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President holds fiscal cliff talks with labor leaders

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    National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel explains

  • Duration 5:38
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Are right now the president today meeting would labor leaders it's his first round of fiscal -- -- My next guest one of them Dennis van and wrote -- he heads up the National Education Association -- it's good to have you.

Hey good to be -- had -- -- out.

It was a good meeting we had an opportunity to talk about what.

We believe as important as you mentioned this is the first of three meetings you have -- labor leaders and progressive groups today he'll talk with.

Business tomorrow and Friday -- talk with members of congress.

How -- moveon.org.

And on that mean that would be like me make -- You know -- Weight Watchers convention but anyway how did that happen.

Other part of the group that we're very.

Instrumental in.

Active in this election.

And you know what's really important this election is just about who was elected it's about the values -- the -- that the American public voted for.

They choices have asked.

Having Medicare be a voucher they rejected that you know they had choices about giving more and more tax cuts to the wealthiest people in the country they rejected that so it.

And today part of hagel compromise they reject compromise -- -- absolutely -- -- union had such as yourself offered the president.

Where that you would be open.

Well what I focused it -- on the tax fairness.

-- Very clearly we believe that the tax cuts for the wealthy is -- -- Percent in the nation have to end we talk about the -- -- -- -- a -- why did you find that would would be fair.

Well congress set up a one point two trillion dollar debt problem they have to -- you know then that you don't take off the table 829 billion dollars before you start it's impossible.

It's only fair to go after the 2% of paid more than 40% of the taxes then addressed the 47 present who pay no income taxes some quite -- and legitimately.

But that's perfect leader that mass here your -- -- occasionally at what.

What really does make sense is everyone paying their fair share point and I just always been blowing a 7% a warrant paying.

I don't well when you look at their incomes that's the reason they don't pay anything we got to look at jobs in this I don't know either because I don't -- you're exactly right and I'm not dismissing soldiers are not dismissing those who.

Who are retired and -- -- but something has happened over the course of our lives tennis.

When I got -- a grad school that figure was in the twenties and now it's approaching 50%.

Just that figure is kind of scrutiny right and it we're going to continue to support a lot of the government things that you want and -- you argue your folks aren't.

It -- that we're gonna have to do more than just saddled the top 2% what that -- We're coming out of one of the worst recession since the Great Depression.

The middle class and lower income people -- suffered more than anyone else the idea that everyone shouldn't pay their fair share is crazy.

Boulevard and that's fair share part when I mention the 47%.

Not -- and sticking out -- to present a lark.

It are you not getting.

I'm talking about the wealthiest 2% who -- a tax cut at the time the middle class people got tax increases.

And had so many challenge when I -- what the bush tax cuts when they started -- remind our cuts.

Well sure but the amount was so much less and they also received all of the other -- they did they lost their jobs -- lost their homes all because some people believe what will act just as a way to.

-- -- -- I don't know argued as and I -- -- respect their point of view budget on agree -- the let's talk about them what unions might have offered at the White House to the president of is it to your -- your attitude we're gonna get their taxes rising on the rich the only issue was how much.

What did you walk for the president -- as far as concessions unions might make or cuts in spending or slowed to grow this -- that you would accept.

The other things I talked about it and tax fairness is number one did it seems to make a difference in this country -- you earn your income through work or through wealth.

And I think it ought to be the same why in the world that someone is construction worker teacher.

Policeman fireman why in the world should their income be tax at a higher rate than people who heard it through well I think that should be fair I think we ought to close the tax loopholes another thing I talked to the president.

Which I'll be OK was your group OK when you sort of closing the tax loopholes that that would be enough instead of let's say attack -- tax rate increase.

-- part of an original deal to get us off the cliff was too close a lot of loopholes raise roughly decision equivalent revenue up front.

They're just bringing the rates back up.

-- there's a lot of people talk about broadening the base but it just does the math doesn't work.

You can't get enough income to meet the one point two trillion -- not.

Not when probably 70% aren't -- you can't do it you're really hung -- on this -- probably because I'm not you know you're the education association.

-- and I respected of that but so I'm I'm I'm a slave to these numbers you know.

And everyone else around me we cannot continue to support the government that you want to see and the programs you wanna continue.

Just hanging it on that fraction that's liberal folks wealthy or not who are paying all the -- you can't sustain that.

Well one of the other things I talked to the president about -- of conversation about Medicaid.

You know there's also talk about whether those should be -- should they not -- -- and there are some in congress who want to shift the cost of the states and that is that.

Well Hillary because -- -- -- are you open to cut any.

Obviously we need to look at the whole picture.

But I guess we want to leave Medicaid alone you don't want -- -- Medicare right now right so what are what are you going to give up.

The point I'm making about Medicaid is that right now in state that is become the largest portion of their budget -- pushed out K12 education.

The third areas prisons are not gonna cut prisons if you shift that cost to states.

K12 and nothing could -- me one thing you would cut.

I would eliminate the tax cuts for the wealthy to visit -- that's -- -- don't.

-- Dennis thank you very much good having you -- good to be here.

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