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Dorgan: Now a Troubled Time for America

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    Former Senator Byron Dorgan on the need for bold actions to reduce the nation’s deficit.

  • Duration 5:30
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-- power meeting today in Washington members of the deficit super committee in the gang of six getting together behind closed doors to share their ideas on how to cut the nation's deficit but.

Many remain doubtful whether congress is divided as this one can truly tackle this huge problematic -- former North Dakota senator Byron Dorgan.

Who says -- bold action is needed He joined now from Washington so senator would your former colleagues agree with the if not for fear of political repercussions.

Well I don't know but it seems to me that anybody takes a level look at what's happening in the country and the deficits that are in front of us as far as the -- can see.

Auto understand that this country won't have a strong economy and won't recover the way who wanted to.

Unless we -- a very big chunk out of these future deficits and that require some pain and it requires some.

Spending cuts and new revenue would probably requires us to Begin thinking about whether we should withdraw troops from Afghanistan and nation building here at home.

Those are things that would that we have to have a big decisions made the super committee -- do by the way when you say new revenue as I understand every read some of your stuff you're talking about doing the Simpson -- thing that is reducing rates cross -- getting rated deductions -- of the president even though empowered committee.

He's not endorsed yet.

Well for so we should have.

Very substantial tax reform.

Our tax system ought to be much simpler and much fairer.

And even as we do that lower rates to get rid of a lot of the gimmicks and exceptions and so on.

Even as we do that we're gonna have to have a system simple and fair and when that raises some more revenue.

Because you've got to have spending cuts and some additional revenue fixes it.

Well I would did I could go a long time would you want additional revenue because I -- the government deserves any more money however.

I I agree with Simpson -- but what is talk about spending because that is the toughest not of all.

And you know when you're in the senate you have -- voted yes on a lot of big spending issues we put together a list of -- -- 192 billion.

Additional anti recession stimulus spending July 2009.

You voted yes on and on the 825 billion dollar stimulus package yes on -- sixty billion dollar stimulus package and 2008 and going on and on that you voted no on a balanced budget constitutional amendment.

Do you regret having bin a big spender yourself when you're in congress.

Well that's a clever selection of my votes -- also held 22 hearings by the way on waste fraud and abuse in defense contract again these two wars we're in.

Which I think is the greatest waste fraud and abuse in the history of our country.

But but we can go and add to my record or greater depth -- look.

Where we're fighting two wars halfway around the world haven't paid for a penny of it.

We we gave Wall Street Green light to do what they want -- we had unbelievable speculation that through this economy into the ditch.

And so now we have less revenue because of the deep recession we're.

By about out of we hope we end but we have more spending because of the economic stabilizers that kick him.

But whether you're Republican or Democrat if you don't recognize that this is a very troubled time for this country.

And and we need aggressive action now.

Deep cuts in spending.

Everything on the table.

It's a new revenue and we need to also in my judgment Begin to bring our troops home from -- war in which we're nation building oversee the rest of the nation building here.

Home but my point of bringing up that list of yours is that everybody has a list of that we could have picked the same catalyst for Republicans as well who spent.

Spent crazy also audience that the fact is when you're in congress the pressure is so enormous I'm just wondering what's gonna finally.

Staffed these people and make them vote the right way.

Well first of all you've got two different things going on one a very deep economic downturn in the deepest it's a Great Depression.

That reduced revenue and increase spending -- just a function of what happens or any of the deepest recession since the 1930s that's why 31 thing.

That's -- number to go to towards not paying for -- -- -- -- I was on the floor of the senate time and time again saying.

We -- -- at least have the responsibility to pay for the cost of wars.

But look what we need to grow this economy I understand that and the question is what's the best menu what's the secret sauce of somebody has some.

To put the country back on track and expand and grow they it's an election.

Why don't I but I worry that this election is gonna tell anybody anything I don't but -- frankly I don't see.

How do these guys are usually not in there for so long forgive me but the folks have been in for as long as you -- forums want is a lot of these people are in.

Have too many interest forcing them to do the wrong thing not the right thing.

Yeah and the people that come to town for the last election say you know we got to do let's get rid of Medicare but -- get rid of these programs.

I think it's gonna -- that -- I'm not forget well I don't frankly haven't heard anybody say let's just get rid of medic I've heard anybody say that.

Buyoya a lot of people -- -- no I haven't I haven't heard.

Who is said let's get rid of Medicare who's at and -- that the Ryan plan ends Medicare as you and I know where I am sure or not and Medicare for those on our target about people under 55 are -- the fact is is that you've got to cut somewhere and -- always an excuse for not doing that.

Look I'm for cutting the Judd Gregg and I coauthored appease I'm for cutting spending -- for doing all these things because this country is in a world of hurt.

But I also believe that.

We can't ignore the fact that we went off to two wars and haven't paid for many of our -- -- that it -- -- -- -- -- about that because we have -- -- we we have -- responsibility to -- these -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- to -- -- -- to say -- -- I still haven't seen the tough decision you haven't -- the tough decisions either so.

I don't know what it's gonna take we've got to leave it at that Byron door I -- to see assert thank you thanks and I again appreciate it --

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