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Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, (R-Texas), weighs in on payroll tax cuts, job creation and her new plan for social security.
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Fox News alert for you is getting down to the wire again that there are only three weeks left.
For congress to act and extend the payroll tax holiday if there is no deal the four point 2% -- tax rises to six point 2%.
And the deadline is even closer.
Because congress is scheduled -- they get a nine day recess starting on February 18.
Democrats and Republicans are still playing the blame game but can they get it together can they get something done.
Let's ask an exclusive interview Republican senator Kay Bailey Hutchison do you think we're gonna have a deal senator.
-- do I think we will come up with some approach that doesn't -- -- security fund.
With these tax cuts we need to pay for them so that this doesn't security fund is held intact.
Well I am I'm gonna ask you about the you've got a proposal for -- the trade on -- asking about that senator but let me ask you about what happened yesterday.
A with negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in particular -- a GOP proposal that was shot down.
On the house side -- basically they want to freeze federal worker pay and then also.
-- increase the Medicare premiums for those that make certainly what what they gets 80000 dollars a year.
Medicare's -- one of the key issues for you over the last ten years what do you what do you think what wrong here.
Well I think that we are trying to come up with alternatives.
To raising taxes on our middle class taxpayers.
We want the payroll tax to go -- Reduction to go through.
But we don't want to raise taxes on people who are hiring and creating jobs.
And that's all that we are getting right now from the Democrats so.
-- some of the Republicans put together a plan that would.
Freeze federal salaries which I think is -- of -- I think we would all.
Welcome -- freeze -- salaries certainly we haven't taken a pay increase ourselves and several years in nor should we think -- -- and the civilian workforce -- obviously our military are separate from that.
But I think that was a good proposal going forward as.
Now we're back to square one -- I think -- I think you might be OK let's talk about your proposal.
You think that that particular Social Security that is -- the the address needs to -- you say that you got to plan.
That would actually extend the retirement age but it wouldn't increase taxes hell's that work senator.
Well it's so important -- that we.
Do something that won't increase taxes that people are already paying in the payroll -- as we did not want to increase those.
And we think extending the age at which Social Security fix and is only reasonable sense.
Our life -- and our healthy life spans have increased sense of security was put in place.
So mine would be gradualist someone's 58 years old or older they would be affected at all.
But after that every.
A year we would extend the age at which you could retire and get Social Security by three months so it's three months every year and by the year 20/20 seven we would be 2869.
You know is it -- it because on Monday the Dallas morning news said that they that they basically called your your -- reasonable a reasonable request.
To deal with one of the largest -- this country has and that is so security entitlements of security.
But you also some other ideas that are very interesting you want to eliminate the death tax lower capital gains I -- all of these would be income friendly.
For investors and for Americans frankly overall but you have a lot of push back on those issues from the Democrats might think that has sent.
Well I I don't know why the Democrats.
Think you can tax the economic engine of America which is the people who are creating jobs -- job number one should be.
Creating jobs.
So putting taxes and the Obama health care system and more regulations which is what this administration is doing.
Our.
And chief -- to that we can't just keep burdening business and expect them to hire people.
So I don't know why the Democrats don't understand that.
But I believe -- weekend again our economy jump started we will increase revenue but it will be because people are working.
And that's the way we should try to increase revenue.
Let me ask you this another issue that's close -- your heart has been for years as the nation's military servicemen and women.
40000 came home at the end of the month of December and jobs have been.
A big concern for many.
Of these veterans frankly because there aren't many jobs out there what do we need to do for our military to get them back to work senator.
-- that is just a great question it is just so sad.
That these people who have given up so much and especially the guard and reserve.
Two are coming back -- their jobs aren't there people who are.
Actually being able to to leave the military after they've served their time.
I just think it is so sad that we're not focusing on creating jobs so that they will be fair and giving them some preferences.
For instance if you look Keystone Pipeline.
That would have created.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs immediately.
We could be given veteran preferences for those jobs and it would have been a win for every one.
And yet the president said no we we can't do it for reasons that just don't hold water because albeit of our middle.
Protections have been put in place for the building of that pipeline.
We will be following your legislation in your proposals in Washington senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.
