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Rep. Devin Nunes, (R-Calif.), on efforts to reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.
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Joining us now congressman -- -- as a member of the house Ways and Means Committee and congressman great to have you with us this.
The speaker saying that lives they're separated by some very serious.
Gaps here oh what are your thoughts are you you think -- -- is still likely.
-- like -- on this show what about two weeks ago and I told you then that the president wanted to go cliff diving.
And that's what he wants to do.
This is not a guy who's serious about getting a deal.
If he was so serious he would not have -- would John Boehner on Sunday morning in an emergency meeting and then go -- 24 hours later on a campaign stop to Michigan.
Railing about you know some middle class tax.
Hike target that he's just using so this is a man who wants to go off the cliff and that's what it is that's plain and simple.
Let's take a look at that number again of the latest this is the newest fox poll released just a couple of hours ago.
That poll shows 57%.
Say the best way to deal with the country's deficit.
Is through spending cuts 57%.
Then.
In terms of just tax increases.
Only 20%.
It's remarkable that's a very powerful statement.
What we're seeing in these numbers is if not direct support for the speaker certainly.
-- enough support for the speaker and the position on.
Spending cuts that has to give the president some -- here -- -- think.
Yeah -- knew what I'm worried about here is that the American people really have not felt.
What a big tax increases like.
They have not felt the cuts that have to happen.
And were really living off of of borrowed money.
And the helicopters keep flying in and dropping the money I'm from the state of California.
The state of California just voted to make it's basically it's the highest tax place on the planet.
And meanwhile jobs and people keep flowing out of California.
These are these are tough times for the American people that that we have coming ahead because we have to cut.
And people are ready for it yet.
And and that's what -- beginners.
Residents generally -- who's ever ready really for a big tax like we're gonna get a big tax hike on the first of January as I just do just their reported.
We're gonna you know -- 270.
Billion dollars in new taxes they're gonna hit the middle class they're gonna -- working men and women.
This is a game in which the president has succeeded in diverting the national media from the real issue.
Which is he said he would raise taxes on the middle class.
He's gonna -- -- -- down their throat.
On January 1 I mean yes and then the Republicans aren't even talking about a congressman.
Why now we're short we're -- -- we're trying to that's while on -- show right now all right it's also it's more important.
I wanna I wanna come -- a split the issues so what really happens on January 1 where people look Philip director.
Will be with the payroll tax and the AMT Alternative Minimum Tax write that the cuts to Medicare take place and the cuts to defense.
That's thrilled that happens that's immediate impact.
Does the rise in the rates due to obamacare due to the -- the to the bush tax cuts expiring.
Those actually don't take effect people not -- those taxes until 2014.
Writes I think the president thinks he has time.
Let.
You know look this is this is why it's important I think for us to to tell the truth and be -- the president thinks that in the short term.
He could just continue to go -- campaign and maybe in the short term Republicans will take the blame but I'll tell you I'm ready to take the blame because I am going to tell the truth to Mike -- -- it.
Well you know take the blame that's uninteresting expression congressman because this is the president's ultimatum.
You all the president the congress and the senate have known that -- going to expire since the president extended to two years ago.
The fact of the matter is his ultimatum is the only the only decision taken that will result.
In this this -- current rather than a collective.
-- the position.
On.
Doing something about those book of those tax cuts expire.
I don't see why Republicans should take any blame at all this is the -- ultimatum why isn't your leadership.
If you will saying you go ahead you won't let you lead it.
Well I I believe at the end of the day that is what we will say.
But for right now Lou we are still here.
We're working we're willing to meet with the president we have yet to receive anything other than that bogus plan that that Geithner came in showed us a few weeks ago.
So for the most part we what we're here we want to make a deal.
We're ready to deal but we have to have other people wanna make a deal and they don't want to and -- when we get to January 1 I guess things will change.
What -- speaker Boehner did this just just to get.
This thing have a little fun in the midst of all of this dire nonsense it's called negotiating.
How -- -- -- you know we're gonna do.
You know important the president right now is effectively putting out a paltry two one for two spending cuts to tax hikes wanna.
Look the thing thing boulder Bowles Simpson here's three -- one that's the deal is the one your commission recommended.
And and making meet that.
I mean I don't understand why there is it more stuff happening.
Over there I mean you've got a president who's obviously running scared and trying to play the game I love the fact he says he doesn't block.
I believe this president Scott -- right up to the edge.
That he believes that the into the days that Republicans will just -- and -- an increase -- sales.
And I think that's what he believes.
And we'll see what happens and I don't think that I know I'm not up for that I don't know many of my colleagues that are -- -- how many people do you think there would -- interest of about just as I said.
What do you think the political impact would be on the president -- you guys started advocating and some balls.
Well we we did abdicate that you were not Annan and I was rejected out of the speaker takes a puts it on the table says we're doing it and -- it's your move president.
Well so here's the issue Lou if we so attacks -- to start -- -- -- in the constitution yet so we send a tax spill over to the senate.
The senate -- they will do is they will amend it.
And they will send some kind of garbage back to us and then we'll try to put the blame on us -- and so that's it's a bit of of procedural issues also.
That were there were having to deal -- so we acquire an honorable I didn't say put it bill.
I said put it on the table.
Quite a different state.
Well we if we pass anything that's I think what they they would like for us to do is pass something that they can then and then.
And then right before Christmas Eve right before new years -- they'll send it back to the House of Representatives and say -- -- -- -- -- -- out of -- -- we've seen that -- before.
It's very simple deal that you guys can leave town to.
You can say no UK and now it's your re I made it famous.
For another addicted group -- -- -- Congressman's -- and hilarious.
Thanks Lou thank you.
