FM Talk 1065 Podcasts
Senator Katie Britt - Jeff Poor Show - Friday 7-12-24
(upbeat music) From Bucks Pocket to the shores of Orange Beach, at all points in between, an insider's perspective on Alabama politics. It's the Jeff Porshow. ♪ I don't think I ain't done it this way ♪ ♪ No, it ain't ♪ - Welcome back to the Jeff Porshow and at the talk, 106.5 hour number three now underway. Thanks Ryan, if you can work it in, two, five, one, three, four, three, zero, one, zero, six, we'll do our best to respond given limited time, but we'll rush them through when possible. I still come on the program about 30 minutes from now, State Senator Chris Elliott will be with us, our attorney champion, stay tuned for that. But joining us now, last minute, in addition to the program, very thankful she can make time for us. U.S. Senator Katie Britt is on the line. Senator, good morning, how are you? - I'm doing well, Jeff. I appreciate you letting me come on. It's always great to talk with you and to be in front of your listeners. So excited, happy Friday. - Well, happy Friday to you. So some good news, obviously, and I'm really curious how this came to be. I've had a $50 million grant for the ITN bridge here. I didn't know one would have predicted this was coming, but talk about that, talk about how it came to be. - Yeah, well, as you know, I came on your show back in December, 2021, when I was actually running for office. We were talking about this, talking about the challenges of how are we going to get funding, how are we going to make sure that the hardworking people of both Mobile and Baldwin County have access to get their kids to school, for them to get to work and to move around. And so I told you then, as I said, that's led to that I would fight hard for more federal funding for this project. And well, promise made and promise kept. I led the Alabama delegation, both in letters and efforts to support this well-deserved grant award. And listen, we're not done yet. I mean, we're going to keep pushing. We're going to continue to push through whether it be the mega grant program or ALDOT applying for the federal loan, you know, making sure, you know, 'cause that can actually cover up to 49% at the total project, I mean, cost. So I think it's just critical not only for local commuters, but truly regional commerce. I think I told you then in December of 2021, but you cannot get from Texas to Florida without coming right across the I-10 bridge. And so making sure that we can move people safely and efficiently, I think is critically important. We're going to keep fighting for more. Well, this, I mean, you're probably aware. I mean, they had to pause it 'cause they ran out of money, but this comes, it sounds like the construction will be able to resume next year, but is that sort of the plan? Just get the ball rolling again and buy some more time and then maybe we can kind of piece this thing together and finally get it done once and for all. Absolutely. And like I said, we're not finished yet. You know, I really appreciate Governor Ivy, her continued partnership on this, the leadership of the MPO, the local officials that have spearheaded this. I mean, this has been a community-driven effort because this is such a critical project. So absolutely, what we'll do is continue to look and say, okay, when can we get this moving? What else do we need? How do we make sure that we continue to push, continue to put the very best application forward, the best effort forward? And, you know, Mobile in Baltimore County have done a great job with this. I mean, this is something that I remember, obviously, near Simpson pushing for years and years ago, and so just sincerely want to say thank you to Governor Ivy, to all of the local officials for coming together and speaking with one voice because honestly, when you have local communities that choose to kind of sort of fight over these things versus come together and say, okay, this is what we want to do first and that doesn't mean that they don't have another priority that they're going to push forward next and then another priority that they're pushed for then, but it truly makes a difference. And this huge award, I mean, $550 million investment in the Mobile River Bridge and the Bayway Project, it's huge for Alabama, and it's huge for America, and it is the result of a lot of people doing a lot of things that have attributed to this ultimate success. - So, just, do we talk about the process of getting something like this going? - And Todd Stacy, he was all earlier. I mean, your role in the Appropriations Committee in the Senate had something to do with this, getting this advance forward, right? - Well, listen, one of the things I always say is that it is my job, obviously, to make sure that the hard earned taxpayer dollars come back to Alabama. So when Alabama sends them up to DC, I believe it is my job to send as many of those back to Alabama as possible. And I have been working diligently to create relationships not only within the Senate, but within these different agencies to make sure that we could have our voice heard. I always say I want both our values and our people to have a seat at the table. And so I work diligently to do that not only within the institution of the Senate and across the hill with my colleagues in the House, but also within these different agencies. That you have to work with DOT, you have to work with the different staff members, you know, no one to push, no one to pull. And so really worked hard on that and had a strong seat at the table. And I do think being on the Appropriations Committee helps me provide oversight when it comes to federal spending and really allows me to advocate to the administration how they allocate these dollars. - And that's the other part of this. Yeah, we'll talk about working with the Biden administration and the Department of Transportation, like, because it read to me like discretionary, like the White House, really not directly from the White House, but let's say the Department of Transportation had something to do with this decision. - Absolutely. And I have to say, I appreciate their willingness to objectively look at the project in front of them and realize that there is a deep need here for this, not only for Alabama, but for Americans. I mean, this is not only going to be critical for local, local Alabamians involvement in Mobile County. I mean, this is critical for this region and is ultimately a huge thoroughfare for commerce across our nation. I mean, you take a look at I-10 and then you look at where we are here. I mean, you go back, I mean, we needed this when it came to capacity for travelers. You know, it'll help divert the majority of traffic onto kind of the new infrastructure and it'll also allow, you know, hazardous cargo. It'll push that away from Africa Town. You know, it's going to create just an overall safer and more efficient route. And, you know, we have worked diligently on this in a non-partisan way, because it's a non-partisan issue. And I certainly appreciate the people. Like I just said, you know, thank the local community, thank the governor. And I appreciate the people at the Department of Transportation and the administration for looking at this objectively and not playing politics. - Well, and the thing about it is, I guess if you look around the country and any prioritizing everywhere it's got needs, right? It's true, but I would have to think probably if you're looking at relative to national need that this would obviously be an I-10, that thoroughfare from L.A. to Jacksonville, it would have to rank up there up on the list, and maybe that's why this moved up, right? - Yeah, and you have to also look, I mean, take a look at both the Wallace and the Bankhead tunnels. I mean, you know, just start to look at the fact that both of those are over 50 years old. I mean, they're each, you know, taking in, you know, three times the capacity that they were designed for. I mean, you look at all of the different things. You look at the fact, just like you said, that I-10 connect the country's major cities and state ports. And so this is an issue, not just about moving people, but moving goods across, not just Alabama, which is obviously our priority, but truly across the United States of America. It also, too, you know, serves as a major evacuation route, given the Gulf Coast location and kind of sort of the path of so many storms, and we're staying, obviously, incoming storms now here and getting ready for hurricane season. We all know with these, making sure that people can safely travel and evacuate is also a priority. So that's, I mean, that is what we did. We put forth the facts. We said, look at the infrastructure, look at the needs, look at what this is used for, look at what happens if we continue to allow this to be clogged. So while you, when you're looking at how to do these types of things and how to really get the attention of the administration and get the attention of the department or an agency, you've got to know yourself. So you've got to drill down, you've got to anticipate every question they're going to have. You have to also know the process, because it's the moment they can say, well, you don't have this information for us. And what they get to do is they get to set your project to the side while they're working on other things. I mean, while you're working on getting that, they begin to help other people with other projects. So you've got to have diligence in this. I have learned this over the years. You've got to drill down. You've got to think of every question. You've got to close every loop. And then you've got to think about not just what it means to your state, but how this impacts our nation. And when you can effectively make those types of arguments consistently, and then you've developed the relationships where people actually want to sit at the table with you and have these conversations. And they respect what you say, and they believe what you say. Progress can be a mess. And sometimes it does not happen overnight. Sometimes it is building. We've obviously been attempting this, and we kind of figure out where are the holes. You also have to go back to Jeff and look at like, okay, who is being awarded these things? And maybe take a look at what they put forth. And you get ideas and you strengthen your own application, you strengthen your own position. And these are the types of things I've learned over the years. These are the types of things that I have my team do. This is, then this is why we take so much time, so much energy. I am really proud of the group of people that we put together in our office for the work they do, for the relationship they're building, for the way that they represent our state, and ultimately are able to get things done for our state and our nation. So like I said, it is a big team effort. Everybody from working with the administration, working with the department, working with the governor, working with local officials, and everybody coming together for a common good. And I certainly am proud to be a part of it. - Joey Biden, United States Senator Katie, right here on the program. Senator, just a couple more questions. We're in the throes of an election cycle. And Joe Biden continues to, I don't know what he continues to do, but he continues to exist in some capacity. But seeing what you're seeing now and wondering what's going on there, I mean, none of this that he has done since last time we talked today after the debate, that hasn't really changed anything for you, has it? - No, Jeff, and I don't think we have to wonder what's going on. I think it is clear that our commander in chief is not in command. And I think it is also clear that not only is President Biden in decline, but he has put our country in decline as well. And each and every time that he stands up and shows the vulnerability, shows his weakness, shows his inability to truly lead. Not only is that a had day for America, but it is a day that makes us weaker and more vulnerable abroad as well. And I continue to look at this and think all of these Democrats are trying to decide what they're going to do for the next four years. Because remember, they were just fine with him serving in this capacity as long as they believed they were winning. So they were willing to put power above what they knew to be best for the nation. And now, we are obviously getting a window into all of this as Americans as to what so many of them have known for so long. And as you know, I said in my State of the Union response that he was a diminished leader. And I think the world is seeing that today. And the sad thing is that while Democrats are trying to figure out what they're going to do for the election in November, I think the rest of America is sitting back and saying this man can't lead until January. So it's a sad day for our country. It really is. And I know that our adversaries, I would think are going to continue to take advantage of that. And I say continue because they have been seeing this and his weakness has invited so much aggression from each and every one of them, whether it's Iran or China or Russia or North Korea. They know he's weak and they continue to prey on him. - And aside from what's going on with the Democrat side, Republicans hitting it into their convention next week. Do you feel good about where Republicans are? Not just the White House, but also the US Senate and even the House. Pretty good right now. - I do, I really do. I am excited about the convention. Look, we had a meeting at the NRSD with President Trump just a few weeks ago and it was an outstanding meeting, Jeff. I mean, there were people from all walks of the Republican party sitting around one table in one room having a conversation with the next president of the United States in a unified and visionary way. It was exciting to not only hear President Trump talk, but to start to feel the energy in the room about what we can accomplish the day that he is sworn in. Because when he is sworn in, we are also going to have won the Senate and hopefully we will have a larger majority in the House. And to get the end of the day, what this is doing for the American people is they're seeing that Democrats care more about power than they do about actual people. And when they take a step back and look at the things that we've been pushing for, future borders, safe streets, stable prices, strength abroad, they realize that this is what we need to move our nation forward. And it's the Republican policies that is the leadership of President Trump and it's a Republican Senate that can actually get things done. And it's a larger majority in the House. So I'm taking a look at our candidates. They each are doing extremely well, not only in open seats, but in seats against Democrat incumbents. And that's what you're seeing right now, the panic and the Democratic Party. It's not that they have a leader that's incapable of leading. It's that he is dragging them down and they are afraid they're not only going to lose the White House, they will lose the Senate and the House. And so the sad thing is, is they would have been just fine if they could have kept him on script and back in his basement, like we saw in the last election, they would have been just fine with this continuing to move forward. But shining a light on how weak Joe Biden is, is also shining a light on how detrimental his policies have been. And I think in the convention, you're going to continue to hear the unity of the party, the excitement of getting our country back on track for our children and a vision for a more prosperous and a strengthened America moving forward. Senator, you've been very generous with your time this morning. Congrats on the grant, but thanks for making time for this program. Yeah, it's huge and congratulations that the Mobile Involvement County and just know we're excited about today and we're going to continue to keep pushing moving forward. So thank you so much, Joe. Thank you. You are Senator Katie Britt there. We're going to get a break here. We'll be right back. This is F.B. Talk, 106.5. ♪ Between you, I must go, I know ♪