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Rep. Devin Nunes, (R-Calif.), on potential sequestration and the need to rein in government spending.
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-- what will be the impact if the the Obama sequester is unleashed what will be the Republican strategy.
To deal with the political fall joining us now is congressman DeVon and -- Member of the house Ways and Means Committee and the intelligence committee.
Congressman great to have you with this -- -- it's a pleasure -- you were sitting here seven hours -- about seven and had seminars.
Seven days and about six hours away from sequestered.
And it doesn't seem -- if anybody's taking this very seriously I mean we've had the op Ed from.
The speaker we've handled little bit of discussion about it amongst Republicans but.
What's what's going to happen.
Here while I'm -- I'm actually in my district today and actually received a frantic phone call from a lady who works for the US -- she's a meat inspector.
Thinking that she's gonna lose her job and wondering how.
Food's gonna get cleared to get into the grocery stores.
This is this is really a president who doesn't want to make any cuts and let -- look this is not the right way to make cuts.
But thank god we're finally making cuts and the American people need to get used to this.
And it is it we don't make cuts now the American people find out what real austerity measures really are.
And -- yet to do -- look to Europe for that where guys are getting their paychecks cut by 3340%.
So this is a president who's just kick it continues to campaign and I'm I'm very concerned about it because we have to make a lot more cuts -- this.
All a lot of counts but these are automatic arbitrary cuts.
800000 people the president says will be furloughed as I said at the outset of this -- sort of this broadcast.
You weird we we have a president -- sending out his entire administration trying to scare the Dickens out of people.
Our over -- 10% reduction in spending.
Ryan who knows where they come up with these numbers right I mean biggest -- numbers -- -- the -- so I don't I don't put any credibility in the numbers that there if that they're using.
And let's not forget that we already have an economy that is in and in the decline.
And and the president has yet to show how we're gonna grow our way out of this mess and look we -- throwing money at this problem.
We spent trillions upon trillions of dollars supposedly in the name of job creation.
And I don't see that that that's work so now we're going to have to make cuts this is the first of many this is not the right way to do -- I'm especially concerned about.
How we handle this from the Department of Defense but.
Perhaps we can come back after sequester takes place.
Maybe -- specifically small bills like dealing with the defense appropriations bill maybe the military construction bill.
There will give the Pentagon some capability to.
Make and prioritize the the changes that need to be made to make the cuts.
The president's popularity.
Far surpasses that of congress both houses of congress that the house and the senate.
-- this is a difficult biblical position obviously for the Republicans.
-- your talk about a woman calling up concerned about her her job I would presume 800000.
People are worried about their jobs we know that there will be rolling.
Weekly one day furloughs have for those folks.
We know that they can't start -- because the Warren act doesn't even kick in here the notices are only now going out so there's a lot of gamesmanship.
But this is going to run a government and frankly.
Congressman I've got -- -- I'm extraordinarily disappointed in both the president and the leadership of your party.
Because this is utterly irresponsible.
Behavior on the part of the this president as I said and that the leaders of both houses of -- cotton.
Well it was the only way that they can come up with an agreement -- I thought it was kind of -- to begin with -- -- super committee that's why didn't vote for.
But I the bottle good for you I got one want -- I got to -- they're gonna stop these are obviously good for you.
Because that's super committee is one of the dumbest things that's ever been -- you talk about what happens when you in our committee comes up with an idea -- super committee.
-- -- -- That it was down from the beginning but look that was the only thing the president could it could agree with I wanna expand of one point that you made Lou -- and that is that this idea.
That the president can win.
Well of course the president can win each one of these little arguments and he can win these little paper cut fights because he can put all of his administration out there.
He's got a larger a majority in the senate than he had before so there's no question that tactically.
He can win.
But strategically here at the end of the day the economy's got to grow.
So you know people -- can blame the last four years on George W.
Bush they can reelect this guy.
But you know what things and get tougher and tougher for him as he continues to win the little paper cut battles.
But the economy doesn't grow he's gonna be to blame.
You know congress -- -- idea I'm with -- to a point and then I hear you saying win.
This should be about the national interest this should be about that the in the nation and the and the correct leadership.
And direction for this government and I'm afraid that's been lost in all of this and.
Well I'm very do they probably this is a president who.
Who really could go down in history as one of the best president's but he's deciding deliberately.
Not to do that.
He could come work -- the Republicans to make cuts to this government to have to balance the budget.
And I think he's campaigning for one thing and that is that he wants to win in 2014 when I say when he wants the Republicans to be kicked out of the house.
So he can put Nancy Pelosi back in as speaker.
And and what I'm here to -- telling you is that you know tactically he can get all these little victories but overall the economy doesn't grow.
The American people don't -- as you point out and he's not going to win.
Congressman or -- -- Cochran thanks for being here congress thank -- elements.
