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The next is a transcript of an interview with Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, that aired on Jan. 21, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to Face the Nation. We go now to the Republican governor of the state of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Good morning, Governor.
GOV. SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: Good morning, Margaret. It is nice to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is good to speak to you. You might be one of many youngest, if not the youngest governor within the state, the primary feminine governor of Arkansas. I wish to ask you about a variety of issues, together with the present Arkansas regulation, we have been speaking loads about reproductive well being. The regulation bans abortions besides to avoid wasting the mom’s life in a medical emergency, no exceptions for rape or incest. Your Legal professional Basic has twice not too long ago rejected poll measures that may repeal the ban and provides a restricted proper to abortion up till 18 weeks of conception. As Governor, are you open to any poll initiative?
GOV. SANDERS: Look, I am happy with the truth that Arkansas is without doubt one of the most pro-life states within the nation. I am unapologetically pro-life, I consider that we’re a tradition that protects life, that values life. I feel that is who we’re as a rustic. And I am going to proceed to help these measures.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However- I do know these are your private convictions, however would you search the opinion of your constituents on this? I imply, among the Legal professional Basic’s objections. One of many issues he objected to was changing the phrase conception with fertilization. And one other one, it was narrowing a medical emergency to menace to bodily well being and defining it simply as that. I imply, they appear to be tweaks. On the premise although, would you be open to searching for the opinion of your constituents in a poll initiative?
GOV. SANDERS: Arkansas overwhelmingly pro-life state, I am happy with that reality and happy with the place we’re. And we’ll proceed to push for issues that I feel shield all harmless human life. It is why we have not simply targeted on pro-life laws. However we have additionally achieved issues within the foster and adoption care area. It is why I’ve spent a lot time specializing in training, empowering each single Arkansan to have a fantastic high quality of life. We’re each side and ensuring that we’re doing what we are able to to guard and worth life at each stage right here within the state of Arkansas.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, it seems like a no? You would not wish to put it on a poll?
GOV. SANDERS: I am not going to place a blanket on something that might come ahead. However because it stands proper now, I have never seen something that I’d be supportive of.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, your state, you are speaking in regards to the sanctity of life, your state had one of many highest maternal mortality charges within the nation, in response to the CDC up till about 2021. Arkansas is without doubt one of the few states that hasn’t prolonged postpartum take care of moms. Why do not you need these mothers to get take care of a full 12 months, as is being supplied, as an alternative of simply 60 days?
GOV. SANDERS: Properly, I am gonna must disagree with the premise of your query saying that I do not need that. I definitely need us to do the whole lot that we are able to to assist throughout being pregnant and effectively after a toddler is born, which is why we now have achieved issues like concentrate on the foster and adoption care, we have put important funding into our being pregnant disaster facilities, we’re specializing in issues that assist our moms, together with carry your children to work at state authorities. We have expanded maternity depart for state staff, we included that in our training bundle. Now we have taken a variety of steps which can be very constructive on this entrance. And we will proceed to try this so long as I am governor.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the states of Mississippi, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, they did prolong for 12 months somewhat than the 60 days. So, I am simply questioning particularly on that possibility, why you opted out?
GOV. SANDERS: We’re gonna proceed to take a look at choices that we really feel like finest assist individuals right here within the state of Arkansas, we have achieved that in a variety of methods and we will proceed to try this over the course of hopefully the following seven years whereas I am governor of Arkansas.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I wish to ask you as effectively about what is occurring with the children in your state. I used to be to see that you’re not among the many 15 Republican governors who rejected a brand new federal program to provide meals help to eight million youngsters throughout the summer time months. You opted into that–
GOV. SANDERS: I did. I–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — A variety of Republican steerage say on premise that- that- that- this- this violates conservative rules. So why are they improper? And why are you okay with this federal program?
GOV. SANDERS: Properly, I wish to concentrate on why I feel it helps our state. Arkansas up to now has ranked on the backside relating to meals insecurity for kids. I do not suppose any baby ought to ever go hungry if we now have choices accessible to us to assist enhance that. That is precisely what we will do. That is why we have opted into this program. We’ll proceed to search for methods to assist and shield children in our state. And I used to be proud to be a part of that program. And we’ll proceed to search for choices to assist transfer Arkansas out of the underside relating to meals insecurity and into the highest.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You might be, as we stated on the get go there, the youngest governor within the nation. And I ponder while you have a look at your occasion proper now, what does it say in regards to the occasion and about our politics that not solely is the President of the USA at such a complicated age, however the Republican entrance runner Donald Trump, 77 years previous here- are these a lot older people, actually the brand new era that you have been calling for?
GOV. SANDERS: I feel this election proper now could be very easy. It is a very clear distinction, you could have two people who’ve a four-year file to run on. One has a file of success coming from a posture and a place of energy in Donald Trump, and one who comes from a place of weak point. Each single factor that voters really care about, each single factor that drives voters to point out up and forged their poll. Donald Trump is successful on, whether or not it is the economic system, whether or not it is securing the border, whether or not it is nationwide safety, whether or not it is taking a tough line towards China, each single a kind of main points that actually drive voters, Donald Trump is dominating Joe Biden on, and so they each have clear information during which to run from, and I’ve little doubt that the matchup in November will declare Donald Trump a transparent victor due to that- that distinction.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, he is solely 4 years youthful than the president whose age you’ve- you’ve got criticized, however your predecessor as governor, Asa Hutchinson, only recently ended his presidential bid and he endorsed Nikki Haley. He stated, “Anybody who believes Donald Trump will unite this nation has been asleep during the last eight years. Trump deliberately tries to divide America.” Do you truthfully, Sarah- Sorry, Governor Sanders, I am used to calling you Sarah from- from the entrance row on the White Home there? Do you truthfully consider Trump goes to unite the nation this time, when within the first time period, that you just had been a part of, the nation was very divided?
GOV. SANDERS: You already know, one of many issues that I feel is so typically omitted of Donald Trump’s story is the patriotism and the love of nation that he introduced again. We have not seen that on this president–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — What do you imply by that?
GOV. SANDERS:– In truth, we have seen the entire reverse. We see individuals who consider in America once more, who see the energy of our nation. We introduced again American manufacturing, we secured our border, we had a robust economic system, our enemies overseas really feared us and our allies really revered us. As an alternative of the individuals now are throughout the- the opposite facet of the world are laughing at us and benefiting from the weak point of this President. Donald Trump– you already know, you joked a minute in the past, you referred to as me Sarah, as an alternative of Governor, you already know, your colleagues referred to as me a whole lot of different issues. I am going to take Sarah all day over among the issues that the media and the left referred to as me. However when these issues had been taking place, the one who was defending me, empowering me to do my job was Donald Trump. I do know that he can ship once more, as a result of he is achieved it earlier than.
MARGARET BRENNAN: No– Governor, I feel we have all the time had a respectful change, you and I, so I do not suppose we’re a part of the media group you are speaking about–
GOV. SANDERS: — I did not say you, I used to be–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– Proper. However- however on the substance of the query, when it comes to uniting the nation, I imply, among the coverage belongings you simply rattled off, as you already know, immigration has been damaged for many years. And people border issues had been border issues below President Trump. The Center East insurance policies he had did not remedy points. I imply, in reality, we’re seeing the battle in Israel actually flare up in a approach, he did not dealer the peace deal he promised. He did not get Russia out of Ukraine. She did not enhance relations with China. So how are you going to level to that as a- as a excessive level with out recognizing that even he says the work was not completed?
GOV. SANDERS: Properly, that is why we’d like him to return again for 4 years as a result of he did not get to complete, however he definitely made important progress. Our border was far safer below President Trump, than below President Biden, I had the prospect to go to the border myself. And whereas I used to be there, met with those that are standing on the entrance strains, together with members of the Arkansas Nationwide Guard that we deployed, as a result of the federal authorities isn’t doing their job, states are having to step up. And in assembly with these people, they instructed us that extra individuals had come throughout in simply that month, simply that month on the terrorist watch checklist than in your entire 4 years of Donald Trump’s presidency. Donald Trump was really taking steps to safe our border, to strengthen our nation. It is arduous to argue that having economic system, having secure and safe borders, taking a tough line towards China, these are empowering and unifying issues for our country–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– Would you be his VP if requested?
GOV. SANDERS: — And only- maintain on I wish to simply end this one level. And solely one among two individuals within the race has really delivered on every of these issues. And it is Donald Trump, not Joe Biden.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And you would be open to vetting to be his vice chairman probably?
GOV. SANDERS: Look, I completely love the job I’ve. I feel it is among the best jobs I might ever ask for. And I’m honored to function governor, and I hope I get to do it for the following seven years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Subsequent seven years. All proper. That seems like two phrases. Possibly a no. Governor Sanders. Thanks. We’ll be proper again.
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