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Can GOP come to consensus on fiscal cliff plan?

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    Arizona Congressman David Schweikert weighs in

  • Duration 4:16
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-- one of three conservative Republican congressman who were removed from key committee assignments.

They claim it's because they're too conservative and they are demanding answers from house speaker John Boehner -- and mine day.

Joining us now Republican congressman David reichert of Arizona congressman thanks for your time today.

Happy to do -- tell us about this you were booted essentially from the financial services committee have you been given an explanation as to why.

Well what you get is that it happens in a closed door meeting.

And with that you get almost no true explanation though there's been a rumor going around that there was a score -- how many of this is voted.

And you heard the rumblings.

Guys you're too conservative you're not voting with the team.

Many of us just want to note is that the reason and what are the rules now is it are we allowed to vote our conscience our do we get punished if we do.

What do you think is the key vote or votes and that if that's the case -- -- in this position.

I think it's more comp.

-- and I think it may be the accumulation of votes over a couple year period but in many ways it could be even something as.

Being on your show right now saying look.

-- Republicans.

We believe in fiscal sanity we don't raise taxes.

And the hard reality ahead of us is if we don't step up and deal with the explosion of entitlement costs we're gonna be -- And that constant pushing I'm wondering if that's also what we get punish.

Four I just want to read a little bit of the letter that you sent to speaker Boehner on Friday -- this was.

Please provide a full and complete written explanation for our removal including a copy of the scorecard -- -- the steering committee meeting by close of business Monday.

December 10.

You sign on with two other conservative Republicans who also lost their committee bids.

Do you think you're gonna get an answer.

I have no idea but in some ways this is much more about the four of us -- lost our committee slots.

This is also about the entire Republican particularly the conservatives.

What are the rules were playing under.

Is this meant to be a chilling action for other conservatives.

Is it.

A warning to the new freshman.

What are the rules were playing under.

-- GOP split right now in your opinion and and how -- the GOP effectively -- than negotiating table when the party itself seems like there are some fissures.

-- and that may actually be the single most important thing going on here I have no intention I did not want to start a family food fight.

The fact matters we have to be unified -- take on this president because this president seems just focused on raising taxes.

And avoiding the real issues and that's the explosion the entitlement cost.

And we we really a Fisher with the conservative base in the Republican conference.

Is not helpful.

And we need to bring the family together and march forward on the principles that got us there we -- the Conservative Party we understand economic growth let's.

Focus on.

-- with that might want to get your reaction to a growing number of your Republican colleagues are now speaking out saying hey maybe we did did that tax hike on -- top 2%.

And save the other 98% we're gonna break down some of those numbers fact and fiction a little bit later.

But I think about represented a cold both senators Coburn and -- -- walker now publicly saying maybe legal along with that part of the deal.

Well the problem -- it's political theater if you look at the math it doesn't do anything.

It's simple -- -- the president wanted one point six trillion.

Over the next ten years that's what about a 160 million a year we may borrow as much as one point two trillion.

And these are lot of numbers but the -- a new taxes is what about 8% of that spending.

It doesn't come close to solving the problem it just helps the leftist ideology punish people they don't like.

If you want to save this country we need to deal with the reality it's about spending.

This country has an addiction to excess -- -- spending.

It's time we step and deal with it.

Cancel -- to the conversation has been focused on just getting more revenue to the government Saturday and this spending side.

We're gonna continue to talk about that throughout the next two hours here congressman reichert thank you for your time -- get a response from the speaker's office let us now.

Thank you for having -- Are facing.

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