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Should Spending Cuts Be Higher Priority in Fiscal Cliff Talks?

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    Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, (R-NY), on the fiscal cliff negotiations.

  • Duration 5:32
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-- as you know we're all a step closer to the fiscal cliff after Republicans rejected speaker John Boehner is compromise plan for raising tax rates.

Of course without some kind of plan passed by congress and signed by the president tax rates for everybody all taxpayers will go up in two weeks for the very latest now.

Where we go from here we turn to congresswoman -- -- Burkle who joins us from the capital courtesy of representative thank you for coming here now why did speaker Boehner.

Present the president with a plan that that didn't have the support of most Republicans in the house.

Well I think that at the time you didn't realize that there wasn't the support that he needed and I think the concern that we all -- -- was the spending portion of it you know the country as a spending problem not a taxing problem.

And end this this compromise didn't address that spending and show -- and that's where many of us were concerned.

We'll we'll talk about that spending product is I agree with -- I mean that's that's clearly.

A major problem it's not being addressed by folks here but.

He isn't at the speaker's job to know whether he has the votes lined up for a plan that he's presenting the president.

Well you know many of us felt that in August when we sent over -- yearlong extension to the president or to the senate.

That -- that really was the best way to go that's what they did exactly the same time two years ago during the lame duck when the economy was weak.

Let's extend the tax rates for every one let's not pick and choose who's gonna get their taxes increased.

And that's the plan we sent over in August and we all felt.

That was the right thing to do -- right now that ball is in the senate and the president's -- it's up to them now.

To come back to us with something that's viable for for the house and for the American people.

And I think that in this fragile economy raising taxes on anyone is the wrong.

-- okay and when will again will focus on that -- a but one final question on representative Boehner.

Because a lot of people say he should have known.

Whether or not he had the votes perhaps it's time for him to step down do you agree or not.

You know I think the -- I think the leader speaker dead.

A good thing he realized he didn't have the votes and he pulled it back and and it is is that gonna listen to their members and I think answering favorite thing to do well.

-- as you mentioned the president himself has flip flop on the idea of tax rate several times Bakken in July of 2011.

He said we didn't have to raise tax rates let's just play -- a sound from that speech.

What we said was.

Give us one point two trillion in additional revenues.

Which could be accomplished without.

Hiking taxes tax rates but could simply be accomplished by eliminating loopholes.

Eliminating some deductions.

And engaging in a tax reform process that could have -- rates generally.

While broadening the base.

Okay then a couple of just a couple months later he said the following for -- 2011 budget decisions September 2011.

About lower tax rates he said the tax system.

Should be simplified and work for all Americans -- lower individual and corporate tax rates and fewer brackets I mean that's essentially Simpson Bowles that's essentially what the Republicans brought to them.

Haven't Republicans said -- into the present Mr.

President look you yourself were in favor lower tax rates what happened.

Well and that's been the frustration of the house is is the game that the rules keep changing his positions keep changing.

And we have we've pushed hard for tax reform we need tax reform eliminate those loopholes.

Broaden that base -- those rates.

You know we we need tax reform we need.

And what we need a pro growth economic agenda and that's what we're not seeing reduced those capital gains give businesses a message.

That -- the government wants to see you do well because when you do well there are more revenues and that's the best way to increase revenues.

And every -- knows this country does not give a taxing problem we have simple simply -- a spending problem in this country.

Well let let's put up in fact I think we just put up if we can put it up again -- spending from 2008 to current levels.

Of course 2009 we expected a big jump in spending because we have the 800 billion dollar stimulus we just put that full screen up again.

Then that 800 billion dollars as we can see its 2009 that's when it began.

Then 2010 same thing 2011 even a little bit more three and a half 1000000000003 and a half -- 2000 it never stops that extra spending so.

That's why the president wants a lot more revenue to address his really dramatic 25% increase in spend that.

Well -- essentially correct -- and you know the American people.

You could Obama's -- tax increases if that those increase revenues are gonna pay down the debt.

But in fact they're gonna be used to grow government to make government bigger and therefore increase the cost of to of government running this country.

So it only compounds the problem and we increase revenues and we don't pay down that.

Represented we have to leave but when do you come back I know -- be home for Christmas but will you be back -- the very next day to vote and a new proposal or what.

We we have not heard that we haven't received direction but I'm expecting probably surely after Christmas -- -- -- down greater resolve.

I just hope that the senate the president takes up that tax extension that we got over there and -- the right -- don't raise taxes on anyone any Americans well pay enough.

This can be very busy week -- next -- very busy Christmas week representative -- Marie Burkle from New York thank you very much for being with us appreciate it.

Thank you very much thanks for having you -- -- Christmas America's -- is over you.

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