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Sen. John Barrasso, (R-Wyo.), on efforts to reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.
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Now the fiscal -- things seem to take a 180 today -- news out of the White House indicated SP.
Earlier senator Orrin hatch said both sides were only about 23 billion dollars away from -- deal I know that sounds like a lot it does -- -- Washington that is nothing.
Going over the -- we were looking at more than 600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts.
Wall Street was pleased with what they heard today in the present his meeting with top CEOs as we speak.
Make about what you -- with me now to give his take is Wyoming senator John -- thank you so much for coming back to the show we always appreciate your time thank you most.
So what do you think are we getting close serving 23 billion dollars to to eat that's a lot of money but you guys that's like coins in the couch cushion.
Well I wanna find a solution I want us to get to an answer on this I know some Democrats have said that we should just go over the fiscal cliff.
I think that be a mistake I met earlier today with a number those same CEOs that the president is.
His meeting with at this hour and we need to find a solution it has to be a credible solution -- was a long term solution.
That the markets can look out.
And have some confidence in that that the cuts are real that the spending is under control and that our that our country is on fiscal we.
23 billion dollars away from a solution I -- was that right.
No I'm not sure that that's right I haven't heard those numbers I've been in a lot of the meetings you continue to work toward a solution.
We need to have presidential leadership all on this we need to work together for the best interest of the country but.
Long term as you know we have to focus on the entitlements.
There is no way that raising taxes solves this problem.
You know what the president is proposing -- -- taxes of people that make over a quarter million dollars.
-- here drop in the bottle vintages is not -- close the gap and -- and it doesn't make any kind of difference that are you thinks that about any kind of a deal that raises revenue but but doesn't directly address the idea.
Of of cutting spending our current limiting entitlements in a real way -- -- language that it will be died down the road because a lot of people are afraid.
That he -- agreed to that now that day it cuts will never cop.
I agree with you in those people that say that the day of cuts will never come if you agree.
To that other part of an early I think you can absolutely have to deal with the two tidal waves that are coming at us in terms of the baby boomers.
Getting older which is social security and Medicare and then this new entitlement coming with the president's health care law.
We know it's unworkable as a health -- I can tell you that as a doctor it's also unaffordable for us as a nation that has to be part of the discussion as well.
This idea that senate Democrats are now trying to limit the filibuster rule.
You know.
Do you think that's a good idea do you support that thing that would come back to bite them later on.
Well -- I oppose the idea that that senator Reid is proposing.
I think it's a mistake to a limit the rights of of people who elected me and others to.
Have the right to offer amendments and to have unlimited debate on the on the senate floor.
You know it is interest thing because when when President Obama was a senator.
-- Republicans were thinking about using this -- -- -- know it's terrible would destroy the institution and hurt the country same thing when Vice President Biden was a senator.
He spoke against it -- reasons it's it's bad and when Harry Reid.
I was in the minority he was against it now there in the majority and it seems like a power play.
I just think that you shouldn't break the rules which is the only thing they can do because they don't have the votes to change the -- you should not break the rules to change the rules.
You -- from here it is so hard pressed to tell how close we are getting to a deal or not I mean we have our own money meter which is like on a scale of one to money.
What's the likelihood that a deal gets done what do you think what's the likely had.
Well I think it's.
It's closer to money than it is -- your odds of winning the powerball.
We're not done we're not quite there yet.
-- -- what do you think you get like a four looks like maybe you know that we have four that's pretty likely that we're not -- well for the Clinton morning -- -- -- Well it's not gonna happen soon in Christmas is still about a month away.
Yeah okay but it's pretty hopeful if you think I mean based on what we talked about you think there's that.
-- -- -- -- that thank you for coming on tonight senator we appreciate it.
Thanks for -- liberalism coming up.
