You're watching...
Rep. John Boehner, (R-Ohio), on efforts to pass a budget and to keep student loan interest rates where they are.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
The problem.
Speaker Boehner thank you so much for sitting down -- -- today really appreciate it.
I want to talk about some of your favorite topics in my favorite topics like our country's overspending.
But first I wanted to ask you about the president's comments this afternoon on gay marriage.
He came out supported gay marriage this is a topic.
Critical to conservatives all over the country what's your reaction.
Well I think he made his position pretty clear.
I've always believe the marriage was between a man woman.
About Republicans here on Capitol -- or focused and on the economy.
The American people still lasted a question where the jobs.
And our focus is going to continue to be on the company like -- the last year and a half.
I -- follow though on the gay marriage -- some people are now talking about a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage what do you make of that.
And I haven't really seen that of this proposal.
All I know is that.
Some very controversial issue in our country.
But most people believe that marriage is a -- -- union of a man -- a woman.
But again our focus here on the hill news on the economy get the American people back to work.
Let's talk a little bit about the budget that's -- money topic.
Big debate about sequestration the Budget Committee today there.
Offers on the table from Paul Ryan Chris van Holland.
About what to do about the spending cuts -- defense should take most of the spending cuts are not.
Are you guys actually gonna find common ground here or is this gonna be yet another year where we don't really have a budget.
But remember Republicans passed a budget every year.
It's the senate for the last three years that -- not passed about.
And at a time -- -- have been nearly sixteen trillion dollars worth of national debt.
A budget deficit of this year one point three trillion dollars but it's irresponsible of up to about.
-- but having said that.
Well the -- sequestration is going to go into effect because -- super committee could not.
-- one point two trillion dollars worth of reductions and spending over the next ten years.
Is unacceptable.
One the first one point two trillion dollars that is law now comes -- of the discretionary side of the budget.
Out of of that agreement.
A defense -- lose about 487.
Billion dollars so what would have been spent.
At the Department of Defense.
That's enough.
And I think that's global.
But -- -- any further than.
Is unacceptable.
And Leon Panetta has agreed without even a White House knows it's unacceptable.
But direct but where's the president's plan.
He knows it's unacceptable.
Why isn't he leaving.
How integrate him on his ability to put forward a budget that anybody can vote yes for -- I believe -- his last -- -- Zero you know you gotta get -- because not one Democrat or one Republican here in the house a vote for the president's budget.
That's a pretty damning indictment.
The Democrats are saying that Paul Ryan's budget and his plans for making up the ground that that the cuts the defense would have taken our.
-- just not -- they cut social programs that you Republicans are just out to get the poor in this country with.
Your cuts wouldn't sell only cuts.
That would affect anyone that's remotely or are -- stimulus plus -- that -- and food stamp program.
Where they created this automatic enrollment.
This is out people who want lottery jackpots continued to receive food stamp benefits.
This is where people who are millionaires continue to get food stamp benefits.
This is and abuse of the process anyone who qualifies for the food stamp program will continue to get their benefits.
But where's their plan.
They can criticize our 320 billion dollars worth of of cuts of -- -- their plan they have no plan.
So it's easy -- government criticized.
What we're doing but where where would they make these reductions.
Can he do something simple light.
Take 10% off the top he can get together on something somewhere find a way that goes forward.
Jury the house -- done Austria.
We've passed over forty jobs bills and seven to United States -- part of our plan for American job creators we can't make the senate do their job.
The way the process works is the house passes the bill the senate passes a bill if we disagree.
We go to conference and try to resolve the differences.
Of any -- at a conference if they don't pass a bill.
The house is doing its job and frankly if you look at all these jobs -- -- we've passed they've all passed with bipartisan support.
The president yesterday afternoon said that congress should get together and pass get a list of five things you -- congress to do one of them was a jobs plan.
Are you getting on that list -- congress picking up.
Loved loved -- So suppressed vet checked out last -- there's nowhere to be found.
That's easy for -- campaign trail every day -- and be critical but why isn't a president -- Why is it working with Democrats and Republicans.
To advance the solutions to the problems that the American people are facing.
He doesn't do it why because he doesn't know how to do it he's never done it before.
Student loans people are asking the question if Republicans and Democrats can agree.
That the rate on student loans needs to be locked in at a lower rate come July 1 why can't it get it done.
Is Obama right that there's a do nothing congress on -- issues like this that you guys should find common ground on the house's.
Pass the bill.
To keep student loan interest rates where they are 3.4 percent.
And what was paid for.
With.
Reduction.
In in Obama cure slush fund that the president called for reducing in his own budget.
We also use money on the same -- from to help pay for the payroll tax credit last but December.
It's time for the senate Democrats to pass a bill and a third don't like the way we're gonna do it showed us how you're gonna do it.
And -- and -- get -- resolved but I have no doubts that it's gonna be resolved.
Well I'm sure what is -- seven point two million college students -- and -- you have these funds would love to hear that it will only affect a small portion of them.
But still no one wants to make this more -- -- For college students half of home.
Today or either underemployed or unemployed.
Some six billion dollars right for the individual college students that something like a thousand dollars over the life -- the loan.
And it seems to me every time that we put forward some plan to make it easier for college students to borrow money tuition costs go up.
Is there -- -- -- for congress to control that spend.
We have looked at this for the last fifteen years because every time though we increase the amount of pilgrim.
Money available for low income students or increase access.
To loan programs all of that gets outstripped by increases.
Intuition.
And fees.
And so what we of browbeat if you will the higher education establishment for a long time.
You really can't put what you call price controls.
Into effect but.
That the colleges and universities have a responsibility.
-- as well.
To try to hold down please go.
