Sens. Schumer, Corker on chances of 'fiscal cliff' deal

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And -- -- again from Fox News in Washington.

Well it's beginning to feel -- Groundhog Day in the talks to avoid the fiscal Plath.

All sides dog and no agreement insight.

And we're now just 23 days from the brink.

Joining us to break down where things stand are two leading senators Democrat Charles Schumer of new York and Republican Bob Parker of Tennessee.

Settlement house speaker Boehner said at this on Friday that another week has been wasted senator pork -- given.

That President Obama won the election and seems to have most of the political leverage.

What's the realistic deal to be made in the next 43 -- -- -- -- thinks something's gonna happen and I hope -- large enough for people like me -- wanna -- entitlement reform to vote for but.

You know the president does have some leverage now on the other hand Republicans have leverage with the debt ceiling in the CR which ends in March so.

Hopefully cooler heads will for vial but there are different theories that are coming for -- phone.

How we deal with this and again Chris is a unique moment in history where.

Every developed country in the world economists on both sides of the Al.

No the greatest threat to our country is fiscal solvency we have a situation.

Where the minority port party is trying to leverage the -- -- -- into doing something that's great for our nation it's a very unique time.

And I hope the president soon.

We'll see the -- Senator -- three weeks left watts that compromise.

And this is the important part that both sides can live -- on taxes spending cuts.

An entitlement -- floor.

Well I think we will get a deal.

I think everyone realizes how important it is our economy is.

Movement toppled -- not fast enough but some -- to go over that cliff would be terrible I think we will get an agreement.

And the reason I think we'll get an agreement what's standing in the way.

Is revenues.

Particularly making that top rate go up to 396.

But I think we're seeing real progress in that regard in two ways.

First.

A good number of Republican conservatives.

People like Coulter and crystal have said we have to do with.

Last week Tom Coburn said it's -- preferable than.

Cutting the deductions.

And you have business leaders who supported Mitt Romney Republicans.

The head of FedEx ahead of AT&T saying let that happen.

So I think that's likely to happen the president won the election on that issue.

And I think you will see our Republican colleagues.

Reluctantly.

Say okay let's go up to 396.

-- -- -- -- -- and -- right there because let me bring in -- senator worker.

Senator Schumer is exactly right a growing number of Republicans and conservatives still not a majority but a growing number.

Are saying -- we're gonna have to cave on tax on raising tax rates not just the idea of closing -- -- Would you accept returning today Clinton rate of 39 point 6%.

But would you accept something.

Perhaps a -- 37% are starting with people who make 500000 dollars rather than to theft.

Well Chris there's a growing.

Group of folks that are looking at this and realizing that we don't have a lot of cards as it relates -- the tax issue before your enemy where you have one house that's that the presence in the -- in the democrats' hands so.

A lot of people are putting forth a theory and I actually think it has merit where you go -- give the president the 2%.

Increase that he's talking about the right increase on the top 2%.

And all the sudden shift goes back to entitlements and all of a sudden once you get down the right on the top 2% it's actually.

Much lesser tax increase then what he's been talking about.

The focus then shifts two entitlements and maybe that puts -- -- a place where we actually.

I can do something that really save this nation so that is there is a growing body actually beginning to believe that is the best route for us to take.

To again shift the focus.

Where it needs to be which is on entitlements still pressed the top 1% and our country taken 17% of the income and pay 37%.

The taxes that are paid out new hopeful take up tax reform and -- -- that actually.

Creates growth in our nation at some point bad at this juncture we may be exactly where senator Schumer says and I'm not sure that's not the healthiest place.

For us to -- Republicans to really get entitlement reform to save our nation.

All right as senator Schumer you you're just heard says senator -- I looked up I would would consider and and maybe I'll go for.

Raising the rates all the way up to the Clinton right 39 point 6%.

For the top 2% plot.

We need spending cuts that we need entitlement reform.

What are you guys willing to put on the table.

As well.

Bottom line is if speaker Boehner ends up where -- senator Corcoran has just that he is we will get a large agreement.

And -- but speaker Boehner hasn't said that and so we Democrats realize that there have to be two sides of this market.

But we're not gonna go back to what we didn't when he eleven we put votes revenues and cuts on the table.

And ended up with just getting the cart scores -- there are the other side wouldn't accept the -- and so one speaker Boehner calls for.

Any increase in revenues to 396.

In the other things that the president is called for.

We've done a trillion dollars in cuts already but we realize there have to be other kinds of cuts and they'll be serious negotiations about that.

Will have different views my view when senator corporate -- as to where we ought to go on entitlements is different.

But we will have to find some spending cuts and we will.

Well I mean it in fairness.

Senator corporate senator Coburn a bunch of people senator Schumer.

How sad I know it's not the house speaker Boehner about on the other hand you're not President Obama.

They have been willing to come out and the site we're willing to raise the -- all the way up to the Clinton right 39 point 6%.

Can you give us some specifics of things that you would consider cutting both in terms of social programs and it -- of entitlement reform.

Well the bottom line Chris is that would be negotiating against ourselves President Obama has agreement and I honestly I don't think they just dead.

No.

The bottom line is that Democrats led by our president to almost uniformly say here's our first 1000000000001.

Point two trillion of we are getting to the four trillion its revenues it's up to the Republican leadership prodded.

Correctly and bold lead by senator -- and others to say they'll go along with that and then we'll start negotiating.

On the other side it makes no sense for us to negotiate against ourselves.

You.

Do you -- that senator Barbara.

Now look Chris we've got to have a four and a half trillion dollar solution here and really I know senator Schumer -- talked with him numbers of times personally he knows.

The general things that we need to do and candidly most Republicans and Democrats I do think it's it's time for the president he knows that.

There's a growing body of -- folks are willing to look at the right on the top 2%.

But that's only could be 400 million it might be 800 million depending on how you deal with that in many of us -- fiscal conservatives are beginning to say that we can end up with.

A lesser revenue increase by agreeing to that.

This shift and focus in entitlements is where we need to go and again it's a shame.

That we're not just sitting down in solving -- but Republicans know that they have the debt ceiling this coming up right around the corner.

And the leverage is gonna shift as soon as we get -- on this issue.

The leverages gonna shift our side -- hopefully.

We'll do the same thing we did last -- and that is if the president wants to raise the debt limit about two trillion.

We get two trillion in spending reductions and hopefully this time.

It's mostly oriented towards entitlements and with no process I don't want to kick the can down the road.

I think senator Schumer and I both know that what we need to do -- solve this problem now.

Well let's let's not just -- -- -- wait a second but it is we're gonna get into that in a second senator Schumer.

As senator Clark are you brought up the depth -- and as you know part of the president's demand is that he be given.

The right to raise the debt limit by himself on last congress there's some rules by -- two thirds vote in both houses.

Is that a deal breaker for Republicans.

Well look.

-- let me go back Chris I mean let's face it he does have the upper hand on taxes you have to pass something to keep that from happening.

We only have one body if we were to pass for instance raising the top two -- and that's that all of a sudden.

We do have the leverage of the debt ceiling and we haven't given that up so the only -- the debt ceiling I think has given up.

Is that the president comes to the table talks with speaker Boehner about real entitlement reform.

Without that there's no why in my opinion the debt ceiling is going to be given up and so then you go into January February.

Whether negotiation about spending reductions which is where.

We wanna go so -- look I mean he can decide I agree with senator Schumer.

We're not gonna go over the fiscal -- he -- -- terminology something's gonna happen.

Before year end hopefully it's a comprehensive package.

That solves our nation's problems and then later next year we deal -- tax reform in a revenue neutral way at what I do not won a serious -- Go ahead also -- let me just let me just bring in senator Schumer.

And this goes beyond.

Simply that question of this deal why should congress.

Give bop its constitutional authority.

Over borrowing.

You know we looked at your record when George W.

Bush was president you voted.

At least three times against increasing the debt -- -- to congress unilaterally give up that power.

Well the bottom line is I think on debt ceiling things have shifted.

I don't agree with my good friend Bob -- around that issue I think it's shifted the way it has on taxes and we just saw that.

Senator McConnell put on the floor.

A resolution that said it was his idea not ours that let the president raised the debt ceiling have to -- it's money that congress has already spent.

And let congress by two thirds override it.

He thought we Democrats would run away from that scared -- could be.

Within a half hour -- at 51 votes we called his bluff and he ended up filibustering.

His own.

Proposal -- normally very politically sure footed Mitch McConnell stumbled on this and that's because the -- has changed here.

I believe debt ceiling will be part of the agreement and I believe frankly our Republican colleagues have learned.

That to save the government is not -- -- pay its debts and hold it up for something else is a bad is bad substance and bad.

Politics.

I don't think they'll prevail on that if they want to say we won't raise the debt ceiling unless you cut Medicare make our day.

Thank your detonating go -- -- default the contrary.

No make our day meaning you're not that position is untenable politically and it won't last you won't be able to hold.

Let me we got a little time left and I wanna go briefly to a couple of other subjects senator Schumer on the first day of the next congress in January.

Will Democrats change the rules on filibusters by a simple majority.

Rather than -- two thirds majority you'd generally need.

To change rules in the sun.

OK everyone knows the senate is broken and needs fixing.

I think Bob -- would say that we've had discussions were friends most Democrat almost all Democrats and all Republicans believe that.

And I think it's also true that our preference would be to do this by two thirds in a bipartisan way.

They're all kinds of discussions going on with all kinds of groups to try and come up with some agreement.

The basic problem -- is Republicans say we don't allow them amendments we say they don't let our bills go on the floor.

You can sort of deal with both those issues sort of even handedly.

If we can't come to an agreement whether we.

Go to this so called constitutional option our caucus will have to discuss that in the coming weeks but our hope would be.

To be able to come up with a compromise and there are some very interesting and productive discussions going on right.

Now let me just ask about the filibuster you right there are arguments on both sides senator Schumer -- when Democrats were in the minority a few years ago.

And you guys were filibustering George W.

Bush is.

Judicial nominations.

You had a different view about the filibuster let's watch.

The wisdom of our republic -- shown.

That when the senate does slow things down.

When the senate does.

-- checks and balances that the republic is better off.

Senator what's changed except for the fact that you're out in the majority.

Know that nothing that's exactly right.

And the filibuster I am not for a going to a House of Representatives where 51 votes decides everything.

But the filibuster has been over used it's not just use on major issues like very significant judges Supreme Court leaders in the courts of appeals.

Health care obviously that shouldn't have passed by 51 votes it needed sixty but it's used on such trivial things and not by the hole.

Minority -- a great project -- -- that we're gonna run out of time didn't didn't health care house on reconciliation by 51 votes.

Health care about sixty votes.

I thought I thought that was it when it finally came back it went and -- during testimony if they want but not until not till after it passed by sixty votes.

Given on the changes that -- rest of the line.

No anyway so -- had to -- it's an act it's a technical -- right but anyway what your saying is that that you think that there have to be some report.

Correct about Mike.

That really went -- and and I felt like last night and every senator.

I -- okay.

Number one.

We're gonna solve this there's not going to be -- will we will get this fiscal reform done this year that's my prediction because I think the president.

I think we're gonna solve this I think the two parties are gonna solve the second play -- predict we're gonna have up a meeting of both Republicans and Democrats.

To gather check Chamber's been very constructive on this issue.

I think we'll all gonna sit down together -- in the old senate chamber and resolve this in -- way that.

Democrats are not breaking the rule to change the rules and we actually do it the way the senate always has functioned.

And I think we're gonna start this next year with a different.

A different spirit -- -- in congress.

Arianna let me ask you -- -- they ask senator and wasn't in the -- -- left and -- overtime.

One last question and that may test that.

That -- -- -- you're gonna be the new ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the new congress with President Obama being making a mistake.

To nominate Condoleezza rather Condoleezza Susan Rice the secretary of -- night.

I do think and they think that Secretary Rice coming ambassador rice is viewed as a political operative and I don't think he's gonna nominate that are really don't think that that time is coming on so.

Look -- as I've said.

I'll give any nominate a fair hearing and I will on this case but I I think the president realizes that actually on both sides -- -- There are a lot of concerns about the fact she's such a political operative and not the -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Flat out and I don't know what'll happen I mean obviously there are many people like me that always give nominees fair hearings I just don't think she's going to be nominated for a lot of reasons and senator.

Some are very briefly.

He got the solution here a lot of Republicans don't want to vote for Susan Rice.

If she's nominated by the president and I think she's very capable.

They shouldn't filibuster they don't have to vote for -- but don't require sixty votes to get Iran and that's traditionally what's been done.

With presidential cabinet nominees when a president is elected or reelected that would be a solution.

Don't know gonna have to leave it there senator Schumer senator -- -- thank you both.

We'll be watching for any -- progress on the fiscal -- -- continued stalemate thanks again gentlemen.

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Sens. Schumer, Corker on chances of 'fiscal cliff' deal

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