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The Texas Tribune held an interview with U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R- Austin. Discussion centered around the Governor’s re-opening plan and Chip’s thoughts on the federal COVID-19 response. Additional discussion centered around his stance on topics such as: mail-in voting, testing in Texas, face mask requirements and additional state funding. The interview, moderated by Evan Smith, can be found here.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics the committee took up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the hearing, but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

  • Smith – Saw Governor’s announcement yesterday that added to his re-opening plan; thoughts?
  • Roy – Supports the Governor’s re-opening actions
  • Roy – The economy needs to re-open and we need to safely engage; 30 million are unemployed and businesses are hurting
  • Smith – Are you worried that people are going to get sick or die as a result of re-opening? Is it just a fact that some people are just going to get sick?
  • Roy – Does not like the framing of that; it is not a choice between health and re-opening the economy
  • Roy – Is worried about mental health and health repercussions of a long-term lockdown
  • Roy – Important for us to re-open in a way that protects the most vulnerable
  • Roy – Supports Bill Maher’s comments that strong immune systems and heard immunity comes from exposure

 

  • Smith – There are people who are going to get sick; let’s just say so…
  • Roy – The Governor has been criticized for saying some are going to get sick as a result of re-opening, but it is realistic
  • Roy – Need to re-engage for an overall net positive outcome
  • Roy – Need to focus on the elderly and nursing homes
  • Smith – Mentions sentencing of Dallas County salon owner who stayed open in defiance of stay-at-home orders; you came out in support of her. Discuss that.
  • Roy – She was civilly disobedient about something she believes is unlawful/unconstitutional
  • Roy – She was unable to get a PPP loan and was doing the best to protect her family
  • Smith – Even Ken Paxton, a republican, came out that said she is in violation of the order
  • Smith – Does you siding with her mean you are against the Governor and Ken Paxton?
  • Roy – She is disobeying an order, but her sentence was not just

 

  • Roy – responds to previous statements he has made in another interview noting the statements were taken out of context
  • Roy – Was talking about a Maine sheriff who was enforcing the orders on highways where people are getting stopped for no reason
  • Roy – Was referring to those who are overstepping the bounds of their authority

 

  • Smith – Have you called on the Dallas salon owner to be pardoned?
  • Roy – Need to look into statute; state or local should ensure people are not receiving unjust punishment

 

  • Smith – Theory is that we need to trust people in order to re-open; have seen evidence that suggests we should not trust people to follow CDC and health guidelines
  • Roy – Have observed people following them; most people are wearing masks and socially distancing
  • Roy – Provides examples of how people are taking steps to protect themselves and others
  • Roy – States we should re-join society because “there is no way I could dodge the virus either way”

 

  • Smith – People have called you out for not wearing a mask in public; have you been?
  • Roy – Sometimes I do sometimes I don’t; elaborates on when he has/has not worn a mask
  • Smith – Since you are a cancer survivor, are you concerned for your own health?
  • Roy – Does not see himself as part of that population that needs to wear a mask at all times
  • Roy – Those most at risk are advised to do so

 

  • Smith – What you are saying is that masks are and should not be required by public policy…
  • Roy – Those who are most at risk should wear a mask
  • Roy – Businesses should choose if they make their patrons/employees wear masks

 

  • Smith – Is Texas doing enough testing in order to re-open?
  • Roy – We have had 7 million in the US which is more than many industrialized countries combined
  • Roy – Texas has been spared from outbreaks like New York… they have been given test priority
  • Roy – There has been an expansion of testing sites like in New Braunfels and Kerrville; has been more access to tests
  • Roy – San Antonio health expert does not want to use antibody tests as their there is a question to their reliability

 

  • Smith – What you are saying is testing is not a part of opening up?
  • Roy- It is a part of it, but not everyone needs to take a test
  • Roy – Children have been spared as has those 18-65; the elderly are the ones who are disproportionately affected
  • Roy – Questions why there was a mass-lockdown in the first place if only the elderly have been affected

 

  • Smith – There has been a public outcry that the state is not releasing adequate data from the state on victims in nursing homes; should we have transparency on that data?
  • Roy – Should have access to that data; I do not know the level of transparency right now
  • Roy – Will be happy to reach out to the Governor’s office to and find out about that
  • Roy – Staff is looking at my district (21) and trying to exceed state health and safety guidelines

 

  • Smith – Mentions the debate over blanket immunity for businesses who could be sued by individuals who could have contracted COVID-19 at their place of business; if it is safe to re-open, why do we need blanket immunity?
  • Roy – System provides legal protections for businesses who could be abused by the system; mentions abuse of lawsuits over asbestos
  • Roy – Should not be “negligence” to open your business
  • Roy – Do need protections for patrons; need what would be appropriate standards for businesses

 

  • Smith – Will you support legislation for blanket immunity?
  • Roy – The onus would be on state government, not federal

 

  • Smith – Mentioned Roy was one of the only members who voted against the March 14 relief package; do you stand by that vote?
  • Roy – That was the right decision to make; I voted for 1st package, not the 2nd ( because of the provision for people to get sick leave due to COVID-19; hurts small businesses)
  • Roy – The 3rd package we did a voice vote; did say I would vote for it
  • Roy – Had an issue with Unemployment Insurance that pays people more than the jobs themselves; causes restaurants to not get the loan forgiveness

 

  • Smith – You still voted for it?
  • Roy – Still voted on it because of the PPP and other business relief programs
  • Smith – There has been discussion that the federal government has not provided enough relief for state and local governments; Texas asking for $6.4 billion dollars to cover unemployment
  • Smith – McConnell has said states should take the bankruptcy option;
  • Smith – Will states receive additional funding for local and state governments?
  • Roy – Have already allocated $161 billion to states.; we need an audit on those funds
  • Roy – We need to know how those funds are being spent before any more funding is allocated to states
  • Roy – Do not want to reward states who have not been fiscally responsible; there is a moral hazard in relying on federal government funding
  • Roy – Have reported $3.7 trillion in deficits this year and $2.5 trillion next year

 

  • Smith – States should not be getting additional relief?
  • Roy – Not advocating for additional funding before an audit on already allocated funds
  • Roy – Overwhelming perspective is that state economies need to re -open; 30 million unemployed and this week’s numbers should be worse
  • Roy – Need to get going in a way to preserve the state, jobs and the economy… cannot keep printing money… cannot wait for a vaccine in two years to re-start economy

 

  • Smith – There has been a discussion on increasing mail-in voting for people concerned with the public health environment of in-person voting
  • Smith – Why are we asking people to choose their health or to vote?
  • Roy – We want as many to vote as possible; issue is whether or not you want to flip the system on its head
  • Roy – Concern is election integrity; is concerned about fraud
  • Roy – Have yet to see a spike in Wisconsin where they did in-person voting
  • Smith – Interjects that a study has shown at least 36 have gotten sick in Wisconsin as a result of in-person voting
  • Roy – Data does not show a significant spike from in-person voting
  • Roy – Social distancing guidelines should we used when we vote (like congress has followed)

 

  • Smith – So, we should not expand mail-in voting?
  • Roy – Better path would be in-person voting with health and safety guidelines
  • Smith – Have you seen the Heritage Foundation that states that voter fraud is very minuscule
  • Roy – What is the percentage of that data counts votes cast by mail?
  • Smith – A study done in Oregon shows that here have been only 2 fraud cases (mail ballot) out of 50 million votes
  • Roy – Has not seen the Oregon data; changing the system increases the odds of potential fraud;
  • Roy – System changes would be a state and local decision
  • Roy – Should stick to the system

 

  • Smith – You would be confident enough in the public health environment to vote in person in November?
  • Roy – Would vote in person today; the elderly and others can request mail-in ballots
  • Roy – Would not want to suddenly change everything to mail-in ballots

 

Audience Questions

  • Smith – The CARES Act gave big cuts and loans to big businesses rather than small; do you agree?
  • Roy – Shares the belief the government should not pick winners and losers; big businesses have taken relief that was meant for small businesses
  • Roy – Have seen big businesses give relief back
  • Roy – One problem with PPP is that it made it hard for smaller lenders to give them out and made it hard for small businesses to obtain them (refers back to the unemployment provisions)
  • Roy – Need to look at tax policy to ensure that big businesses are not taking all of the funds
  • Roy – Was a $2 trillion bill… $350 billion went to SBA… more than they have ever handed out before

 

  • Smith – Many people are losing medical coverage when they lose their jobs; should healthcare be moved to universal? Mentions Roy’s outspoken beliefs that the Affordable Care Act should be repealed
  • Roy – We do need to overhaul our healthcare system, but not where the government has control of it; we do not need a healthcare broker
  • Roy – Need to expand direct primary care; need to bring back “black bag” doctors… our system is flawed because it is highly regulated
  • Roy – COVID-19 has highlighted what I already believe

 

  • Smith – There have been reports that COVID-19 would have counted as a pre-existing condition…
  • Roy – Insurance companies or the government should not impede people’s right to be cared for
  • Roy – Need to ensure insurance companies are honoring business interruption insurance
  • Roy – People need to be able to afford healthcare
  • Roy – Healthcare should not be tied to your employer; would be fine for employer to provide, not individuals should control their care
  • Roy – For those those who “fall through the cracks,” need a guaranteed coverage pool