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Rep. Jim Cooper, (D-Tenn.), on his proposed bill that would freeze Congressional paychecks if a budget is not passed.
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Or next guest is so fed outlook congress' last minute bill passing that he want to hit where it hurts.
In the wall democratic congressman Jim Cooper of Tennessee it's co sponsoring -- no budget no pay act which would freeze lawmakers paychecks if they don't pass budget bills on time.
And he joins us now from natural congressman welcome to the show.
Tell us about -- with you Charles tell us about hr 3643.
It's very simple bill that's based on private sector principles if you don't do the work you don't get paid.
A congresses not used to that congress is used missing most every deadline it's ever had but.
These times or more serious than they've been before we don't have the cushion we don't have the leeway that we've had before we saw our credit rating.
Get hurt the summer -- to congressional incompetence.
So in order to curb that incompetence we've got to have more hers as you said -- -- in the pocketbook.
You have been banging in the fiscal responsibility.
Rom for very long time -- you are considered a blue dog fiscally conservative Democrat.
What makes you think that despite the fact that our debt has now 100% of GDP that your colleagues -- gonna eventually learned listen to you now.
When -- in single digits in the polls almost congressman wanna get more popular and I think they're gonna be forced to accept a reform liked us.
In ordinary years -- not only not look at this they'd laugh about it but this year in order to get out of the ditch I think my colleagues are gonna have to take that seriously -- The truth is that only the taxpayers have not been able to pay -- on a performance basis.
The special interest on the other hand have been paying us on that basis for a long long time.
Through campaign contributions through post retirement job opportunities and things like that.
This time the taxpayer was able to hit us where -- -- which is the pocketbook.
-- sounds like I mean it almost sounds like you're saying that the congress is is that.
Not necessarily on the take but certainly may be more beholden to special interest -- their constituents.
I think the special interest figured it out a long time ago.
They know that if they like what you're doing that can contribute to -- a whole lot more money and I can even offered you a job after you quit in a congressman.
The tax -- on the other hand is more limited in what he or she can do.
-- are only able to pass a far fixed salary.
No matter how good or bad we are.
And I think we need to move toward -- pay for performance sort of approach for congress because we're clearly not getting -- performance today.
We've got to figure out a way how to improve congressional behavior because congress is actually a threat to the nation right now.
Representative Cooper I -- -- you website after this this payroll tax cut the -- who was finished and you say you're happy that the house Republicans came to the senate Republicans are finalized those that you're saying.
Another job is to get the economy growing and start paying our bills.
What that suggests that this payroll tax cut while it was full of drama really isn't gonna do much to help the economy.
Well certainly a two month extension of a tax cut isn't gonna -- much we need to have more stable policies than that.
We also really need to look at the -- -- and really both parties are off base on this coast neither party really wants to pay the bills.
During this Christmas season -- like -- like Santa Claus and sooner or later got to pay those bills and as you know we're more in depth and we've ever been as a nation.
We've got a get that right again because we don't want to act like Europe.
On that note are you getting are you now getting traction would where they're not obviously there's so many different things we got a presidential election coming up.
I think it's hard are all the time for you guys down -- -- get focused but how do you get some more traction -- -- get some co sponsors.
And really get this through because I got to tell you that in the mid term elections the blue dog Democrats became something of an endangered species.
Then but we have tremendous bipartisan support for the bill already was introduced with Republican senator -- -- of Nevada.
We have the know labels coalition behind that no labels as a fascinating group it's nationwide it's an all fifty states and is -- folks are sick and tired of the misbehavior.
Of both political parties they're not their own third party they're trying to get both Democrats and Republicans to improve their behavior.
Tonight look no labels as a key supporter behind us we have some 38 -- is already.
I think -- the timing is right you could see it work like DO the stock act you know.
About build stops congressional insider trading this I think could be as popular back.
Right of course there -- a -- sixty minute speech p.s that kind of propelled that to the national conscience.
What would it take something god to propelled us into the national -- like maybe United States losing its triple -- rating.
Really losing it across the board.
By all the ratings agencies what that would it take something dramatic.
Maybe it's a -- Washington to understanding just how dire this is a stop giving it just lip service.
Well I think congressional behavior this week should prompt passage of this bill because look how close we came to nearly hurting.
A 160 million American workers but the payroll tax increase of 47%.
Where about cut all doctors in America 27%.
And then take away everything pretty much from -- unemployed that's outrageous that we came that close to such a horrible policy outcome.
There's no real reason for that that's why you saw the Republican civil war going on the fight between.
A McConnell and Boehner the senate minority leader and the speaker this is an amazing thing when McConnell finally came out yesterday and said.
An up close enough you house members have to learn how to behave and he -- down the law to -- -- that a law and I gotta tell you something.
-- four -- firm of performance is idea whose time has come.
I thank you personally as a citizen for fighting this -- by congressman Jim Cooper of Tennessee we appreciate it.
Thank you Charles practice and.
