Transcripts For CSPAN3 Niall 20240704 : vimarsana.com

CSPAN3 Niall July 4, 2024

Journal and we are joined ts morning by Niall Stanage, who is a white house columnist for the hill newspaper. And he is here this morning to talk about how controversial issues are playing out in state legislatures. Niall, good morning. Its good to see you. All right. You recently wrote a column in the hill newspaper, talking about the culture wars and the United States are playing out at the state level. Tell us a little bit about why we are seeing. I think it depends on the specific issue. So, abortion, obviously, has been a culture war issue for ever. Clearly, thats been moved to the states by the Supreme Court decision about 11 months ago, striking down roe v. Wade. Now, then you have other additional issues, like socalled so your two laws, which have really come to the four as a matter of debate much more recently. Then, in addition to that, you have some politicians president ial ambitions caught up in this as well. Governor desantis in florida has quite clearly and quite ostentatiously been inserting himself into some of these sixweek abortion ban, socalled anti woke act, and things like that. Why are we seeing this state legislatures rather in washington, in congress, at the white house. Why are we seeing this coming up in gubernatorial and legislative at the state level . I think a couple of reasons. One is, in relation to gun laws, for example, obviously, its very salient this morning for very sad reasons. There hasnt been a lot of federal action on that area. The progun control groups have increasingly focused on state legislatures, and have, by their made some progress. So, that is one part of this picture. I think, also, jesse theres also the fact that our politics has become increasingly nationalized. These big issues that excite such passions have become dominant even in state level races. And, as you say, gubernatorial races, and sometimes at a more hyper local level, things Like School Board elections are now being fought on crt issues and things like that. Is this a good thing . Or is this bad that these are same conversations going on in different places and likely coming to different solutions. Is this a good thing or bad thing . One of the experts i spoke to suggested this was a good thing. And his argument was, in a job of the states to experimental little bit more. He put it that the federal government is there as a guard rail if things go completely crazy. But state legislatures and other state bodies can deal with these issues at a level that is, by its nature, closer to the people. And so a law that you might want an alabama is not necessarily the same kind of law that voters in vermont are going to support. And so, having those state level disparities does not necessarily a bad thing. Does that however, especially when it comes to hot button issues like gun, control, abortion does that mean that americans face different laws in different states . And may or may not know what jurisdiction has which law . I think that is a really important, point particularly and to topics of gun laws and abortion laws. We really do see very dramatic differences. Now, obviously, on the gun question, there are all sorts of questions around reciprocity and whether one states law should be recognized in another state. In the abortion question, you and i have a region of the nation, primarily in the that is through prohibiting or coming close to prohibiting abortion completely. And the northeast and the west coast are taking an entirely different view, we are going out of the way to protect reproductive rights there. So, does that contribute to the sense that we are, in some ways, two separate nations . Possibly. But its also reflective of the voters in speaking of the voters in those places, there are some people who say that there is a national move, a National Group that is manipulating the state legislatures by trying to push through the state same laws in different states using lobbying, using their political power. Is that what we are seeing . Are we seeing these shadowy National Groups pushing through laws that states may not have moved on their own . So, i want to be a little bit careful with that one. I think that the different laws in different states will reflect different political cultures in those states and different views on the parts of voters. That said, if you want to nefariously affect things, you can do that and get more bang for your buck, honestly, in state legislatures or in even more localized areas because those races dont typically budgets attached, certainly not the way a president ial election does, for example, or even a senate race. So, you can impact state legislatures and, certainly, in the school board elections, if you wish to do so, much easier than you can do on the national level. And we seeing that . We seeing more lobbying money from larger groups focusing on state legislatures . One of the things i think we can both agree congress is pretty much deadlocked you are not going to get any controversial or big name issues through congress. We can see moving their money away from congress and towards state legislatures where they can get things that they may . Want i think, in broad terms, we do. We certainly are seeing an increased focus and an increased recognition of the importance of these issues or these matters. As well, you look at Something Like the debate over Something Like critical race theory, 18 states now have passed some sort of restriction or prohibition on what might broadly be called crt, defining crt is a whole other battle, as you know abortion, again, we talk about 13 states with almost total prohibitions dependent on how you characterize it about the same number number with type restrictions. I think those pivotal issues do encourage groups with to involve themselves, to a greater extent. I would some of these issues but before i do, i want to remind our colleagues that they can take part in this conversation. We are going to open up all regular lines. That means, democrats, you can call in that 202, 708 republicans, your line is going to be independents you can call 200 2748 202 748 8002 and on facebook at facebook. Com slash cspan. So, i want to dive in a little bit more today about the gun laws in the u. S. Because, of course, we have that tragic shooting yesterday in austin, texas. We see different states with different gun laws. And we see a whole plethora of gun laws trying to be pushed through in several state legislatures. What are the whats the landscape that we are seeing at the right now . I think there are a number of states that have actually passed more stringent gun laws pretty recently. If you look at michigan, where Governor Whitmer recently signed as something that, basically, increases the storage requirements for guns. And in washington state, governor jay inslee there sided actual assault weapons ban, and a number of other restrictions. Colorado, governor jared polis with those would those are all democratic governors. We are not seeing those kinds of moves made in places like texas, despite these just catastrophic events, the uvalde massacre as well as what we saw yesterday. There has not really been for gun control efforts in texas. In fact you remember, jessie, that the last Gubernatorial Election we had Governor Abbott, whos a strong advocate, shall we, say of the Second Amendment, quite easily defeating beto orourke, the democrat, who have been pushing for much more stringent gun laws. How does one state decision to be more stringent on gun laws affect the next state across the border . Or are these laws, these entities unto themselves . I think they affect it, but in a fairly nebulous way. Also, they affect the general perception of what may be politically possible. For a very long time, there was this perception that any mention of gun control was bad for democrats and good for republicans. That, has i think, youve been eroded in a number of these states. But its not a universal rule. And there are these big differences between states that are much more resistant to gun control laws, and those that favor them. So, does it have an impact . It has a sort of abstract impact, but not always a very concrete or pacific specific one. You said earlier that state legislatures and state have a greater chance to experiment, especially when it goes to these hot button issues. But then, dont they have the Supreme Court and the and higher court system and i know that you want to do this in your state, but, its against the constitution. Yeah, they absolutely do end and they also sometimes have state courts that to take and very obvious example, we were were just talking about the sixweek abortion ban in florida. Im not sure that the media has done a great job and pointing out that that is not in effect yet, because of the courts in florida are looking at howard comports with the state constitution. And then, on top of that, you have the Supreme Court, a very short distance from where we are sitting right now, that can weigh in on any number of these matters and declare state matters unconstitutional. Lets let some of our viewers take part in this conversation. We will start with mark, who is calling from florida, on the democratic line. Mark, good morning. Hello, good morning, thank you for taking my call. Since we are talking about culture wars and the role of state legislatures, what does your guest know about the culture warrior, texas state representative ryan slatons a little upset there . Not very much, is the honest answer of that. I dont know if you want to enlighten the or otherwise. But im not very aware of mr. Slatons activities that you are alluding to. Alluding to. I think may have dropped off. Right . Okay. I actually dont know what he is referring to as well. We will look at it and see if we can find lets go to gary, who is calling from livingston, texas on the republican line. Gary, good morning. Hey, good morning. I just wanted to correct what you said a while ago. The shooting that happened yesterday was in allen, texas, and not austin. Thank you. Did they i didnt think so it was in allen, texas. Lets go to luis, who is calling from kansas city, missouri, on the independent line. Luis, good morning. Good morning. Thank you for taking my call. Could you discuss the difference between bribery and in terms of sources with congressman . Thats actually a great question. And that could be a long discussion. I mean, the influence of money in politics is something that has been an issue for decades, but seems to be intensifying as an issue. At what point is the purchase of influence illegal . There is no sense rather than what is illegal. Obviously, a lot of politicians of both parties are pretty dependent on getting financial donations. They would argue, universally, i think, that that does not affect the votes they cast, or the positions that they take. I would leave it up to you and the rest of our audience to adjudicate whether you think that is true or not. What of the things that we have seen, especially as it comes for the next president ial election the thing is, we talked about earlier that some governors seem to be using these culture wars at the state level to, lets just say, increase their national standing. It is one is the democratic party, the republican party, or any party, particularly, benefiting from having these local state level culture war battles in their state legislatures . Does that give the republicans an advantage . Does it give democrats an advantage . I dont think it is really that clear cut. And it is a great question. I think there are some areas in which it does benefit republicans. As to your point about president ial ambitions, we mentioned Governor Desantis earlier on. He, very clearly, has used his state powers legitimately to promote or to game prominence from a particularly conservative position on these culture war issues. But does it ultimately benefit one party or the . Other i think advocates of gun control would argue, for example, that they have more success at the state level, rather than federally the side on other issues like abortion i think, primarily, that have benefited republicans when issue that has popped up on a local level that we havent talked about yet is the gender affirming care issue, and the transgender issues that we have seen, all of a sudden, that seem to be talked about in quite a few state legislatures. Where do we stand with that . But we stand with that is that there are a number of legislatures who are considering or trying to pass bills on that. But that actually gets to your previous point about, which issues benefit which party. And it is notable that there is a poll just a couple of days ago in the Washington Post that indicated that, broadly speaking, the American Public favor, well, the more republican or more conservative position and that was a poll that found that the majority of americans believe that gender is determined by the sex assigned at birth, and large majority of americans were opposed to trans women or girls being permitted to compete in sports with people who had the female sex assigned at fourth. So, i think that, and that issue, that is one where, clearly, it seems to me possessives or whatever term you want to use ive got out in front for the american people. And when you say out front you mean that the left is not its not instep with where the American Public are. And how does that affect going on in the state level in . Does that mean that republicans can use this issue and try to pass laws that will put them at an advantage in their six Upcoming Elections . Yes is the short answer. And i think that is because you can use laws at the state level in the literal sense of trying to prohibit things excuse me, or trying to encourage things. But you can also use laws at the state level to promote or amplify a particular issue so. On that issue of what we might broadly call trans rights, if republicans calculate it, seems to me, correctly, looking at the data, that the public is broadly sympathetic to their position, then they can push these bills in state legislatures as a means of and then theres political advantage to be gleaned from. That all right. Phone lines and lets talk to richard, who is talking calling from verona, missouri on the democratic line. Richard, good morning. Hello. Im just wondering i talked a while ago listening and a guy was wanting to know about bribes. You dont Supreme Court justice. I never thought you could. But it makes you kind of wonder sometimes. And abortions down in texas and it is you know, its a republican i guess abortion now, and abortion was illegal and women went to back alleys and places like fall down steps and taking coat hangers and stuff like that. You can pass laws but it is not going to change peoples way of doing things. And abortion i hope that will be the death of the republican party, this upcoming election. Because i am tired of i am afraid to even go mall into springfield, scared im going to get shot. So, the church who wants to go to church . People get shot. Its pretty disgusting and its a long time and history what these people are talking about and history and things were a lot better now than they ever have been. I will go with it that way. Thank you, sir. Yeah, i mean, i think richard rages raises a number of interesting points there, in relation to the Supreme Court. Obviously, the current controversy around justice thomass, i would say, adding a code of ethics for Supreme Court justices and not at the moment. On the point of abortion, richard, the point that you raised about how things were in the past, when abortion was illegal, i think, is an important one. And certainly, there are republicans, not just republicans who have expressed concern about the party too hard a line on it and and South Carolina for example has suggested or demanded that the find some middle ground on the issue and we will have to see lets go to rachel, who is calling from texas on the independent line. Rachel, good morning. Good m good morning. I someone on cspan the other day and they were talking about when the brady bill expired for that right after that the cartels were able to get voluntary and thats when we started the problems with people coming over from mexico and illegals coming over here. And at the time when they were going to let this brady bill expire, over 80 was against military raffles being sold. And then conservative radio instead that the sale of the military raffles was going to help fund the iraq war. And thats the reason why so many people allow that brady bill to expire. Why is the accountable for the lies . I am not exactly sure about the point in relation to iraq. Rachel, obviously, the assault weapons ban, as you say, it expire. There have been calls, not least from President Biden himself, to try to resurrect that ban. There arent immediate signs of that happening in congress any time soon. But it remains a live political issue, just one that there is much chance of any instant action on. The caller i am wondering how much effect does the statewide and local media have on the does coverage or state and local level the way we see congress being covered by the National Media state level . Probably not. But for a reason that you and i would consider quite discouraging, which, is at the state level, the media has been hollowed out to a very considerable degree. And one can look at, basically, across the nation, cathy how many of your correspondents there are, where it is state newspapers or state broadcasters covering what was going on in these legislatures and i would argue goes back to the other point you raised in our conversation about whether lobbyists and moneyed interests can affect things in state legislatures. Broadly speaking, we both know the media has its fault and we are not perfect. But broadly speaking, the less scrutiny there is of any anybody in power, the more at liberty they feel to the shady stuff. And i think and for our viewers, i want you to know, we didnt have a wonderful producers have found the story for yahoo. Com. And i want to read you about this lawmaker that our first color asked about. A House Committee in the Texas State Legislature on recommended the expulsion of state representative brian slanted, who reportedly 19 year old at his apart

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