Fox News "The Story" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Buddy Carl

Interview

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SMITH: Well, tonight a growing number of Republicans are calling for real solutions to the climate crisis, slamming the progress of green new deal as a job killer that's too expensive and unrealistic.

Instead, pushing for American innovation, alternatives that Congressman Buddy Carter of Georgia is among the Republicans pushing back on the green new deal. Good evening to you, sir, and welcome -- welcome to you and thanks for being here.

CARTER: Thank you.

SMITH: So, let's start off with the premise to all of this. Are you a Republican that believes climate change is a real issue and a crisis?

CARTER: Absolutely. Climate change is real. Protecting our environment is real. We acknowledge that. You know, the climate has been changing since day one. There is no question about that and we've got to address it. It's important to Americans. And I think it's a great opportunity.

It's a great opportunity for the United States as the innovative leader in the world to create more jobs, to lead in innovation. So, not only do we acknowledge that it is real, but we are also excited about the potential that exists here in new technology in creating new jobs and everything.

SMITH: So, what's the pitch?

CARTER: Well, the pitch is that, you now, we've got to adjust. Two things, adaptation and making an innovation. Adaptation, adapting to the new environment and to the changes that are happening here.

I represent the entire coast of Georgia. At one time, you know, at one time I was a mayor and I was on a planning commission. The things that you can put in place now, the policies that you can put in place can save you so much in the future. I learned that and I recognize that. That's what we need to be aware of.

When we are building infrastructure, we need to make sure we are building infrastructure in a way that's going to --

SMITH: OK.

CARTER: -- to counteract the rising sea levels or things of that such.

SMITH: So, is this something that could interest, perhaps Democrats who have taken to the idea of the green new deal?

CARTER: Well, listen, the green new deal is pie in the sky. I mean, that is something that's going to destroy our economy if we were to follow that and God forbid, we follow it. But that would destroy our economy, it would destroy industries. That is not the answer. No question about it.

But we do have to have sensible, rational, reasonable solutions to this. And we can have that and that's what we are proposing in the Republican Party.

SMITH: Well some of your Republican colleagues seem to continue to take on some of the policies that have been implemented by the left in states like California.

Congressman Nunes tweeted this out. "At a restaurant tonight, waitress asked us if we want straws. So, she has to ask now in fear of the straw police. Welcome to socialism in California." Final thoughts from you, Congressman? I mean, how far does your proposal go?

CARTER: Well, certainly, you know, I have to speak to Devin about the straws, but nevertheless -- you know, our proposal hopefully will be a sensible one. Look, we know that we owe it to our children, to our grandchildren, to leave them with a clean environment. We want to so that and we can do that through innovation. I have all the confidence in the world that innovative abilities.

(CROSSTALK)

SMITH: How much is it going to cost?

CARTER: Well, it's going -- it's not going to cost as much as the trillions of dollars that the green new deal would cost, that's for certain. But there will be some cost associated with it and certainly we're not interested in any kind of carbon tax. I mean, make that clear. But at the same time, we can -- and we can actually benefit from this. It could actually end up helping us and helping our economy.

SMITH: All right. Congressman Buddy Carter, good to get your thoughts on all of that. We'll be following that for sure. Thank you, sir.

CARTER: Thank you.

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