Scott Slams Mucarsel-Powell, Democrats for Wanting 'Illegals to Vote'

WASHINGTON—With Illegal immigration being one of the election day topics that are most concerning to Americans, Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) attempts to rally votes for his SAVE Act. Democrats are calling it a ruse, and his opponent, former Florida Rep. Debbie Mucarsel Powell (D) dubbed the effort "a voter suppression tactic." As Election Day looms closer, Senator Scott is lashing out at Democrats, accusing them of wanting "illegals to vote."

Senator Scott penned an op-ed this week detailing the need for lawmakers to back his SAVE Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship to vote. In the House, Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R) has also introduced companion legislation, and like Senator Scott, Rep. Roy has called out his Republican colleagues for not supporting the legislation.

The blame doesn't entirely fall on Republicans however as Senator Scott has pointed out that Democrats should be supporting the bill.

In an exclusive interview with The Floridian Senator Scott was asked why he believes Democrats aren't supporting the bill. Simply put, Sen. Scott said,  "because it wouldn't allow illegals to vote."

"We gotta have a vote and find out. I don't know why they're [Democrats] afraid of a vote... I don't know why they don't want to have a vote," he questioned.

Senator Scott took issue with leadership from both chambers, admitting that "McConnell and Schumer run this place where we don’t let people have votes… this makes no sense to me. How does anybody up here represent their state?” This was before arguing that "Schumer wants illegals to vote."

Last month, Rep. Mucarsel-Powell launched her "75 Stop Tour," an effort that will take her 75 stops throughout the sunshine state in a bid to unseat Senator Scott.

At the inaugural stop, she campaigned with Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins, and former Florida Rep. Donna Shalala (D). Rep. Shalala, served one term in the House similar to Rep. Mucarsel-Powell, and she stirred controversy after calling herself a "pragmatic socialist."

When asked about his political rival campaigning with Rep. Shalala, the former governor of Florida said he wasn't surprised.

“She [Rep. Mucarsel-Powell] might be the only person that left South America and is pushing for socialism, so I don’t think it resonates for the people that left Cuba because of socialism, or Venezuela because of socialism, or Nicaragua, or other countries that had a socialist position at the time.”

“She supports big government. She doesn’t call out the dictators. She wants higher taxes. She wants government more and more and more in your life. That’s called socialism," he added.

When questioned if calling Rep. Mucarsel-Powell a 'socialist' was applicable, or if it was just a political attack, Senator Scott explained that lawmakers like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D), and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) all call themselves Democratic Socialists, and he accused Rep. Mucarsel-Powell of agreeing with them.

“She votes with them," added Scott.