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Former Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan and former Republican Senator Robert Bennett weigh in on lawmakers' inability to solve the debt crisis.
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In -- -- well luckily we have to former politicians joining us right now to answer that very question.
Two former senator's former democratic senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and former Republican senator Bob Bennett.
Of -- and gentlemen I'm gonna ask you start by asking you both that question first.
Do you believe in senator Dorgan to you first do you believe that members of your own party.
Are acting irresponsibly right now.
Well nobody is really credit to this process right now in -- fact is it's a disgusting kind of thing to watch.
And I think the American people are pretty fed up with -- -- what what they want is a government that makes decisions and decisions on time.
And so now I mean I think that people look at this process and of watch that non recent weeks and months and think it's a pretty ugly process.
Senator Bennett you get the same -- members of your party acting irresponsibly.
Some are and some aren't.
And do it well.
Unfortunately the Republican party's pretty much split.
With some saying let's make a deal and some saying no we want to prove how tough we are and refused to make a deal.
And there is not a majority in the party -- that I can see.
For any kind of deal and if that's the case it becomes very very difficult to to negotiate.
I remember 1995.
When Gingrich and dole were in charge.
And there was a split between the two of them and finally it was dole who said enough is enough.
And pretty much pushed -- -- and said let's make the deal with Clinton and they and they -- the government shut down.
I don't see unfortunately the people in the party now being able to produce a majority of Republicans.
For -- -- -- moderate majority for saying let's have a let's have a confrontation with the president.
And there's not a majority of those who say well let's make a deal with the president.
As senator Dorgan -- you and you're talking about how well.
-- indeed behavior as of these politicians -- you haven't been out office but -- we can count on it in months.
How did the process and get to this point and your view how did become so.
Gridlocked.
And so ineffective.
Well look our politics has become the gridlocked and in some cases -- but let me just say in the last decade here's what happened.
But the government cut its revenue through tax cuts.
Then increase spending went to war in two countries and suffered a near financial collapse.
In my judgment this is not rocket science in terms of what you have to do you have to cut spending and He also have to increase taxes and both are necessary.
And I think -- some people enough people apparently who think that they will they will not accept that answer.
This is not going to be a painless process try to steer this country out of this problem.
But it is a debt crisis it's in order to solve it we have to have spending cuts and we also have to have some tax increases.
Senator Bennett you would raise taxes though in the face of economic weakness that you -- right now.
Well I -- the attitude the president took but He said let's make a big bargain let's do the big thing.
And use this crisis.
It's one thing to say raise taxes it's another thing to say reform the tax code right.
Yeah I will allow our I would support increase tax revenues if in the process.
You scrap most of the problems that exist with the IRS -- give you a tax that is simpler.
More efficient.
And more effective in solving our problems.
Just taking the present tax code and tinkering with the rates is not something that's attractive to.
Senator we don't disagree on that I think while we need more revenue let's get that additional revenue in a thoughtful and sensitive way and -- the fact is -- Current tax system desperately needs overhaul and reform.
Democrat and Republican in agreement and about three and a half minutes now -- that can't happen in the nation's capital.
Well that's shameful thank you senators it was great to see you but.
Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Bob Bennett of Utah you're welcome back here anytime.
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