happened in Florida?
Sen. Rick Scott:
No, and we’re not mandating that everybody do this; states still get to make choices. This is a bipartisan effort.
Washington Reporter:
To that point, I was just interviewing President Trump about this; you’re very much with the president on this, and he told me that there’s legislation that the White House is working on. Is this the same version of the bill that you’ve done with James Lankford and Sheldon Whitehouse and others in the past? What is the latest from the Hill on locking the clock?
Sen. Rick Scott:
This is the legislation that I’ve worked with the White House on, and President Trump has been supportive of it. I’m optimistic. Look at who’s on this. It’s clearly a bipartisan effort. People like Patty Murray are on it, and Sheldon Whitehouse is on it. Martin Heinrich is on it. This is going to get done. It’s just when it gets done.
Washington Reporter:
You’re referring to the Sunshine Protection Act getting passed again?
Sen. Rick Scott:
Yes, that’s right.
Washington Reporter:
A version of it in 2022 passed unanimously, so what is preventing it from becoming law?
Sen. Rick Scott:
That’s easy, it’s just that it has not had a vote. What I’ve got to do is get a vote on the Senate floor, and when I get a vote on Senate floor, I’m very hopeful that it will pass.
Washington Reporter:
The other thing that you’re trying to get passed in the Senate is the rest of the Trump agenda. Another reconciliation looks like it will happen. What else do you want to get through the door on that?
Sen. Rick Scott:
We’ve got to do reconciliation to do Homeland Security funding. And the only way I think we’ll get the funding for the supplemental is through a reconciliation. What reconciliation is telling us is that we’re trying to do something where we don’t have to deal with the filibuster. So my view is, get rid of the filibuster. We recognized a year ago when we changed the nomination process and got rid of the filibuster for that, now with Homeland Security, we’re going to fund all of that without the Democrats. So we’re going to do that without the filibuster. So we ought to just get rid of the filibuster and we can start passing the stuff that Trump wants done. I think what’s been frustrating on this is I just want to get a vote on Senate floor, because I think it’ll pass.
Washington Reporter:
I was at the press conference you did at Reagan airport with RSC about the government shutdown and TSA a few weeks ago; it’s spring break time. People are heading to Florida in droves. How has this ongoing partial government shutdown been impacting tourism?
Sen. Rick Scott:
Here’s the positive. The positive is TSA workers; even though they were unpaid, they were showing up to work. And so while the lines got longer, they were showing up. And the fact that Trump brought in other help with ICE had a pretty big impact. So, it didn’t impact us in our state, but it’s so unfair. Senators make 174,000 bucks a year. I’ve had a bill that says that if we don’t pass a budget, we shouldn’t get paid. And I’ve had Democratic senators say ‘I’ve got a mortgage. I’ve gotta get paid.’ Well, what about all these TSA workers who, on average, make 50,000 bucks a year? Another one said ‘let’s use this as a way to get amnesty done.’ That’s not how this government ought to work. I appreciate what the president did, he got Homeland Security paid. We’ve got to do a ten year reconciliation package for Homeland Security.
Washington Reporter:
Beyond just reconciliation, you have a history of being targeted by Jack Smith along with other opponents of Trump via Arctic Frost. Do you favor reform to non-disclosure orders so that this can’t be done in the future to people like you?
Sen. Rick Scott:
Yes. First off, we’re gonna have FISA reauthorization. We’re gonna have to come up with something to make sure that we can’t be surveilled. But this is not my first time. When I was in the hospital business, Hillary Clinton went after me because I opposed Hillarycare, and then the Biden administration stole my tax returns. I’m suing Booz Allen right now over that. And then Jack Smith went after me. So this weaponization of government is disgusting, and one of the things we’ve got to make sure of is that they can’t surveil Americans. If they can surveil a U.S. senator, then you know that you can be surveilled very easily.
Washington Reporter:
We recently did a story about Hasan Piker, and his role in the Democratic Party. He’s not in the government, but he infamously told his followers to kill you. You’ve been very critical of him as a Democratic Party surrogate. He was just in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed. What is going on with the Democratic Party?
Sen. Rick Scott:
That’s who they are. He wants me killed. He also said kill all the capitalists. He said Jewish people should be deported to Israel. He said America deserved 9/11, he celebrated Charlie Kirk’s murder. He just got back from a five star vacation to Cuba to support the regime down there. That’s the Democratic Party today, that’s who they are, and that’s what they believe in. By the way, Schumer’s not separating himself from him, same with AOC and Mamdani. Bernie Sanders also hasn’t. This is the anti-Semitic, anti-Jew, anti-capitalist, willing to use murder to get what they want, party.
Washington Reporter:
Closer to home, Congressman Randy Fine has a primary challenge from Dan Bilzerian. How do you think that’s going? Do you think he’ll win easily? Do you see similar problems with any of the candidates on the GOP side?
Sen. Rick Scott:
Randy’s a friend. Randy works hard. He needs to win. I want him to win. Hasan Piker said Randy ought to be deported. Randy’s not a dual citizen, and Randy’s opposed to that. The Democrats have gone crazy. What the Democrats are doing with regards to Iran is crazy. The Iranian regime wants to kill us. They want nuclear weapons to kill us. They want to destroy your life and and these Democrats are okay with that. These people are crazy. They’re insane, and Hakeem Jeffries is a complete idiot.
Washington Reporter:
We’re in the midst of this tentative ceasefire with Iran. President Trump has been very clear about zero enrichment for Iran. Do you think he’s right to draw that as a clear red line?
Sen. Rick Scott:
Absolutely. Because we know what they’re going to use it for. They’ll use it to kill us. If somebody wants to kill you, take them seriously. First off, the Democratic Party is telling us who they are; let’s all make sure we understand this is who they are. The Iranian regime, the ayatollah, has said that if they get nuclear weapons, they will destroy us. Take them seriously. It’s like these Code Pink people, whatever Trump’s doing, they’re on the opposite side of it. And so I said to them, ‘are you guys just stupid? They want to kill us. Over there, you would not be alive to do the stupid stuff you do.’
Washington Reporter:
Another issue that’s close to home for you is Cuba. If, instead of you being a 73 year old American, if you’re a 73 year old in Cuba right now, and you’re seeing the Trump administration, Trump, Marco Rubio, talk about how Cuba is next. Would you have faith in the negotiating and everything that we’ve seen in Latin America with Maduro from America to know that there will be a Cuba Libre in perhaps even the imminent future?
Sen. Rick Scott:
I would believe there is, and I believe there will be. In doing these jobs, being the governor and now in the senate, you know that your time is limited, that you’ve got to work to get these things done. So I’m always anxious to get my stuff done. So I’m anxious to get on with getting a new regime in Venezuela and a new regime in Cuba, because it’s not easy, but I believe it’s going to happen. The nice thing is we have a president who cares, and we have a Secretary of State who cares, and so I think the odds of it happening are really high. I’d be optimistic if I were Cuban right now.
Washington Reporter:
Rubio knows his stuff on this, but is there anything that you would want to see done in addition to what they’re already working on about that?
Sen. Rick Scott:
They need to indict Raúl Castro and bring him to trial in the United States.
Washington Reporter:
Did you see that some House Democrats were meeting with these Cuban communists over Easter?
Sen. Rick Scott:
It’s worse than that. In Cuba, they have these kids in prison. There’s a 16 year old boy in prison because he complained that his family didn’t have electricity. So he’s in prison. Did they go see him? Do they talk about getting him out? No. These people are insane. A 16 year old boy who’s worried about his family is now in prison because he complained about just wanting to have electricity. These people have lost their minds.