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Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) on which party is to blame for the fiscal cliff stalemate.
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All right and it is now up to the senate.
To come up with a fiscal cliff compromise that's because the house failed to work out a plan and we are joined by two house members.
Democratic congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Republican congressman Tom -- Dick.
Bob thank you for being with us senator and representative kaptur let's start with you think he -- during the presidential debate that they -- -- -- the final -- -- Obama said flatly.
We are not gonna go over the fiscal -- it's not gonna happen.
Is that still the case do you think.
Well that's been president Obama's position it's my positions the position of the Democratic Caucus in the house it's the position.
Of the Democratic Caucus in the senate the problem has been in the house sadly.
Where there is a serious split.
On the Republican side of the -- And we were -- able to reach resolution compromise to find the scrimmage line.
To make the compromise but to keep the ball moving forward so we can continue economic growth you saw.
That because of the lack of that compromise.
Even the sales during the how -- season were not as great as anticipated.
People are already factoring in the middle class saying hey there won't get on my eight tax benefits -- -- my Texas will be raised by 2200 dollars.
A year come January and it's already having a downdraft on the economy -- okay very irresponsible.
All right representative -- I don't want this solved okay represented -- so level.
You're democratic colleague just said the problem is division among the Republicans and here I thought it was a Republican Democrat thing -- -- -- say -- Why I think it's both -- I think there's a plenty of blame to go around done on both sides the Democrats are to blame for a eat the rich ideological crusade that -- Congressional Budget Office and Ernst and young warned.
We'll destroy between 20700000.
Middle class jobs.
Republicans are to blame for not realizing that says we can't save everybody from these -- his tax increases we at least ought to try to save as many people as possible.
That's the impasse and and ultimately I think the leadership of the house is responsible for not having the house in session.
Right now to be hammering this out you -- Marcy and I can.
Can you know wouldn't trade charges back and forth.
On TV but we're not in the same room to actually.
Deliberate as the legislative process is designed to do we get you back in Washington I'm embarrassed to be talking if my district right now on when the house should be in Washington.
Hammering this out.
Indeed up -- rep captor gets advice to your senate colleagues should the Democrat to beat.
So fiercely in favor of taxing the rich that they let us go off the fiscal cliff -- the Republicans refuse.
You know what I have been saying I've been saying look if it's 2200 dollars for the average middle class family that's at risk here.
If we don't act why don't we just give everybody.
2200 dollars including the rich.
They will get a 108000.
Dollars more.
They'll get 2200 dollars in benefit I don't know congress McClintock who agree with me on that but it seems to me if we -- room.
If we were able to get the committees to work in a normal way we could reach agreement.
We are basically waiting for a few leaders.
To try to reach agreement and I wish senator Reid.
Great -- over in the senate because the dubbed the ball is sadly in their court because the house where all spending bills where all these budget decisions should start -- is stock.
-- -- stock and able to discuss.
All right we've been discussing together on the shelf.
We have regret that but I think if she wasn't being ironic are sarcastic I think that -- -- -- just said fine fine keep taxes -- they -- for everyone even -- -- -- we can't soak the -- what do you -- Was much -- it pains me to agree with Marcy I think she's actually right on this point that that it wouldn't we stopped teaching civics in in in school.
The president is not part of the legislative branch he is not part of the deliberative process he heads a separate branch of government with an altogether different function.
The house and the senate were designed to act independently of each other come up with their own plans and once they have done so.
Then we have a conference process that has evolved over centuries is very good at resolving the differences between the two houses unfortunately that process is not been invoked.
It is now degenerated into a situation were a couple of legislative leaders in the president sit down behind closed doors.
Come up with a clever scheme and then drop suddenly lapse of the senate in the house for freight take it or leave it vote.
That process doesn't work very well bad process produces bad policy.
And that's where I -- the leadership.
All right well thank you very very much -- -- for being with us and it sounds like.
We had a lock out the leaders and let the rank and file members of congress get involved and take this may be over good luck to you and thanks very much for being with -- my slit my -- -- been looked up for days I'm ready to go back okay.
