U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart hosted a city corridor assembly Wednesday in an overpacked room at St. George Metropolis Corridor, taking questions on the struggle in Ukraine and the way it pertains to the U.S., the integrity of previous elections, and the way Utah and the remainder of the West ought to handle drought and dwindling water provides. Here’s what the five-term congressman — who’s operating for a sixth time period within the 2022 election — needed to say.
Ukraine, international power & the U.S.
Whereas the primary experiences of bombings throughout Ukraine had been rising, Stewart spoke to lots of of residents saying he helps Ukraine and strongly condemned the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, one thing which he continued on Thursday morning together with his Twitter account.
“The U.S. and our allies should stand resolute with the Ukrainian folks and resolve to supply them with assist to defend towards this unprovoked, unforgivable assault,” he tweeted out.
Within the city corridor, Stewart mentioned that due to his place on the Home Intelligence Committee that the U.S. knew about Putin’s plans to interact in navy operations in and round Ukraine since October of final yr. Stewart mentioned
“(Putin’s) danger urge for food in Ukraine is gigantic. And his curiosity in Ukraine is unparalleled.”
Why is Russia invading Ukraine? May or not it’s the beginning of WWIII?This is what we all know
Though Stewart supported sanctions and efforts to punish Russia for his or her actions he mentioned “would by no means” assist sending in U.S. troops to the rising struggle in Ukraine.
Stewart mentioned he believes that Russia and Putin need a fast struggle that can demilitarize Ukraine.
“They’re going to take navy casualties within the invasion within the struggle,” he mentioned. “However he cannot maintain casualties week after week after week by a bloody occupation.”
Due to that assumption, Stewart says the U.S. ought to arm Ukrainian resistance forces to Russia. Stewart worries concerning the Ukrainian battle as a result of casualties that can outcome — there are already experiences of 137 Ukrainians killed, each civilians and navy members — however he’s involved about what the struggle will do to American power costs.
“If you wish to strengthen Vladimir Putin, do all the pieces you’ll be able to to extend the worth of power,” he mentioned. “The value of oil it is his solely type of international foreign money. It is by far the most important export.”
Russia’s largest export is crude oil and it primarily exports its oil to Europe, however even when Russian oil doesn’t get shipped typically to the U.S. it’s going to nonetheless have an effect on how a lot People might want to pay for oil and fuel. Because the value for oil barrels is about based mostly on international provide and demand, Russia exporting much less oil means the provision will go down and enhance the worth.
On Thursday the worth for oil barrels elevated to over $100 — one thing that hasn’t occurred since 2014 — and if the battle continues, costs may preserve rising. The U.S. Vitality Info Company states that climate points and geopolitical conflicts are widespread causes of speedy will increase in oil costs.
With will increase in power prices looming, Stewart used it as a chance to assault the Biden Administration for halting the XL Keystone Pipeline and refusing to discover extra methods to drill for oil by itself federal lands.
Election integrity and January sixth
For essentially the most half throughout the city corridor, the group agreed with the factors being made by Stewart however one reply to a query drew a combined response. The query was whether or not he believes Joe Biden is the lawful president and was elected truthfully in 2020.
“Sure,” Stewart answered.
Some folks within the crowd gasped in shock at this reply, whereas others clapped in approval. Stewart then introduced up that he voted towards certifying the election ends in Pennsylvania since he believed their election was “unconstitutional” attributable to latest legal guidelines enacted within the state.
At the moment, the legality of election legal guidelines in Pennsylvania is being battled out of their state court docket system.
When requested if his perception round Pennsylvania ought to nullify the 2020 election, Stewart mentioned no, since Pennsylvania wouldn’t have modified the end result of the presidential election. When requested concerning the integrity of different 2020 battleground states’ election integrity, together with Georgia and Arizona, Stewart didn’t give a solution and moved on to a query on the January sixth rebellion.
Election officers deemed 2020 as “essentially the most safe in American historical past”, and the Related Press discovered that there have been so few makes an attempt at fraud in battleground states that even when they’d succeeded it could not have affected the end result.
Stewart was requested if he agrees with Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Chief, who said that former President Donald Trump was “morally accountable” for the January sixth rebellion. Stewart disagreed with McConnell and known as the assertion “nonsense.”
“I used to be there, as you all know. I’ve a novel place as I used to be in an workplace that was proper off the torch of the capitol,” Stewart mentioned. “For anybody to assert that that was a results of Donald Trump is nonsense. It is simply merely not true.”
Stewart then mentioned all Trump requested was for folks to go to the capitol and protest.
Stance on water
When requested about what must be achieved about Utah’s precarious water future and how you can cope with the continued drought, Stewart provided a easy reply.
“The one method we’re going to repair that’s with God’s assist,” he mentioned.
He then mentioned he’s all for numerous native environmental points like creating infrastructure to guard the Virgin River, constructing the Northern Hall and defending the Mojave desert tortoise.
When requested once more about initiatives to enhance Utah’s water scenario, Stewart said he believes all instruments out there must be thrown on the downside. He supported the thought of making desalination vegetation to deal with water from the ocean to Utah, however he mentioned he would reasonably prioritize constructing extra dams within the West to safe water sources which can be already there.
Large guarantees for 2022 election
The city corridor coated a variety of points, with the group asking questions on politically charged points. Many centered round what would occur if Republicans took a majority within the Home of Representatives.
If this occurred, Stewart promised massive investigations on China, together with appears to be like into the origin of COVID-19 and the testimony supplied by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illnesses, to Congress. He additionally promised broad investigations into the Biden Administration and household.
“We’ll take a look at the navy, we’ll take a look at the administration. We’re gonna discover out what occurred with Hunter Biden’s laptop computer,” he mentioned.
Stewart additionally mentioned based mostly on what’s discovered on these potential investigations Republicans may look to question President Joe Biden.
However outdoors of investigations, Stewart tried to mood the expectations of what a Republican-led congress can do whereas a Democrat controls the chief department of presidency.
“The factor we are able to do is cease among the stuff that I simply suppose is nonsense,” he mentioned. “We will cease a few of these different proposals.”
A few of these insurance policies embrace the Construct Again Higher act, which Stewart believes Democrats will attempt to resurrect in a roundabout way, and monetary insurance policies imposed by the present administration. However he mentioned the folks could have to attend till the 2024 presidential election.
“Till (Republicans) take the presidency in 2024, will probably be laborious for us to maneuver in a constructive path,” he mentioned.
Different factors made by Stewart
Stewart mentioned he helps time period limits for representatives and senators, saying would assist the ‘12 and 12’ mannequin, so {that a} congressional consultant can solely serve six phrases and a senator can solely serve two phrases. However he mentioned he’s versatile on the precise time period limits and will see a three-term restrict for the U.S. Senators.
The southern border with Mexico was an enormous speaking level. At one level, Stewart mentioned fewer than 2% of asylum seekers truly attend their court docket dates for his or her asylum hearings. The College of Pennsylvania revealed a examine stating that the quantity is nearer to 88%.
Stewart was important of Biden’s dealing with of the border — in fiscal yr 2021, there was a report variety of border arrests — and touted what occurred on the border throughout the years Trump was in workplace.
“We did repair the border,” he mentioned. “It was by and enormous mounted.”
Sean Hemmersmeier covers native authorities, development and improvement in Southwestern Utah. Observe on Twitter @seanhemmers34. Our work depends upon subscribers so if you’d like extra protection on these points you’ll be able to subscribe right here: thespectrum.com/subscribe.