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Rep. Cliff Stearns, (R-Fla.), on efforts to reach a compromise on how to pay for the extension of the payroll tax cut and the investigation into Solyn...
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-- for more on the payroll tax cut extension division within the Republican Party the latest developments on Capitol Hill joining us now.
Congressman cliff Stearns of Florida leaving the house subcommittee on oversight great to have you with us congressman.
To be with you let's start with the divided caucus if -- may.
And and were you you folks are headed with the payroll tax cut extension.
Well I think as you pointed out earlier speaker -- indicated we can't do the payroll extension.
And -- we can pay for it and obviously with all the talk about Social Security going bankrupt it would not having enough funds.
We should not be reducing funding to Social Security.
A particular light of this huge deficit problem we have so I think the speaker's right we've got to pay for it.
But I also think.
Mr.
Ryan congressman Ryan's correct that it was intended as a holiday and not as an indefinite.
Payroll tax deductions so we have to be -- -- say credible here in congress and realize -- ever gonna bounce the budget we can't go.
-- say reducing.
Payroll tax at the expense of the Social Security trust fund.
Got the idea that there Revere reduction of money flowing into the Social Security trust fund.
At the same time.
President talking about extending this tax cut while.
Working diligently to make certain that the bush tax cuts expire.
And the Republicans for whatever reason seem to of lost initiative.
That is in talking about reducing the size and the level of spending on the part of the federal government here.
-- -- do the messages move from here.
Well I'm not sure and I think you pointed out it's a non starter because if Republicans are.
Talking about reducing the payroll tax.
And debating whether we're gonna pay for it or not I think the overall message is lost to the American people that we're trying to reduce spending here.
And congress and we also want to have credibility with the Social Security trust fund so we've got mixed messages and I think if Republicans.
We've got to come together and realize that whatever -- we do we've got to pay for it but more importantly we've got to reduce spending.
And also lost in this is the argument of course that the payroll tax holiday.
Is not particularly helpful for those Americans who need the most help that is some 45 million Americans.
Underemployed not employed and -- given up any prospect of being employed.
This affects of course those who do have jobs let me turn to Solyndra but to your committee I understand that you received word from the White House now.
On your request for documents.
Bubbles and if you will.
Sure Lou we issued our subpoena to the White House the west wing the inner circle.
We wanna see got emails from -- Carol Browner also Ron Kline.
House.
Valerie Jarrett as well as Larry Summers and we have enough information and that they were involved with the refinancing.
The subordination of taxpayers' money.
Secondly we know that they were pushing -- -- even at the expense of realizing it was up possibly going bankrupt my government just.
Congress so there we we have all this information.
The good news is they did give us a letter last night course the subpoenas over a month old right and we got this letter indicating they have identified.
-- we -- communication that would be under the subpoena but they said we can't give it to because it's too broad -- -- to brought so we can't do it.
And so they are very reluctant to give us anything so we're meeting with him hopefully.
This week or early next week to -- Come up with a plan to get those documents we can look at.
That will do you infer from what you've just said.
That that secretariat -- or is everything you're just saying.
Gives -- -- to what secretary -- said that he's solely was responsible without White House.
Interference in the decisions that were made on the loan guarantee program.
You infer that -- or do I think we conclusion.
No -- I can -- I could say that directly that secretary Q is really operating.
Under the White House can we -- not only authority but direction.
And I think anybody who looks that this is -- need to think this secretary to.
With his no background -- financial markets or shall we say running large corporations.
He pretty much took his direction for the White House and I think some of the emails we confirm that in fact the whole subordination we think.
Perhaps came from the White House at the direction of some of the inner circle because secretary Chu was advised by an outside law firm here in Washington.
Not to do it.
-- secretary sure it sounds like may have some other.
Issues -- evident that congressman cliff Stearns good to talk with you thanks for being here.
Thank you breaking news.
