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Closed Door Debt Talks Getting Nowhere

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    Sen. Ron Johnson, (R- Wis.), discusses how he would resolve the nation’s debt issues.

  • Duration 5:58
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So what does a business guy from Oshkosh Wisconsin think of all the closed door maneuvering going on over debt negotiations -- doesn't like it but this does this guy may be in a position to do something about it he's a freshman United States senator from Wisconsin.

Ron Johnson who joins us now great to see again senator thanks for being here.

Well David thanks -- I'm so described force if he can exactly this secrecy I mean are there.

Union suggests in the past that there are folks at reporters know that.

That you would your colleagues don't about what's -- -- behind closed doors right.

Well it is pretty frustrating we keep hearing and reading in the paper.

You know all of these are details above some planned some missile plan the administration's putting forward we haven't seen anybody.

That's just a problem removed David were talking about a three point seven trillion dollar a year enterprise unit the American government.

And we haven't passed a budget United States senate and over two years it's been over 800 days.

-- -- better business -- columns I've had to produce budgets on time I've had people produce budgets for me on time.

And to think that the federal government can't even produce a budget.

And that got a couple folks being behind closed doors are gonna decide what the financial fate of America -- -- that is an absurd.

And absurd price if it's sort of reminds you of obamacare we're so much happened behind closed doors of people were voting on something -- and they didn't even know what was it that.

In fact some people actually said that.

Not -- that just.

Infuriates American public that you -- -- you get these bills handed down on the come down from on high end.

You're what where you're expected to vote on these things and a couple days.

And it's the only -- leader senator it's only later that we find out what's in it and how destructive bagpipe for the economy -- -- rules.

For example in obamacare.

Is that -- crippling some small businesses may -- they were able to be changed later.

But the fact that people vote on the before they recognize how harmful they could be to the economy when unemployment is still over 9%.

Well -- you know I've -- looking you know since I've been here -- -- -- -- in detail about the U PayPal Caroline.

That is -- -- add trillions of dollars to our debt and deficit just the first six years of implementation.

That thing was so underestimate its fastest one -- not -- -- even talking about back.

But I mean the fact matters if you go through this process.

-- the president's targeting all kinds of credit for you know being engaged -- willing to do all types of things he has no plan right -- really serious about this David.

He would've been at the negotiating table -- -- -- good faith.

Months ago back in January February he would put -- -- budget that would have been serious instead of being voted down by a vote of zero to 97.

By the -- senate -- one member of his own party gave divorce he was so on serious self this president unfortunately and it's very unfortunate.

Is -- serious is not taking this serious he's just playing a political game of chicken and that.

Well I think you're right every everybody's -- of the game of chicken I think people are serious about what -- -- to mitigate and it's not just Democrats are being secret about things we don't know a lot of what Republicans are planning to.

Today we got word of the McConnell plan -- I guess yesterday we did which would essentially.

Allow the president himself to set the debt ceiling at least -- a temporary basis.

What do you think of that plan.

Well first -- what part -- these negotiations have frozen off a lot of action.

And David O'Brien focusing on is working with the house representatives and there's a growing group of people that are willing to increase the debt ceiling is long as we fixed the problem.

So we're working on this concept called cap cut.

-- -- balance where we pass a bill and actually cut spending the first two years it provides structural caps through legislation put us on a glide path toward a balanced budget.

And they actually increases the debt ceiling just what the president wants.

But it does it only win the states pat -- when congress passes a constitutional amendment to limit the size of government.

Yeah -- senator -- -- -- got answering the question about McConnell plan would you give the president.

His own personal authority to extend the debt ceiling even if it's not only on a temporary basis.

David I am focused on actually running a solution I don't I don't we want to think about not.

Not a lot of us are center I got to tell you be indeed the number of Americans who were against raising this debt ceiling is growing.

A CBS poll has it at 69%.

Who were against raising the debt ceiling to 24%.

Were in favor -- even though that 65% know that there -- be serious consequences.

Right David I'm right with -- -- and that's why KB I recognize we are bankrupting this nation.

Our nation is in peril but I came here to fix the problem may tell you what if we get a constitutional amendment.

Past and send that to the states I'll be happy to let the American people decide to -- that fiscal discipline and that's we gotta do this is gotta be two step process.

First we have put those hard spending caps that fiscal discipline before we start you know.

Then there -- operate an -- that's how we actually fix the problem.

By the way another part of the problem is that even however -- target about cuts and government summit this is not real cuts in government they're just -- about cutting.

The increase in the growth of -- right.

-- been -- -- when we're talking about cutting we're talking about cutting next years spending from this year's levels that is true.

No I'm I'm volatility got -- actually talks real numbers -- when you look at all these cuts they're talking about some mythical baseline.

The -- matters -- president Obama's budget does it takes us from three point seven trillion -- talked about five point seven trillion dollars.

The -- budget takes us for about 3.5.

Up to -- four point seven trillion dollars so all we're really talking about here in this really ends up being Washington speak we start talking about cuts.

We're talking about reducing the rate of increase in spending which is not a real -- It's not a real cat -- when we're talking about tapping.

We're capping the growth in spending in that is an important distinction the American people need to understand.

Very important distinction senator Ron Johnson always good to have a businessman on her show who happens to be a politician thanks very much for being here appreciate -- Citizen legislator the -- -- very much good to see.

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