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Boehner: 'Fiscal cliff' talks going 'nowhere'

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    House speaker on 'Fox News Sunday'

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Athletes that house speaker Boehner is office called -- to say he wanted to come on FOX News Sunday to tell his side of the story.

He says the president wants to ram -- a deal -- not work out a compromise.

And Boehner might he suggests be willing to go over the plan.

Speaker Boehner welcome back to Fox News on -- -- -- would -- how would you characterize.

The deal the Treasury Secretary Geithner offered you on behalf of the press.

Endlessly.

A non serious proposal.

The president asking for one point six trillion dollars worth of of new revenue over ten years twice as much as he's been asking for a public.

-- stimulus spending.

In here that exceeded by the amount of new cuts that he was willing to consider.

It was not -- Jerusalem but what you're saying that there is more spending.

And spending -- that is correct.

They outlined they'd be willing to talk about 400 billion dollars worth of -- cuts over ten years.

But but at the end of the year.

They wanted to extend unemployment benefits they wanted to new.

A stimulus program for infrastructure -- -- and extend some other tax breaks that all of us -- stimulus spending.

Would literally be more than -- spending -- that he was willing to put on the table.

Not.

Understand Chris the day after the election.

I saw the result.

I want to the cameras and made it clear.

The Republicans were willing to put revenue more on the table if there were serious spending cuts reforms put in place.

We've talked about president and a white house of -- three weeks.

And this is the best we've got.

Take us behind the scenes take us inside the room what was the mood music.

When Tim Geithner sits there like we are here and presented this to you what -- site.

But it's just flabbergasted.

I like him as he can't be serious.

I just never see namely like Dillon got several weeks between Election -- And the end of the year.

And and three of those wait weeks have been wasted.

With would this not so -- so if there wasted.

Where are we now and and quite frankly what are the chances we're gonna end up going over the platform right now I would say we're nowhere.

Period we're -- Other ways put -- serious offer on the table by putting revenues up there to try to get this question result.

A but the White House's -- -- virtually nothing.

They've actually asked for more revenue than -- -- -- -- him for the whole entire time so what are the chances were gonna go for the plus let's.

All over the cliff will hurt our economy -- her job creation our country it's not fair to the American people.

And this is an issue about Democrats or Republicans my goodness this is about our country.

-- -- get serious about dealing with the problems at the end of the year and we need to get serious about our deficit and our debt that are bearing in our children's future.

I want to ask you one other question about their offer because this was a real surprise -- that Geithner also said they want you congress to give off.

Any powers over voting an increase in the debt limit throughout.

Forever.

-- -- Congress is never gonna give up this power I've made it clear to the president that every time we get to the -- -- -- we need cuts and reforms that are greater than the increase in the -- -- It's the only way to leverage.

The political process to produce more change than what it would if left alone -- The president and Democrats are saying look we have already agreed since 2010 since the Republican victory.

Two more than a trillion dollars in spending costs without any increase in revenue so we've already.

But it doesn't solve the problem.

-- we have a a debt burden.

That's that's crushing us and it's look at the president's budget but got trillion dollar deficits for as far as the eye can see.

This is unsustainable.

We have 101000 baby boomers like me retiring every day.

78000 this week three and a half million retirees this year alone.

Sign up for Social Security Medicare people living longer accessing Medicaid.

And it's not like there's any money of the Social Security trust fund with a Medicare trust fund it's all been spent.

In the whipsaw effect this is having on the budget is horrendous.

And in if we don't get a -- look.

Well we're mortgaging our children's future but I am not going to be part of well you say not to be part of that I mean your your your kind of stopped and given the job you're -- yeah I'd like every part of furthermore urging their future right -- time to get serious about our -- what about the trillion dollars though.

Does is it fair to count that as part of Ford trillion dollars in debt reduction you know it can be part of a package of -- count up but.

-- the next three or 45 trillion dollars worth of reductions that need to happen.

If we're gonna put America on a fiscal -- sustainable path.

Mean think about that the proposal -- -- the president if we give the president not one point six trillion dollars of new money what do you think you do what.

It's -- that what Washington does you don't think you don't believe you use it to help pay down the debt they'll spend it.

Look at the fact that they put 400 billion dollars with a bunch specified -- up -- but yet in the same time that's over four billion dollars over ten years.

Oh while he wants over 400 billion dollars a new stimulus spending.

But this is this is as -- non serious proposal you.

You talked about the fact that.

The president -- and you came out with a concession the day after the election.

They point out that the president.

Campaigned on raising tax rates -- you know and it wasn't the big issue between him him him and Romney and they say just as he had -- -- After your victory in the 2010 mid terms.

Now it's your turn to cave on tax rates.

Some what what's the difference where the money comes from we put 800 billion dollars from the revenue which is what he's asking for.

Out of eliminated the top two tax rates.

Well but here's the problem Chris.

When when you go and increase tax rates are you make it more difficult for our economy to grow.

Half of that income it's small business and -- who's gonna get taxed at a higher rate.

And as a result we're gonna see slower economic growth.

We're not going to be a -- cut our way out of this problem nor can we just grow our way I'll probably have to have a balanced approach.

About what to -- wants to do wolf slower economy at a time when he says you must economy to grow a great job.

Well look.

The White House says that while you have just given this kind of talk about well let's close loopholes let's limit deductions.

You have an author any specifics have you -- we've later all out for -- but dozen different ways you can raise the revenue.

From -- from from the richest Americans as the president would describe them.

But without raising tackles the biggest proposal you put on the table.

Since the election in terms of raising revenue from closing loopholes and deductions you could -- there's a lot of different ways to get there but you can cap.

But deductions at a percent of income.

The -- one way to get there you're gonna eliminate certain deductions.

For those the wealthiest in our country they could do all of that let me ask a couple specifics would you eliminate or limit the home mortgage deduction -- and there are a lot of options in terms of how to get -- -- not -- up.

Debate this.

Or negotiate this with you -- if you could sign on the door -- a -- be happy to.

Not just trying to get those -- but we haven't I just charitable deductions would you be willing I mean you're you're big charity guy because it.

-- the president is -- allow the options from us whether a lot of them put on the table.

And I'm hopeful that the conversation will continue okay but let's let's talk about your proposals because the president and I'm sure this is driven you nuts spikes to say.

The math tends not to work.

Let's look at -- math.

The White House as a realistic cap.

And I'll explain what that means of 25000.

Dollars.

On people making more than 250000 also cap on their deductions you -- 25000 dollars in itemized deductions.

And exempting things like charitable deductions which is pretty unlikely that you're gonna do away -- would only bring in 450.

Billion dollars and not.

The 800 billion you're talking about not the trillion Smart and effective and they cite the map tends not to works now the White House knows that the math work.

To put the kind of revenue on the table but we've been talking about it it won't work over trying to get the one point six trillion dollars problem guarantee that.

But you can put that we've put the revenue on the table.

And again a dozen different ways in order to get there without raising tax rates and you can get up to top what amount.

Basically the number -- -- -- 800 dollars approximately somewhere in that range.

The White House talking about specifics also says that you and the Republicans have offered no specifics.

For spending cuts or entitlement reforms.

-- -- -- -- Look at the house Republican budget offer by Paul Ryan -- may -- the same.

Budget -- morning twelve passed by the congress all types of specific proposals.

And America to the -- president campaigned against -- and any and nobody wanted to go back to move to the by the super committee all of the ideas were out there look at the conversations that the president and I had.

Based off a symptom Bowles commission his own deficit reduction commission.

But he knows what our proposals are he knows what we're willing to do what we don't know present -- Chris is what's the president willing to do.

Well let me ask you specifically about that is it true because it's been said but it's never been -- we've never seen a piece of paper.

Is it true that the president offered to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and to slow cost of living adjustments for Social Security.

When you were in your debt talks in August -- 2011.

It was on the table did the president agree to it.

It may have been close to an agreement to.

Peter -- we miner would would we might not have a from the news is that on the table now of course it's on the table now is on the table from their point of him.

Was and there are a lot of there a lot of items on the table president knows what they are.

Question is what are they willing to do.

You are starting to have some political problems because you starting to -- some splits in your -- I don't have to tell you the one of the top congressional.

Republicans Tom -- so does -- you know what I'm not comfortable standing in the way of holding hostage.

Extending the bush tax cuts the lower writes for the 98% people making under 250000.

Dollars.

And you work happy that he said that I wasn't because that means you reckon -- But is it tougher going to be tougher to hold to that as you get closer to the -- and people are facing a tax increase of 2000.

Dollars -- not really that's what's so sad about the situation over him.

Owns the present and not being serious about coming to an agreement -- holding the middle class.

Tax hikes over their heads well -- -- this -- this is that that this this is America.

This is our economy.

We all want to economy get better and Americans to have more opportunities -- jobs but this.

Agreement should come sooner rather than later because just the threat of the fiscal cliff is already hurting our economy.

-- I believe the raising tax rates hurts our economy personal prospects for more jobs in our country.

I realize it the president may disagree.

But the fact is -- -- if there's another way to get revenue.

From upper income Americans but that doesn't -- economy in the why wouldn't we considerate.

What if we go over the -- doesn't the president hold all the cards then.

This can he site all right everybody's taxes and increased I'm more for 98%.

Eight.

That tax cut of 2000 dollars a year you're the party of lower taxes or you can refuse to cut people's taxes -- Nobody wants to -- over the -- And that's why -- the day after the election.

I tried to speed this process process up by making a concession to put revenues on the table.

And it's unfortunate that that the White House is spent three weeks and doing basically nothing so you've been around this -- a long time you've been a lot of negotiations.

What.

Is there a game what -- what what they -- thinking as to how they're gonna work there well they just figure they won they're gonna they're gonna get what they want.

I have no idea groups of ratified new I've puncher with it but I don't know what's your thing you think they're being bullies.

I think they're.

That.

They won the election but must've forgotten the Republicans.

Continue to hold the majority in the house.

But.

You know the president's idea of a negotiation -- roll over and do what I ask.

It.

We need to find common ground and we need to find it quickly and and again could you kind of didn't answer the first time.

What are the chances we're gonna go over the -- There's clearly a chance.

Obama tell you I might be an easy got to be along with affable.

Obviously I've worked in a bipartisan way on a number of agreements.

-- -- -- -- -- -- I'm determined.

To solve our depth -- We have a serious spending problem and it is going to be -- And yes.

The White House is unwilling to do what are you prepared to -- site we are going to deal with America's debt problem.

And if so they've refused to do it in the way that you find acceptable acceptable.

We're going to be -- Sooner or later funeral later -- -- deal with this -- -- -- gonna do it now we're not gonna kick this can down the road again so.

If it takes it he'll go over the place.

I don't want any part of one political.

I'm wondering -- care -- to avert that spot.

But we're not solve America's -- problem.

Speaker Boehner are not happy note thanks for talking with thank you expect it.