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Should Entitlements Be Addressed in Fiscal Cliff Talks?

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    Rep. Keith Ellison, (D-Minn.), on the fiscal cliff negotiations.

  • Duration 5:06
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And here we date.

Minnesota democratic congress comes in Keith Ellison one of the Democrats.

Who was against keeping entitlement cuts off the table.

You know congress and there are going to be a lot of folks who are going to be doing a lot of second guessing.

What led did this and many argue.

The democrats' resistance.

To entitlement cuts as at least part of this deal.

Really killed what do you think.

I think that's ridiculous.

You know when we talk about Social Security beneficiaries.

We're talking about 65 your rolls.

Who live on about 20000 dollars a year all we were doing is saying these folks who didn't cause this massive deficit we have.

Should not be the ones to pay for don't -- -- aren't the only source.

-- -- -- have Medicare Medicaid you deal -- and one.

Well I think that beneficiary cuts are not warranted there are other ways to save money in Medicare and we think insisted all along saying look.

Let's just put out for competitive bidding the prescription drug program.

Let's just let do competitive bidding in that would have saved.

Something to the tune of a 150 billion dollars right there so bottom line as we've been.

Mile inside that well as the extent of what you offered at least on entitlements it -- -- -- about the media and I'll let you know it's there's.

Republicans came back even those who would've considered.

And increasing taxes on billionaires today.

Rule what were against doing it.

Because they didn't see anything in return from your side would use.

I say that that's a total cop out.

I mean here's the thing we -- working on plan -- That was the White House and other leaders.

Negotiating with the house leadership mr.

Boehner and it looked like you know Boehner throws up a million.

Obama goes to 400000.

It looks like they've the issues are narrowing -- in then they go from plan any to plan -- which was nothing more.

Then a fantasy and wish list which no different with no democratic participation.

In the and they put that up on the floor today in the -- the comeback.

And with the million dollar when -- -- get ready debt shelf for that because we have not -- -- -- God so -- to say won't let taxes go up on folks over 250000.

I was gonna vote yes on that yes it's true I was gonna vote no one the million dollar one.

But the fact is no one in America expects.

Members of congress to surrender -- there they're deeply held -- they expect this to try to compromise.

Notably -- this -- I guess you might be right congressman but here's our looks at -- I know these very money focused guys on Wall Street that you guys can't.

Can't bridge the gap or or or or or try to broach these differences.

And what concerns automatically and -- what -- -- legal -- I'm glad you got what I'm saying not you are very adamant about.

-- it on entitlements some of these Republicans are very adamant about limiting these tax increases of not doing it at all.

And one that I see is just a novice outsider looking in this is -- -- your positions and -- from coming together after this debacle tonight and you and I child to grow and human.

Others ended up being a debacle of the it'll -- that you guys are narrowly holding hands off a cliff.

We you know let me tell you meet in -- know of any of South Carolina.

Got a 22 members of congress I got eleven -- -- -- eleven Republicans.

We got a letter together saying that there will have to agree on some safe sensible cuts.

In the defense area.

That would not in any way undermine our nation's security.

That's that's Democrats -- Republicans coming together for some things that really do make some sense -- their cuts right.

Yeah I think they'll they'll be more that appetite or less come next Wednesday night for Democrats don't like to -- it -- -- energy no more beyond that.

And and and tour Republican standard -- more beyond what they've offered.

I don't see well.

Would you -- you mentioned 2008 I was here in congress at that time.

The win the stock market plummeted when we rejected our Brian -- voted yes on TARP I don't regret that vote I regret voted yes on it.

On Monday and on that Friday.

And it's funny how a lot of people after they went back home -- heard from their their their communities.

Came back and switch their vote to yes maybe that'll happen -- it's gonna take a -- it's gonna take a tanking market to do it donors and well it's gonna take some angry constituents to do -- who's take the position that they want us to.

Come to some sane sensible compromised whatever deal we come up with look I'm I'm proud to be a liberal and a leftist and you know what.

I'm not -- like everything in the deal and guess what people on the political right -- gonna like it but we gotta come up with some -- been for the sake of the American people I'm I'm not I'm not asking them to surrender their deeply held views.

I'm not going to surrender mind but there is still a deal to -- had -- allows everybody to walk away with something and then also walk away unhappy little bit too.

But I think constituents are gonna let us getting here -- between now and when you get back your next week.

No I suspect you're right congress and -- -- Good crazy night we do appreciate your taking the time sir thank you anytime -- thanks all right so.

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