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Rep. Diane Black, (R-Tenn.), on efforts to reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.
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Guest tonight says the president's behavior since the election.
Appears to be approved that he wants America -- go over that fiscal cliff.
Joining us now is congresswoman Diane bloc member of the budget and the ways and means committees.
Congresswoman good to see you again thanks for being here this -- let's begin.
If we may.
A with the speaker and -- that -- 62 long news conference.
As saying frankly you know this isn't going to -- to work and we're going to have a vote tomorrow.
And you all are going to decide whether passes and the president can decide what is going to do that sounded rather -- very specific and frankly very final.
Is that a correct impression.
Paula thank you for -- much first -- all for having me it's always good to be with you.
And I think that what you're hearing from speaker Boehner -- -- great deal of frustration.
That we have -- willing to go to the table and talk with this president but he continues to move the goalposts.
You know during the campaign he said he won the tech millionaires and billionaires and then he came back and McCain with a 250000.
Dollar which is obviously small businesses that would really -- small businesses and ultimately.
Those people who are working for small businesses 700000 jobs lost.
And then he talks about -- during the campaign that he'll take three cuts for every one dollar.
Of revenue and now we hear him talking about one point six trillion dollars worth of spending and and that another.
Spending on a stimulus package that did work the first time.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- But our audience -- where we are right now on the president's proposal he's at one point three and spending.
Rather in tax hikes.
And about 850 billion in spending cuts.
Depending on how you -- to do the arithmetic.
Not quite as speaker Boehner said.
A balanced approach and and much smaller than anything that'd been discussed on the spending so spending reduction.
-- throughout the year of the campaign are these negotiations.
What we keep on hand hearing him move the ball down the court.
And move the goalposts and what was really discouraging for me was when secretary Geithner about two weeks ago sat there and said yeah let's go off -- the cliff.
I'm thinking to believe that's really where they wanted to be to begin with they'd like to see all of these taxes go up on the hardworking taxpayer.
So good to have over four point seven trillion dollars worth of -- new revenue.
Congresswoman I think you make a very good point in in in -- I think a lot of people would be surprised that.
That you or anyone -- also on the Republican side would not take the Treasury Secretary at his word.
Suggesting that we go over the -- you know surely -- not a capricious.
Mediocre mind who would say things slightly one would assume that he means what he -- taking that -- word.
I would think would be the first reflex of the Republican leadership.
Why has -- not been.
Well I have been saying this since the day that I saw secretary Geithner with that looked at attitudes say well yeah how we can go off the cliff and it's okay.
And these are hard working taxpayers that we're talking about.
We're talking about taking more money out of the economy giving it to the federal government which we've already have a spending problem.
Here in Washington.
I don't want to give the federal government anymore of them are working taxpayers dollars.
And and so I think we have to.
I'm really look at what's gonna happen at the end of the year -- all of these tax cuts expire and it will be the greatest.
Largest tax increase in the history of our country.
Congresswoman black we we know that we now believe me we know after watching these fiscal with negotiations we know what the risk are what -- likely repercussions consequences.
And implications are.
But what we don't know is how for example you're gonna vote tomorrow on plan B from many in your caucus will support -- plan B.
And whether or not the president will actually get the opportunity to decide whether or not to raise taxes as he's put it.
Over the course of the year on millionaires and billionaires he seems unsatisfied with that but what are your thoughts on those of those issues specific.
Well I'm Chris I'm not in leadership's I don't know what they can vote -- as much.
-- plant has been out for a little over 24 hours so we're still looking observation that we understand all parts of it before we make a decision we're also hearing from our constituents.
But my role here is to make sure that -- protect the hard working taxpayer.
And I want to protect -- many people if I can and then this can't -- you gotta talk for.
Eight bell wit and that is what we have to do at the end of the day we've got to put a voted -- we've got to pass it over to the senate and who knows what the Senate's gonna do but it's just.
Urging Reid says lot recess reads as you know Reid says he's not going to do -- the president says is gonna veto.
But I am I do you.
I have to say to you the Republicans -- have the backbone and the principal to do precisely what they are leader there's speaker has said do.
And the consequences and more rest mobile last person to act on the last person to exercise a decision here.
We'll be the one with responsibility in this instance it will be the president.
Well Lou it is my responsibility being sent here by my constituents and given the honor to serve.
To make sure that I protect them as much as I possibly can.
And that's really what I'm going to do because we know that -- and taxes especially in the time.
Where our economy is so -- a call.
And where we could potentially go into another recession lose more jobs.
-- increase in the amount of revenue by the way.
To talk about a spending problem that we -- here in DC is we're now on the revenue situation where almost up to the historical.
Average and almost back to that 18% of GDP in our revenue collections so that just tell you we have a spending problem here in this in this ten.
There has never been any doubt here.
And and we are keenly aware that your constituents -- the right person to represented them.
Congresswoman Diane black good to have you with -- -- block.
We'll have much all is great to be with you thank you.
