Obama absent as Congress deadlocks on key issues

This transcript is automatically generated

Gridlock in congress and -- new concerns from top Democrats that President Obama.

Is it really doing anything to get traffic moving again.

Some key policy makers even in the president's own party say they haven't spoken to him in months joining me now.

Republican Kentucky senator Rand Paul senator thank you so much for being with us -- -- put on the screen for viewers.

Three important senate Democrats.

Can't Conrad budget chairman try to cut a deal a nation's fiscal crisis can't call last time he heard from the president.

Tom Harkin in charge -- the president set top priority on student loans hasn't talk with the president and months.

Jeff -- and energy -- committee chairman go to guy on high gas prices hasn't spoken to president.

Much since the previous.

Congress.

These are all Democrats senator what's going on.

You know I met with the president a year and a half ago and we talked about entitlement reform.

And I offered to work with him in fact I told -- that would help his reelection that he would work with Republicans.

Tests save social security and save Medicare from the trillions of dollars that there in the hole.

And we don't hear anything I've sent him a letter after letter saying I will work with you I rode on Air Force One saying I will work with you.

But I think they've given up I think they're taken a year off they're gonna campaign.

But nobody's gonna do any thing.

Meanwhile we're borrowing 50000 dollars a second it's unsustainable.

-- and where is the president out on the campaign trail.

Now listen a lot of people say.

The congress is really to blame in fact let me quote from Politico dot com and today's column.

Obama is disengagement.

Is also a sharp reflection of political reality congress is punting on virtually.

Every major issue until after the election.

Fair criticism.

Well I have a budget that would balance in five years fixes and save Social Security fixes and saves Medicare.

Now will like compromise -- but they have to come and talk to us if they wanna fix entitlements and they say will do a little bit slower -- you -- this in the middle.

I'll meet him in the middle but they have abdicated they have no budget we haven't had a Democrat budget three years says they have to show up for the debate in fact.

I think the Democrats in the senate ought to give back their salary because they're not showing up for Warner we didn't hear budget get voted on last week and it went down in defeat I think it was what 83 -- sixteen.

And yet at sixteen more votes than the president got yeah but still you couldn't you couldn't even marshaled together.

An important number within your own party senator.

Well you know getting sixteen more than the president though is an accomplishment president got zero which means nobody supports his proposal.

My proposal also balances in five years and that's what the balanced budget amendment requires and we got all of the Republicans to vote for a balanced budget amendment.

So I would argue that I'm one that is sincere I'm not only for the amendment of the constitution.

But I will propose a budget that is consistent with the amendment of the constitution.

Look up a myriad of tax cuts will expire at the end of the year and become 300 in ten billion dollars in tax hikes to the American people.

-- that wipe out.

Any and all economic growth for next year and why can't congress resolve this.

Before December.

Just the idea that it might be wiped out that businesses might have this large may be the largest tax increase in our history.

Is stifling our growth.

So yeah the president once the economy to grow he should take the tax increase off the table say that he's not gonna raise taxes -- -- lame duck session.

But the longer he leaves that out there.

The more the businesses are afraid to -- legislation comes in -- from congress if you guys could pass something on this then it's in front of the president for his signature watt.

-- why -- congress always allow this to be game of chicken until the very end maybe the last day in December.

The reason -- bump up against deadlines in -- everybody at the end though we've got to do something.

Is because the Democrats are unwilling to put anything forward for example the budget.

We're supposed to have a budget we're supposed to have appropriations bills.

Then we wouldn't have -- the government's gonna shut down three days the reason we do big huge continuing resolutions.

Because we have no budget no appropriations.

If you had -- the normal sequence of things you wouldn't have this last minute deadlines.

Senator senator Rand Paul thank you so much for -- -- camera there at the capitol and talking with us appreciate.

Watch Live

Obama absent as Congress deadlocks on key issues

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Sen. Marco Rubio outlines future of immigration reform

Buchanan: IRS is a 'rogue agency'

Massive fire breaks out at fuel-depot in Brazil

Holder's changing tune on involvement in journalist scrutiny

'The Five's advice for newly minted college grads

Cavuto: We're in a global war on terror

New information about the London terror suspects

Travis Alexander's friend: Family wants Arias on death row

The new face of US drone policy

Investigation into death of US engineer in Singapore a sham?

Former President Bush hosts wounded warrior bike ride

New developments in Maxim model murder trial

Transcript

Recommended