Sen. Rick Scott: Left 'Off the Deep End' With Defunding Call

The left has "gone off the deep end" with its calls to defund the nation's police departments, even though changes are needed to make them more accountable, Sen. Rick Scott said Tuesday. 

"We know we have to make changes," the Florida Republican said on Fox News' "America's Newsroom." "We have to have more accountability and better training. 

"They shouldn't say defund," he added. "You can't say that's not exactly what they want but that's exactly what they understand. I want accountability. I want to make sure my communities are safe, I don't want any bad actors out there and we have to hold everybody accountable for their actions. Sen. Tim Scott is working out a proposal and that we will do whatever we can to keep this country safe and make sure law enforcement is respected and our communities are respected and any community is safe. I believe every community ought to have jobs. I have a great education system and ought to be safe."

Meanwhile, there has been an uptick of coronavirus cases in Florida, but the economy can't be kept closed forever, said Scott, when asked if the state had been reopened too quickly. 

"There's a risk of coronavirus and they are working to do everything they want to do as safely as possible," said Scott. "They want to do it as safely as possible and I believe that will happen in our state. We cannot keep our economy closed forever and we can fund schools and fund law enforcement and do all of these things."

Scott is also calling to require national security clearance for Chinese students and multiagency vetting of Chinese student Visa holders. 

"So what I've said is the Chinese students who want to come over here and work on the (coronavirus) vaccine, we will vet you," said Scott. "We will make sure that you won't do anything to sabotage or delay the vaccine. If America or Europe or Australia, they are not going to share like we do. We help other people. They only help the communist party of China. I want to make sure that the vaccine gets done as quickly as possible so Americans and Europeans all over the world are safe."

• Kerik: Defunding Police Will Turn US Into a '3rd World Country'
• Biden, Dem Leaders Don't Support Defunding Police