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Airlines for America CEO Nicholas Calio and Vintage Vinyl co-founder Lewis Prince on small business concerns about the fiscal cliff debate.
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Coming tonight got from our Los Angeles.
You know idealistic -- that your -- that we own traffic.
I don't think so I think.
-- and it's giving us a good run for our money.
But anyway it's very good to have you back with us here odd because of -- -- they're not it traffic -- -- even there in meetings.
You should take stock and whoever plans meetings you know -- move about the the place settings -- the pencils and pads because they're so many going on the president meeting with a -- business leaders middle class Americans today.
He's had three afford these like minded sessions.
Just since he was reelected Republicans meeting a lot of CEOs.
So it seems like each side is is meeting -- With everyone but each other.
America for airlines CEO Nicholas -- met with -- the Republican leadership today.
Small business owner Louis prince -- met with President Obama.
Yesterday a Lewis and I -- begin we view.
In meeting with the president did he give you any inkling as to.
How confident he is of a deal by year end.
No -- and what what that meeting was really about was the president asking us questions and listening to us.
About the problems and small business and what.
The administration could bring to the table to help small business I got the feeling that they're reasonably optimistic that that's my feeling it has nothing to do.
-- -- with specific things -- in the room.
So Lewis went a lot of small business men and women are saying and I had a a couple on -- Fox News show earlier today that.
They think that this is not been.
A friendly environment for small business -- that the policies that are about to be pursued won't help them would did that ever come up.
Not really.
-- for made the environment for small business -- has been pretty good in this administration.
I supply health care for all my employees so the ACA really helped me pay for it last year.
I think they're getting hit a money into the hands of the consumers that.
The continuation of the middle class tax cut will be a big help I can tell you that my business which is a 33 year old business we -- of -- we -- of maybe the most mature business.
In the room.
Was was either down or flat for from about 2008 on and then in 2011 we started seeing.
Though the of the stimulus -- in which which it takes that kind of time -- -- -- in in in the business cycle we have been your.
Business again is what -- -- if it's spotted summon help business I sell I sell records and CDs and dvds Coca.
But in a brick and mortars -- and -- stimulus help you can stimulus helped him.
I think it help.
My customers and I and I think that was a message that most of these small business -- court -- much younger with with more entrepreneurial businesses for the most part.
We're bringing to that table which was which was why we were there basically to support -- the middle class tax cut.
It's -- say that you know.
Public political freedom and economic mobility.
Go hand in hand and I think -- as a CEO and I'm always looking at the long term my job with the plan for the future.
And I would love to see a country where it economic mobility is easier for my kids you know I I grew up in a blue -- house.
And I'm -- first guy in my family go to college and I got to own my own business and build my own -- And and that's the disparity were fighting here.
Are up by -- Nicholas if you could has pipe down here.
That I'm getting I'm getting -- let me ask you.
When you met with the Republicans.
-- said he did it did zero under enormous pressure.
-- -- -- seat on taxes but they're getting.
Very worried that Democrats -- -- are not conceding on reining in spending so they they feel or fear they're gonna be.
That is they're going to be siblings did any of that come up.
-- well I I think in this sense it did but just to clarify Neil.
Airlines for America is going to group called the fix the -- campaign it's a bipartisan nonpartisan group.
Right you've got a did you get -- address this -- Would we want them to address we will we are based on certain pretzels who wanted to address but we think that it -- order to address the problem both in terms of the fiscal cliff.
And it just as important or more importantly the long term debt path of this country which has a direct impact on the health of the economy.
They you have to have basically a three legged stool you've got to have entitlement reforms -- got to rein in spending and you've gotta reform the tax code.
And what we have but I.
C one out of three of those being done right now that that you write it could change we don't know what's happening behind closed doors.
But right I see a lot of talk about taxes I don't see much talk about the other two degrees.
There's a lot of concern about that there are a lot of people talking about entitlement reform and rainy weather today -- what a day -- you and your colleagues -- or say in those meetings of the Republicans that.
If it's if it's too lopsided -- -- is a bad deal is better.
-- no deal no deal -- better than a bad deal but.
Know what our message was as an order to get a good deal.
You've gotta put something together they'll have a marked impact on the economy cannot markets and has to be credible deal.
The only time way you can get a credible deal -- -- -- all three legs that's still involved so you can get something they'll actually do something about the debt over the long term.
Yeah in order to get that.
You've got to have the votes to do it so to get the votes you've got to have a balanced package so the Republicans have said yes we will agreed to new revenues.
We there has to be a lot more talk about entitlement reform.
And reining in spending so that you -- out a package that is balanced can't even do something about the debt.
It get to 218 votes are either 51 votes or sixty votes and -- that's what he really has to be done.
And I think part of our concern is to yes.
This is being argued in public as you say.
The two sides need to talk to each other.
And you've got to always be careful in negotiation like this that anything you do.
Or anything you say can take the other side lock in to a position in just as importantly and sometimes much worse what you say can make your own site -- in.
Which reduces your own room to maneuver and you need room to maneuver to get a deal of this magnitude and this complexity.
All right gentlemen I want to thank you -- taking the time.
It's -- that residue of -- -- -- our greater national but he on the left to the right small medium large businesses thank you guys very very much.
Thank you think you.
