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Former Rep. Jim McCrery, (R-La.), on what is needed to reach a compromise and avoid the fiscal cliff.
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-- of -- the problem of our fiscal imbalance overnight.
And certainly won't do -- a lame duck session of congress.
You know who'll be solved simply by raising taxes are taking a plunge off the fiscal cliff Mr.
President this is your moment.
We're ready to be -- Not as Democrats or Republicans.
But as Americans.
-- just a short time ago talking about the looming pistols what I mean look.
Everyone knows it is a huge problem which is why it is so incredibly frustrating -- all anyone's doing.
Is talking about it but there is a powerful bipartisan group in a way that could make all the difference in here and -- box there's this exclusives.
Former congressman.
-- McCrary who is on the steering committee for the campaign -- the debt he also served as the chairman of the house social security subcommittee welcome.
Congressman to the show thank you for coming on.
-- -- -- So how do we solve this problem I mean I think that's what a lot of people are really nervous about today we -- reflected in the stock market.
We have to come together and come to a solution.
And I think Americans are nervous about everyone doing -- -- do you see -- grand bargain now there.
Well what it takes is leadership.
There's gonna have to be leadership on both sides of the aisle in Washington leadership from the White House and leadership in congress.
What the campaign to fix the debt.
Is trying to do is create an atmosphere.
That allows that leadership to take place that allows policy makers to make the tough decisions that have to be made to get our debt deficits under control.
Without.
Knowing that their political futures are in great jeopardy so that's that's what our campaign is all about.
So you do that because -- mean this is the perfect moment to do that I mean everyone has just been elected or reelected you have the most time possible.
Before you have to run again it is the perfect time.
Come together compromise and do something really -- right.
That's right and and our goal is to again create that atmosphere that's conducive.
To making the -- how what do you what do you say yeah we're gonna do it we're gonna do it.
We've raised.
Thirty million dollars or so we're gonna raise more.
We're gonna use that to do grassroots operations grass tops operations.
Some.
Paid media -- -- media like we're doing now.
So an array of things that we hope will raise the public's awareness of the seriousness of this problem.
And and I can create that atmosphere see you think it's about policy makers to make those decisions.
You think it's about convincing everyone's constituents that they should support their own political leaders in going out they're compromising in giving something to the other side that it's about telling.
People out there not about the congressman but it's about -- -- people that they represent that it's okay for their leader to compromise.
Well I mean.
Compromise is probably gonna have to take place because you don't have to have them both parties involved.
-- create.
-- plan to solve this problem that's that's big enough to do the job.
But more we we want to create that atmosphere so that constituents are.
Calling the the policy makers offices and saying hey.
This debt thing is really a lot worse than I realize -- If you don't do something my kids are gonna suffer my grandkids are gonna suffer and please fix this that's what we're all about that's what we're trying to create so that.
Members of congress and a and and and the president.
Will feel an urgency.
Not only from a substantive policy stamp -- but maybe even from a political standpoint to get this done.
Can you think that that's the problem that's the biggest obstacle -- it's neat and it's our viewers at home and it's their judgment.
About their congressman and pressure from us that that's what's stopping these.
Big men and women in congress from making the critical decisions -- not plunging us over the -- I mean.
Shouldn't -- be brave enough to do the right thing for the country and not let this happen to us on their own.
Well again our goal as an organization is to have their backs.
We want to create that support in the public for getting that getting this done.
I'm I'm not about knocking our organizations not about.
Calling names or our sales and blame we just wanna get the job done and we think about it -- -- one necessary ingredient is to get the public behind us.
Real quick run us through the list of things that happen.
If we don't come to this compromise and you know being increased cost of living slower wage growth.
Generational injustice and eventually a fiscal crisis right.
Absolutely.
If something has not done to address the level of debt with them not too many years we're gonna have.
-- that's equal to a 100% of our gross domestic product.
-- -- historically when countries have gotten above 90% or so.
It does cause the kinds of problems that you indicated interest rates would go sky high the dollar would be devalued.
Inflation would occur and the standard of living in this country would go down.
You -- were headed that direction all right congressman thanks for coming on we appreciate your time tonight.
