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Rep. Jason Chaffetz, (R-Utah), on the Republicans’ stance on solving the debt problem.
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Are changing back -- -- are juggling a lot of different things today the breaking news out of Washington earlier today we heard from the speaker of the house John Boehner didn't sound overly optimistic about the fiscal cliff negotiations earlier this hour on our -- American President Obama.
Right now from Washington congressman Jason -- -- Republican have you talked joins the -- conversations of live on Capitol Hill thank you congressman.
For joining us -- being patient I wanna ask you here in the time we have.
What's going on inside.
Of your party have been some content for example senator demands I guess is maybe the most notable to say.
Speaker Boehner is giving away too much.
The tax hikes.
800 billion such as they are only half of what President Obama has on the table still too much for Republicans to be in favor of your view.
Well look we want to solve the problem while I am proud of what the speaker Boehner is doing I think he's taken the right approach -- -- general outline I've got concerns about it -- 535.
Members in the house and the senate everybody's got to that I had an opinion.
Probably got to solve this problem and what I like about what speaker Peter Boehner is doing is sees that the table trying to get this done so you're in -- you're behind your -- this what I'm hearing from you.
Yeah I have -- I mean.
He does not want to raise rates we have to get serious about entitlement reform and cutting spending what I did haven't heard from the president.
Are any details -- specificity on how he would actually cut spending all right here is.
He wants to raise taxes.
So if the president were to come up and say I'm gonna cut -- Medicare more than what put the White House has 350 billion on the table you know they've.
Give this whole lot more -- -- -- double -- but they come up with a lot more in the Medicare cuts.
Are you prepared to vote for tax increases.
First why are you prepared to vote for higher tax rates under any circumstance.
Nine I'm not -- in raising the tax rates I don't think that would solve the problem with the president this suggests would take care day's worth of -- of the problem.
We got to solve this long term and that means we've got to do some entitlement reform but you will vote for higher taxes in other words you will vote.
First some sort of -- -- I'd rather not I'd rather not do that I don't think it'll solve the problem that the speaker has a hundred billion and in new revenue on the table doesn't mean that's respectively.
Whatever you wanna call that's higher taxes net net.
No no it's not necessarily if you get rid of some of the loopholes in -- may be limits some of the deductions do those types of things.
He's not talking about raising the pound range but you still -- actually -- were some people well.
Who it but you we've tried it we've always said we want to broaden the base lower the rates brand that's the principle which were trying to move forwards up trying to to negotiate against ourselves but the principle is sound.
The -- to -- coupled though with cutting spending and that's the problem that we have.
On the democratic side is getting some specificity about where they would like to cut spending because we know it's difficult for -- -- -- what they wanna do.
But if they're serious about it they gotta give us some specificity.
Can -- take on your level of optimism that this gets done before the end of the year did you see all these polls that.
I guess the Republicans take the blame more than the president there's one out yesterday and then there's been a few.
You buy -- baton does that mean that you'd be more likely to kind of pushing.
To get it done by the idea because of that.
I come from the camp that believes that deadlines drive decisions and until there's an actual deadline is there is of the -- the year.
I tend to think that's when the deal get done.
And they'll be a lot of jockeying back and forth a lot of interviews between now and then -- -- can come back December 30 that's an Israeli flag won't wish you happy new year now I'm sure hope you'll probably speak I'll probably be arraigned here it sounds like -- -- -- -- see again.
Thanks for coming I think you.
Thank you.
