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Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) tells Alan why he blames both parties for our country's mounting debt problems
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Really -- Illinois senator Tom Coburn to our microphones Republican of Oklahoma and has just written.
The debt from a bold plan to stop Washington from bankrupting America and it's interesting senator.
You go after all sides in this book.
Well but it's absolutely did.
What when the -- -- predictable crisis in our history.
Is present and warden up in about Republicans are paying about.
The president -- -- thing about the leadership in the Democratic Party didn't do anything about it.
We we need to be.
-- -- And and you go after the previous president as well including the current one.
Apparently you know fan no fan of what George W Bush's fiscal policies -- Well I just -- Republicans cannot claim.
To be fiscal conservatives and the one they have control the government.
And they create new entitlements without -- and form and -- -- government.
And they create new lower taxes without being patient spending.
I don't think -- Pittsburgh it produced.
One of the big argument you make in this book is that.
It's really all about staying in power for both sides and that gets in the way of good legislation and -- that's right for the country.
Well it does it Allen is what that is because everything short term -- that long term.
And you risk -- this country can't run was short term policies when it all current policy and we need to find the common ground in the middle.
And that will give us -- -- -- about what's going on.
Certainty from -- people that have capital and this so we can actually grow our country.
And we can't create.
Way to work can which are gonna have a future there at least -- brought results and -- I don't think it's gonna happen right.
Do you really think term limits are the answer I -- I as a as a voter.
You know I want the option to reelect somebody if I think they deserve reelection.
Well.
Bitten -- but the complete answer I would agree with your -- But what fox saying -- what -- experience the freedom I have to be lying down.
It because I know I can make the decision all of all the criticism might get from both the right what web I can make decisions that -- or based on the best interest that I think I think for the country not -- political career.
And the problem is there is we put the cup circuit and then to put whatever happens in the next election.
About Andy just look right mail work that the congress is -- break.
We've had five -- a break already this year.
And we didn't start -- ten or 24.
And we have never had a bigger problems and products and relations that we have to bet you have -- you MarketWatch.
-- you're leaving at the end of this term could you do more to help the problem if you stayed.
Probably not.
Probably not the -- Oversight of -- certainly percent of the federal government not put out at least reporter monster trademark song waist.
And duplication and and so in the I itself there's an amber you know -- We don't let people that -- weren't picked the votes.
Because everyone.
More from a standpoint is that don't want to alienate first -- And the fact is is our country can't run that.
Now you you of -- critical of this president he don't think is on his game and in terms of fiscal responsibility either.
But he offered basically three dollars and -- for every dollar in revenue.
Nobody saying liberals are saying the whole answer is to tax the rich or reduce the reverse the bush -- -- -- -- tax cuts for the rich but it's one thing we can do.
What was wrong with the idea of offering three dollars and cut for every dollar -- Well let's let's be clear about what was offered.
What would -- agree that that he had Boehner -- -- and almost 800 billion dollars worth of tax increases.
And that was about specifics about the changes to the entitlement programs.
So they never got that -- if you if you actually look at -- -- but I believe the president would make it grand bargain with us.
Yeah but I don't think his party wants to.
Well and nor -- the republics and many of the Tea Party yours would -- aren't.
Oh what a big big party years I think it's people that are.
-- and relying on their pledge to broker northwest.
Could not raise taxes when in fact everybody in this country knows that we're gonna get out the problem.
What we have to do is markedly Graham are wasteful spending reform entitlements.
And reform the tax code in such a way that the well pretty quick -- thirty billion dollars a year -- -- excessive deductions.
And that that we actually don't have loopholes for some people who have the same Manning them.
Pay no taxes and other stake 35%.
Or computer for example there were.
You know the fact is I'm not -- on apple.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- wrong with a program.
Now you really go after Norquist and rightfully so in his book for this idea of taking pledges on never -- you know sent in in revenue through taxes.
But isn't that part of what the freshmen Tea Party years have done.
Which is to -- pledges and push the party in that direction.
I don't -- and so I've you know I'm I'm probably the ultimate Tea Party here.
Help generated so inception network card that.
Can't help it grow.
Look look look look there's.
I don't speak for Nightline I think what they want he has before you great -- Show us the big.
Where we gonna -- how we gonna.
How we haven't changed entitlement programs where we gonna get rid of the waste fraud abuse which comes about your country -- billion -- eager.
In the discretionary programs show me where -- ideas and then I'm happy that.
You know -- that plank and say okay I'll agree it is.
And this other Republican Party that who really didn't want to close the tax loopholes and didn't want -- -- become.
Outlook cut it it's not about the big companies in question is should we tax.
Chapel in a way that causes -- and run our country.
And and that's the real question you look at the medical industry today and the -- -- -- industry's high tech industry.
Because of our tax policy.
People older than.
Don't things overseas and -- keep them on the oversee.
And -- the money to make their reinvest you know oversee.
We don't veteran the world and have a territorial -- system and we now have the highest corporate factual.
And I want it evenly applied I think he that -- taxes every year commitment.
I think apple -- and I don't think that -- been much different than any other industry or any other company that sells worldwide.
And just because he can move the intellectual property you -- -- I don't think -- to benefit feud in terms because you're actually particular.
We're done with senator Tom Coburn also by the way an MD.
The debt thumb is his new book of -- -- is not Washington do you feel that Mitt Romney is the answer is he.
Somebody you can wholeheartedly support.
Well it does have some hope for Mitt because and is not -- specifics.
It is what I've seen and what I looked at his life as when he's given a position of responsibility here lecture from leading.
-- -- -- -- In our country nobody Stanton the reason I wrote this book -- I want people to see what the real problem is what sort of consequence.
-- if you really think about it.
If you care sixteen years old the and you've got married if you think you're gonna retire.
-- news for.
If we don't fix this problem there is no way you picture -- really well and now.
You don't have trouble surviving with the inflation that's heaven because of the deficit spending -- -- work.
And when interest rates recur.
To their historical averages for -- bit.
We'll get worked up about it and three quarters of a trillion -- -- here to work but.
For interest -- So that in 2020.
Less than ten years from -- Based on where we're going right now even with the bush tax cuts gone away the entire budget will be made of the -- social security and interest nothing male zebra.
And given the history of the Republican Party and slow parts here the last time we had and -- Republican president Republicans in the house and senate -- majorities.
He wasn't -- why would we think that he electing Mitt Romney who putting more Republicans in office we'll fix it next time.
Well I think you get a little bit different mix of who's here war.
I'm not sure it will exit I mean no.
My private thoughts are the worst thing that can happen as Republicans win -- and not -- -- -- But that I'm saying deficits of terror are associated with -- of that may not get fixed but we certainly can't equal on the correctional -- So it it's a pox on both thousands.
I'm not discriminatory one I say terrorism.
Is that something and I think it's for our country there's another aspect of it to.
-- but I think it's important.
Politics is -- and so device -- In our country that people who live.
Benefited.
From the opportunity freedom and our country won't come insure people who really are people we have great experience.
Who could come and apply them -- To the problems that refuse to count.
After your term is up sir what what are your plans what are you gonna do next.
Well aren't you know I've -- order to bring -- -- -- -- blanket and I don't really want this -- on the -- -- on the back in the full time medical practice are -- probably not on.
Well the -- is -- death on a very important book a bold plan to stop Washington.
US senator Tom -- thank you sir appreciate Tuscany tonight.
-- it was a sure but it -- partner like it's.
-- seeing it more often on Peter thank you -- are you good luck with the book.
