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DNC chairwoman: We need to continue to move economy forward
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Debbie Wasserman Schultz on president's debate performance
- Duration 7:35
- Date Oct 7, 2012
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Debbie Wasserman Schultz on president's debate performance
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Now fair -- let's check in with DNC chairwoman and congresswoman Debbie Watson in salt I'm sure there is a lot you like to respond if their congressman let's start with the contention and that you and other Democrats know it's -- -- to say that Mitt Romney is proposing a five trillion dollar tax cut.
And yet you want to keep that narrative going.
Well.
If you look at the independent fact checkers that -- that Mitt Romney's claim that he doesn't have a five trillion dollar tax cut but proposal.
Skewed toward the wealthy that would require middle tax middle class tax increases.
Political backed the New York Times independent fact checkers have consistently said economists have consistently said.
And Romney has embrace for an eighteen months until Wednesday night.
That he has a five trillion dollar tax cut plan skewed towards the wealthy that he -- no details in terms of how deductions or anything like that.
But that the independent experts -- -- -- that -- that you have to do increase taxes on the middle class who gets.
To that 20% rate cut and the five billion dollars that he's proposed that has skewed toward the wealthy.
The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center said an average middle class family would see in 2000 dollar increase.
There is no running away from that a different Mitt Romney it was breathtakingly dishonest on that stage on Wednesday night and there's no running away.
And congresswoman is it fair though to say.
That there will be five trillion dollars in cuts even if you want to it you know concede that point which Stephanie -- you know who was with the Obama campaign said she stipulates that's not actually true that there would be -- five trillion dollar cut.
All of these fact checking organizations also say even if you accepted that.
It's only part of the story because of course there will be other.
A revenue suggestions and wait and make up the revenue it would never get past otherwise how do you respond well.
Well when we have no idea and -- the senate I -- -- as a member of the by the committee -- the former member of the Appropriations Committee.
You know chairman previous.
And I'm in congress every single day I certainly do know how budgets -- put together and I know that the president proposed a budget.
That is completely transparent and shows us how you would get to a balanced approach to deficit reduction in making sure that we can continue to move our economy forward.
As he has for 31 straight month and that we have 44 month.
Low in on the unemployment rate you know what is the really shocking is that you have Republican colleagues of mine Mitt Romney.
-- previous actually disappointed to continue that the football analogy.
It that they were rooting for a fumble and and it's unbelievable that they're disappointed.
That we have a 44 month low -- the unemployment rate and the American into enterprise institute actually said that anyone.
Talking about cooking the books is -- -- and crazy town.
So I guess chairman previous spending and other Republicans either a dwelling there or simply rooting for failure and -- continue to move our economy ballot.
-- the same group they EI also said that -- -- president's current plans taxes on the middle class would go up by 4000.
Dollars.
Are they right on that.
It.
No they they are certainly not that Tax Policy Center which is made up of economists from the Bush Administration.
Other Republican administrations as -- the Clinton administration.
They are now says says that when it comes to Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan's budget plan.
It would increase taxes on the middle class by an average of 2000 dollars to pay for more budget busting tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.
That the Romney Ryan budget.
Turns Medicare into the -- that's and that's one thing -- that Romney was honest about on the stage the other night.
He actually said that we should cut Medicare benefits actually embraced that and proposed that.
And then to add insult to injury sent out we're not going to be able to have Medicare continued to be a guarantee.
We're gonna have to -- that safety net in order to preserve it.
Barack Obama's plan under the Affordable Care Act has proven.
We can add years of solvency eight years of solvency by making -- -- reduce wasteful subsidies to Medicare insurance companies.
-- that into going after waste fraud and abuse -- -- -- obviously we need to work together to continue to move forward not.
Have Republicans rooting for failure and really transparently being disappointed that we've made progress we've got a ways to go but we need to keep pressing forward and fight for the middle class and working families.
Not for the people who are already doing really really well and make sure they can do even better.
Great you brought up -- care and which the president has embraced that later I was like yeah I use it that way.
Any I -- -- and then Medicare but that is a plan which outside independent bodies again in fact checking organizations across the board have said.
It takes more than 700 billion dollars out of Medicare.
Now on on the contrary to what that's 715 billion dollars it does is -- Savings in wasteful subsidies that didn't go into the care of seen as at all in Medicare -- Medicare Advantage companies.
And it plows got back into fighting -- or fraud and abuse.
-- the last two years we've actually had more than ten billion dollars in savings from Medicare fraud payments that we've been able to collect.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act thanks obamacare and we've added eight years of solvency to Medicare we've closed the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole.
We made sure that seniors have improved benefits and Mitt Romney on the stage on Wednesday night.
Actually publicly said.
We will have to reduce benefits for seniors in Medicare in order to -- -- remain solvent.
That's shocking it's unacceptable and as -- member of congress that represents.
Thousands of seniors in South Florida I know they find it unacceptable to.
-- -- congressman while we got you and we still have your counterpart chairman at previous with us as well wanna give one final question to both of you.
I want to ask you -- we'll start with that chairman Revis I wanna ask you the vice presidential debate this week how much do you think the issues of Medicare will come up.
And is that an accurate representation of the Romney Ryan plan.
-- -- -- -- Actually it's laughable.
That Debbie Wasserman Schultz would give anyone a lecture about budgeting when she and her party haven't passed a budget in three years in violation.
Of the law.
They're not even doing their job and they're spewing talking points about budgeting process it's a joke.
-- that's the first thing secondly.
I expect Joseph Biden -- do a good job I mean he's been debating since you know the early nineteen hundreds he's done about eighteen debates already.
Presidential or vice presidential debates.
I think -- relatable.
I don't take them lightly I think Paul's gonna be prepared but expecting you know Joseph Biden's gonna have to deliver big time based on the based -- a debate that Barack Obama put on the board last Wednesday so he's going to be prepared he can he's gonna want to score some points.
Congresswoman the final response to you and your expectations with the debate this week.
Well I've debated Paul Ryan both in the by the committee and in -- news interviews like this one he is that's certainly a eight a good debater.
We'll come well prepared for Vice President Biden well as well but.
Paul Ryan has a tall order you know is he -- actually spell out the details that he refused to spell out on this network but -- -- said he didn't have time.
-- ninety minutes so I have a chance to talk about why he has proposed and that Romney's embrace.
Turning Medicare into about the system Mitt Romney no matter what chairman faces print is that set on that stage Wednesday night.
That he thinks -- the Medicare guarantee should end.
And we should turn it into -- -- system and we should increase that -- -- decrease benefits for seniors in Medicare to make it solvent.
I want to hear Paul Ryan defend that because he's completely avoided the details as it -- Mitt Romney on Wednesday night.
Yeah I know it will be a as center stage top bake this weekend -- vice presidential debate.
Chairwoman wasserman Schultz chairman -- this thank you both very --