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Should Republicans Focus on Entitlement Spending?

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    Former CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin on the debt ceiling negotiations.

  • Duration 3:42
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Let's talk more about -- so Republicans laying out their strategy in the debt ceiling fight but -- -- no budget no pay thing work to address our fiscal problems.

Joining us now Douglas Holtz -- former CBO director.

The president of the American action forum.

It does so -- just talking about how basically now -- punting the debt ceiling three months.

I mean -- Republicans is drop the debt ceiling fight altogether and focus on the sequester the continuing resolution they they haven't weren't.

More room there to tighten.

Its.

I will certainly I think getting it in this order -- putting the debt ceiling -- putting together those first is to their advantage.

Because then they're fighting about spending -- spending bills and this is ultimately.

An issue that is about how much debt the United States has and is projected to run -- That's ultimately driven by spending so this has his spending debate.

And they the administration and because of the administration the senate has simply not engaged this is a way to force the senate to engage and say all right.

Are you don't put out a budget that shows the enormous debt or are you -- budget that fixes it somehow.

If they've put out a budget that takes -- with taxes Republicans are confident voters to reject that that'll force the senate Democrats to be on record about the kind of spending -- solve the problem.

And then have a chance really get a bill that the president won't have to engage on as well so.

-- the worst case is we do this again three months the best case is it starts the real debate the nation needs.

-- you say that the Republicans need to understand the difference between -- very pretty and a deal what exactly do you mean by that.

Well I think it's very difficult for a minority to govern and in the end Republicans may be able to get what -- they want out of the house representatives.

But they don't get legislation they don't get something passed by the senate.

And signed by the president and -- state ultimately give up something and that's getting in deal land if you wanna have a clean victory that's fine you may get rhetorical points.

But you don't get legislation without being slightly disappointed I think we saw that -- the fiscal -- for example.

That's a bill that no one really liked.

But it -- get done because everyone gave in the end I think Republicans need to look at this situation of the same mind.

The thing is that the Republican Party is so tarnished right now -- they can't.

-- they can't show up at a meeting we don't know what they're doing they have nothing on the table do we need a new voice maybe I mean.

They -- they are not the guy anymore maybe we need someone like Paul trying to come to the front be the voice of the GOP.

Well -- I think everyone.

Loves this sort of fantasy that there will be someone on their side who will.

So captivate the public that he or she will outshine the president -- states it's it's just not gonna happen on the president has an enormous microphone.

He has the ability think captured enormous amounts of attention.

Republicans need to remember that on these issues.

How much the government spends and how much in taxes they have the electric behind them the conservatives are reunited.

The independents are really fiscally conservative.

This -- as it a block that controls America and they need to simply.

Find a strategy in this I think is a good one to have the debate about that spending issue.

And talking of that spending what one issue do you think is one that the Republicans should really locking anomaly is of entitlement reform health care costs.

What is it that they should really zero in on.

I think in the end the numbers are all driven by -- title.

Outside you can make enormous progress on the -- you can make enormous progress on non defense discretionary.

And in the end you'll have an enormous debt problems -- -- you take on the entitlements you don't solve the problem.

And then the end voters want -- to solve the problems so I think Republicans need to stick to their guns on that -- Cat and I hope they do because we're not talking enough about it Douglas Holtz Aiken -- irritated -- have you with us.

Thank you.

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