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Former Sen. Alan Simpson, (R-Wyo.), on efforts to cut defense spending, the looming tax hikes and the health-care law.
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Well January isn't only bringing defense cuts with tax hikes.
Expect a way of nearly 500 billion dollars in tax hikes to take place January 1.
Joining me now -- with more on this former Republican senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming and the former dep commissioner coast chair.
Senator welcome to the show and it's always great to have you here we just had this conversation about as much as a million jobs possibly being -- in the defense industry.
You've talked a lot about shared sacrifice.
Is this it.
Well first that gentleman was just -- net change some very important think -- and it's nice to be doing this again with -- good Gerri Willis but.
-- Mikhail we look into the defense budget very carefully.
Now -- figure.
America expanding about 750.
Billion in defense.
And the top fifteen countries on earth including Russia and China -- behind spend 540.
Billion.
You'll hear that -- again nobody does.
-- outspending the rest of the world by a long shot.
Sure and then the other politically -- to them.
Combination how many contractors do you have in the Defense Department nation it -- it's quite -- -- Asia police say it wouldn't that make.
That is between 01 million in -- -- contractors now that is quite a range.
We have -- thought that makes -- it's impossible to audit contractor.
And -- -- a lot of them come out of the military after twenty years men go to work -- one of the big guys and what Eisenhower talked about the military industrial complex -- you -- Well you know Alan I think you know there's of -- lot of room for debate.
About whether the Defense Department itself and its contract -- his bloated.
But boy when it comes to our men and women on the ground I know that you feel -- idea that they need all every thing they wouldn't possibly give them to help them.
-- -- -- -- It's one of those guys on the ground in Germany in 195556.
At the end of the -- occupation.
Everything has changed and there's still the same number of bases in Europe as far as I know I mean I really do hill two months.
Looks -- about taxed again for a second you know if you have -- end of voice at canary in the coal mine.
On our spending and on taxes do you think tax would get -- wake up congress and force them to do something.
Nothing will happen before the November 6 these guys are paralyzed both parties -- think you're gonna hear anybody.
Utter one -- About the solvency of Social Security which.
In the year 2033.
Will pay out 25%.
Less and every single person on earth -- list.
And to say that you're gonna do nothing and let that happen.
Well it's the entitlement programs that are really sucking up all the -- -- -- you can make -- -- -- since you -- on defense but at the end of today.
Don't we have to do something about entitlements.
-- Of course there that says that the Medicare whatever you call again called Obama care Elvis Presley care I don't care care and possibly work.
They say what do you mean.
Well I mean you can't take care of pre existing condition of a three year old who lived to be 61.
Person the United States waited more than the other two we've got.
Diabetes AMP -- -- -- tort reform on the trial lawyer got to get into some kind of discussion you gotta do -- with doctors' fees.
Gotta Duchamp was providers can make hospital -- one set of -- -- standard -- I mean here we are this is where this is.
Well -- your prediction for obamacare.
And status on Thursday do you think they will throw out any part of -- lot.
We have tried to and then -- partial -- just like they did with this immigration -- -- and then in Arizona.
They let him -- pretty tough part you know about the -- right well.
And then -- stroke about two others from them but it whatever they're doing.
There is they're not coming full measure of their their harsh thing and that's what they're gonna do him on Thursday I don't know what it will be I have no why did.
Well where's certainly gonna find out because we're gonna be on the ground there for today's and listening to everything and as always senator it's a pleasure to have you on the show thank you so much for talking with us -- -- I'm -- media and your literature punishment.
-- thank you very much a pleasure.
Well.
