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Kirsten Powers of the Daily Beast on the ongoing battle between tax increases and spending cuts.
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Austin Powers from the -- -- -- she joins us from Washington.
All right -- and welcome to the program I don't think you've been on the four have you.
Marty I don't think so -- I've always wanted to be invited.
You know isn't.
And I detect I watch you all the time.
At I detect a slight right would drift from -- there are actually don't they have gone to be especially on Ghazi -- moving.
And I think you're moving also on this fiscal cliff debate so here's the question let's see if you gotta get that at all.
Why all we not discussing a why has the president not put out a serious entitlement reform plan.
Because.
I I think we can both agree illness.
It is entitlements specifically Medicare.
That's really Boston America's banks so why no phone plan from the press.
Well I think that he needs to do about it big obviously but you can't -- -- cost talks we have about all the different cuts that give the Republicans bring up are not gonna do anything unless we address defense spending and entitlement.
Spending and so I think that the president should support the plan.
However I also think the Republicans need to put forth a plan especially because they say they are the party of cutting spending.
And and so you can't really complain.
About there not being cuts when they're not putting -- that it put now put forth sort of this John -- counterproposal but it doesn't really specify what cuts they want.
Well okay we can discuss all day long about about but I mean Paul Ryan did have a very specific plans -- didn't win the election did -- sit in the plant.
But it would not want that Romney back through that era and it's true but so yeah I do see a little drift -- -- -- -- at least you're prepared to admit that the president should it boat full.
Reform -- up let's move on to the issue of tax rates.
And -- do you think the president is right to absolutely insist on tax rate increases he won't tolerate.
Reductions in deductions he won't do that.
-- the most speak tax rates will you defend that.
Well I think he has upper hand in the sense that day and in the -- and every poll I've ever seen Americans say they support raising taxes on the wealthy so he's I think he feels that he has -- -- and they on that issue look -- I feel if it if the Republicans are willing issue.
And make up that that revenue another way he should be -- about it don't they have to come from raising to have the Republicans -- the Republicans have put Porta plant to raise 800 billion dollars over ten years.
And I.
-- pretty good and I don't -- -- right that's what restricting deductions.
-- and he's back and I think that that's acceptable I just think that there were the president is at a situation where he has his base.
Really wind to see these rates to go up because you know two times he compromised and and you know and capped the bush tax cuts I think they feel now.
It's it's their turn and that they should just have have the tax rates.
Travelers the trouble is it's it's all politics who's gonna win the political high grade I mean there -- -- -- with from a from a different direction.
I want the best policy which will grow America's economy and give us some prosperity.
In my judgment is very clear.
The best way to do that is to lower tax rates.
Restrict deductions -- I think how you do it.
I agree that backed plan was defeated in the last election but okay can you make the economic judgment what do you think is the best way to give us growth.
Why not an economist I don't think that raising the putting the tax rates back to the Clinton level.
Clinton -- level is gonna harm the economy.
But if you could not raise taxes and you can make it up another way I do think that that's the better way to go -- is Ed I think -- you know I think the president is now.
Appealing a little bit to the -- on insisting on -- have to be the tax rates when.
He should be open issue and meaning he will be this could just -- negotiating tactics that you should be open to the idea of closing loopholes.
You know limiting deductions and making up the revenue -- another way I was right I was actually.
I would have brought.
It's just is -- well you're you're very sensitive to -- the I've never been described as sensitive before because but I do a pretty good development.
Just about I hope you come again will absolutely absolutely we present think again.
