The next is a transcript of an interview with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Sept. 22, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Colorado Democratic governor Jared Polis, who joins us this morning from Boulder, Colorado. Governor, welcome again to Face The Nation. I do know you’re supporting–
GOV. JARED POLIS: Pleasure to be right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –supporting the Vice President’s bid for the presidency. She is forward by 4 factors, as you heard in our newest ballot, however that is very tight. What’s your biggest space of concern, of potential vulnerability right here?
GOV. POLIS: Effectively, yeah, it’s- it’s- it is neck-and-neck. And , I used to be- I used to be reflecting this morning. You already know, the subsequent president we elect goes to be president throughout our 250th anniversary as a nation, our semi quincentennial, a time period we will be listening to extra of. We all know that Donald Trump’s not the individual that can unite us and produce us collectively in that thrilling time to rejoice our nation’s previous, current and future. Let’s give Kamala Harris the chance to point out that she is, I actually really feel that she’s able to unite us. It is neck-and-neck, and we simply have to get the vote out within the states that matter to have the ability to make it possible for we are able to transfer ahead somewhat than backward as a rustic.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about a few of her financial plans. However first about immigration. You heard Senator Rubio on this program speak concerning the lack of consideration being paid to immigration and the border disaster, however I do know you, governor, have been coping with it firsthand. In Aurora, Colorado – that is been getting lots of consideration from the Trump crew, specifically due to members of a Venezuelan jail gang who migrated right here to the U.S. and apparently had been concerned in a capturing in Aurora. Throughout the debate, Donald Trump used Aurora for example of the worst of the migrant disaster. That is what he stated yesterday:
DONALD TRUMP SOT: Underneath border czar Harris, Venezuelan gangs have taken over complete residence buildings in Aurora, Colorado. The federal government- the governor is petrified in Colorado. He is a liberal governor, he does not know what to do. The man is so scared of those guys, and perhaps you possibly can’t blame him.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Governor, I do know native officers arrange a particular process drive. However how do you reply to this private assault right here?
GOV. POLIS: Effectively, I, , I went buying in Aurora yesterday. I- what lots of Individuals have to know is Aurora is a over 400,000 folks. It is Colorado’s third largest metropolis. Violent crime is down two years in a row. Automotive thefts are down two years in a row. It is- it is a fantastic metropolis. I am there on a regular basis. It is- it is actually an amazing, numerous metropolis, and it is rising quick. It will most likely be the primary or quantity two metropolis in Colorado over the subsequent decade or two. So it is an amazing metropolis. It is safer than it’s- than it has been. And look, it is like every metropolis: Chicago, LA, mid-sized cities, Denver, after all, there’s been a problem with gangs for many years in Aurora, and I really feel that we lastly flip the nook. I imply, that is the distinction between electing a president that skirts the regulation versus one who’s made a profession implementing the regulation. I imply, Kamala Harris is anyone who’s- who stared felony enterprises within the face put criminals behind bars as district lawyer, and she or he’s going to take that very same perspective to the White Home to make America safer
MARGARET BRENNAN: However, the mayor of Aurora has acknowledged a particular process drive was established and stated they’re working with the federal authorities, it is a regional subject. Ought to- ought to the Harris marketing campaign be speaking about a few of these actual points and acknowledging them in a method which may assist their marketing campaign, as a result of actually the reply is about that failed border invoice at the- in Congress. That is often what the Harris marketing campaign talks about. Ought to they acknowledge extra of those actual points?
GOV. POLIS: Effectively, to begin with, I feel that is a official and vital subject to speak about. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress had an actual bill- invoice earlier than them to make the wanted investments in border safety. Look, I have been all the way down to the border. I have been at border crossings. We want higher border safety. Kamala Harris will ship on that, as a result of it is not a easy proposition. It requires funding, excessive tech funding, fencing, scanning, more- extra Border Patrol brokers, which the invoice would have funded extra Border Patrol brokers. So look, I am assured that Kamala Harris is anyone that can truly resolve the border subject, somewhat than maintain it going for purely political causes and for dividing us. We want anyone who’s going to unite us, and naturally, that features securing our border.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ought to she discuss it extra?
GOV. POLIS: Effectively, I look, I imply, I feel she talks about it as- as one of many points. I imply, it’s- we have to make America safer. We have to safe the border. She had a plan to do this. It was blocked by Donald Trump and Republicans. So look, I feel it is an amazing subject for folks to- to run on and discuss, and it is one the Democrats ought to have an enormous benefit on, as a result of Republicans have failed time and time once more to safe our border.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask concerning the financial plans right here. Vice President Harris has a proposal to sort out housing affordability, and she or he needs to present a primary time homebuyer’s down cost credit score of $25,000 along with a $10,000 tax credit score. I do know you see this firsthand, what the disaster appears to be like like in Colorado. Are you involved that it will gasoline demand for properties and simply push up costs somewhat than fixing the provision subject?
GOV. POLIS: In order that’s not the entire plan, proper? That is one plank of the plan. Her plan is concentrated on creating over 3 million new properties, decreasing paperwork and red-tape, making it simpler to construct properties folks can afford. Sure, as a part of that, we would like folks once they can, to be house owners as an alternative of renters, to allow them to construct worth. That is the chance financial system she talks about proper? Renting a house, a spot to stay, it is vital. Proudly owning a house, constructing fairness and wealth over time, that is what Kamala Harris believes in. So after all, 3 million new properties, decreasing paperwork and paperwork, making it simpler to construct is a part of that, serving to rework renters into house owners is a key factor we must always do to assist make America extra profitable.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In order that’s how you’d select to unravel it in your state as effectively. You suppose this may repair the issue?
GOV. POLIS: Effectively, once more, yeah, you talked about one plank. We’re engaged in very comparable reforms right here. We have allowed now folks to construct accent dwelling models, mother-in-law flats, by proper. We’re doing extra permitting for multifamily, extra inherently inexpensive housing close to transit, the toughest type of properties to construct, not simply in Colorado, however this goes in most communities throughout the nation have been these $200,000 – $300,000 starter properties that anyone early of their profession may be capable to make the down cost and afford. The common residence worth within the Denver Metro space is now $600,000 and that is nice for individuals who can afford it, however we’d like extra properties which are out there for buy in that $200,000 – $300,000 vary. That is what we’re centered on in Colorado. We have to assist nationally. Whoever saw- , this takes mayors, governors, presidents, all working in the identical course in the direction of making housing extra inexpensive, and that is precisely what Kamala Harris’s plan will do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Governor, thanks to your time this morning. We’ll be again in a second.
