The following is a transcript of an interview with Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia that aired Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, on “Face the Nation.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re again with Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. I do know you’ve handled plenty of mass shootings as governor and senator within the state of Virginia. I’m wondering your ideas on Monterey Park this morning?
SEN. TIM KAINE: Margaret, it’s- it is identical to scar tissue that retains getting reopened each time this stuff occur. We’re reminded in Virginia of the capturing at Virginia Tech in April of 2007. My coronary heart goes out to this neighborhood. I’m frightened that the perpetrators are nonetheless at giant. So let’s first guarantee that the legislation enforcement has the assist to catch up. And then we have to assist these survivors and all who’ve been affected.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Alright, Senator, we have now to take a fast break and I need to discuss to you extra on the opposite aspect of it. We’ll be proper again.
*COMMERCIAL*
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to Face the Nation. And we proceed our dialog with Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. Senator, yesterday for the fifth time, we realized about this different tranche of labeled data being stored on the president’s private residence. How does a senator unintentionally take labeled materials house?
SEN. KAINE: Margaret, I do not actually know the reply to that query as a result of I reviewed labeled materials as senator on the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees. But after I do it, it is at all times in a labeled facility the place I haven’t got entry to the supplies aside from to take a seat there and skim them. So that is why there must be this impartial investigation and impartial prosecutor. How many paperwork are we speaking about? Dozens? A handful or tons of. How severe are they? Why had been they taken? Did anybody have entry to them? And then is the president being cooperative? And I believe by all accounts, it means that, sure, after all, he is being cooperative as as anybody ought to be. But these are the explanation why this impartial prosecutor and an investigation is critical.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re one of many few Senate Democrats who’ve mentioned that you’ve concern about this situation. I’m wondering how involved you might be. And politically, would not this injury the White House and the president by way of belief and credibility?
SEN. KAINE: Well, once more, these questions do rely upon the reply to the- that we’ll get on this investigation. I imply, Margaret, you- you already know, this authorities tends to over classify if they’re a doc and so they have to investigate it to resolve whether or not to categorise, generally they only market labeled. I’ll learn it within the SCIF and say Margaret was reporting on {that a} month in the past or The Washington Post has been telling me this for the final six months. So you do must see what is the scope, how severe did anybody have entry? And these questions must be answered earlier than we resolve. Is this how vital a difficulty is that this?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. And which will take a while. I need to ask you about among the business that Congress must get to quickly. As you already know, the White House desires a clear elevate to the debt restrict with no strings hooked up. Senator Manchin mentioned it is a mistake for the White House to refuse to barter with Republicans. Do you assume that place is altering? Is it a mistake?
SEN. KAINE: Well, first, we should- we should always have a clear elevate of the debt ceiling as a result of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution says no person ought to query the credit score worthiness of the United States. This is about whether or not the U.S. pays our bank card or not. And I do not assume anybody ought to flirt with not paying for the US bank card, which is what Republicans are doing. So the White House place is appropriate. We ought to elevate the debt ceiling. But if Republicans are saying they will not do it and so they’re threatening our credit score worthiness as a result of they need cuts, allow them to put cuts on the desk. Is it the chopping Social Security and Medicare that Rick Scott wished to do is a chopping assist to Ukraine in the course of a conflict between a democracy and an illegally invading dictator? Let them placed on the desk what they need to minimize in order that the American public can see what their priorities are.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Speaker McCarthy has mentioned the president has invited him to talk, have a dialog and focus on a accountable elevate to the debt ceiling. So what does that imply? How does this politically dress up so we keep away from the cliff?
SEN. KAINE: Well, first, that is factor. I’m very, very glad that the president and Speaker McCarthy are speaking. That’s actually constructive. How will we repair this? Jeff Merkley and I’ve a invoice that is primarily based upon an earlier repair that Senator McConnell led in the course of the Obama administration when there was an identical brinksmanship across the debt ceiling. And Senator McConnell mentioned, look, we are going to permit the president to lift it topic to a congressional disapproval. And that was finished. And we predict that ought to be the norm anyway. So we have now a invoice known as the Protect Our Credit Act that may mainly say the president has acquired to cowl the money owed of the United States. And if that features elevating the debt ceiling, the president can try this. But if Congress disapproves, then you may have an expedited up or down vote in Congress. And I believe that is the proper answer to this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Before I allow you to go, you are on Armed Services. How involved are you that Secretary of Defense Austin left Germany with no settlement amongst Western allies to offer tanks to Ukraine?
SEN. KAINE: Margaret, there are- there are some variations about precisely what- and what is the timing by way of offering gear. But we have now assembled a worldwide coalition to assist Ukraine. The unity has been very sturdy and the assist, bipartisan, bicameral in Congress has been very sturdy. And I believe that may proceed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Kaine, thanks to your time at this time.
SEN. KAINE: Absolutely. Thanks, Margaret.