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Tax hikes alone not the answer

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    Ed Pozzuoli and Jehmu Greene react to new Fox News polls on fiscal talks

  • Duration 10:28
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Nineteen days now or eighteen depending on how you count them and everybody seems to do it differently.

Until we -- -- like off the fiscal cliff full roll slowly down a fiscal slope and not too damaging really depending on whom you believe.

I said I guess if I say that every day and to wish to get -- somehow I doubt it listen to speak a beta and democratic leader Nancy Pelosi earlier today.

I've been pushing all year for us to address this problem.

But here we are at the eleventh hour and the president still isn't serious about dealing -- this issue right here it's this issue.

Spending.

Here we -- Eighteen days.

From a possible fiscal cliff hopefully nine.

Twelve days until Christmas.

And here we are once again having a two day workweek.

In the congress of the United States.

Have to ask the question.

Why are we going home instead of working very hard to forge an agreement to avoid that -- could.

So John and Nancy thank you so much here we are again blaming each other I think is what you but should have said.

Let's get into this without political panel would -- the studio he had you move green Fox News contributor and joining us up from his post in Miami.

Ed Pozzuoli former advisor to John Huntsman presidential campaign great to see you again -- Great seeing you Jonathan all right you go -- first.

Everybody is blaming everybody walked on up.

Is it gonna take full on the side to -- here.

You know I don't know but it a couple weeks -- article in Forbes that basically said the Republicans have an obligation to lead.

They need to put aside the election results and lead on the issue the issue is.

-- really not about tax increases although that may be part of the solution reaching a deal.

With the president.

But the issue is spending and getting control of Washington spending so we need desperately to lay down.

A plan that talks about a true.

Understanding of getting couldn't control of Washington spending.

Entitlement reform and then last but not least a discussion around increasing revenue that's more in the Bailiwick of what the administration is only talking about.

Through it does seem perfectly fed it -- we've got to get some tax increases of some sort some way it looks like.

But it does seem perfectly fat for Republicans to say.

Give us said detailed breakdown of whether spending cuts -- because revenue all its own as every person knows is not gonna cut it.

And I think the president has done exactly that Johnson he has detailed 600 billion dollars in spending is that enough the Republicans who have not.

When they are asking for more spending.

They aren't saying exactly stick what -- spending cuts would be and you know what I'm just kind of tired of the whole conversation around.

Entitlement reform.

As the Republicans are talking about this and calling for a while they just call it like it -- That they wanna cut Medicare that they wanna cut Social Security fraud but do I have to do that the -- -- I have to look at -- Medicare as well security president has gone in the sense against the what most progressives and and more people on the left.

Would like for him to do because he is putting entitlement reform on the table.

It's the Republicans who don't understand that come January 1.

Tax rates are going to increase either because they make a deal or because they act like spoiled children and they don't make a deal but I'm gonna make a prediction here.

I'm pretty sure what's gonna happen we're going to see the middle class tax tax rates would actually be put.

And permanently.

And then they're gonna come back and deal with everything else that the amount of time so we'll get -- will gala and get a small deal they're gonna -- -- -- basically agree with the president that taxes shouldn't go up.

On 98% of the American people there and take care of that before dinner and one.

Pentagon have to come back -- -- -- -- would you agree that we -- -- look we're likely to get eight.

A smaller deal rather the big a deal and -- -- to tide -- over for the time being.

Well the deal has to include.

Cost.

Cost cutting it mean it's got to include that and and look words matter and so I'm -- avoid that name calling back and forth in the blame game ultimately.

There has to be there is a runaway spending problem we have to get that and control we could talk about it you want to talk about cutting Medicare cutting Medicaid cutting Social Security.

Now what we're talking about is ensuring that Social Security.

And and Medicare are sustainable for the long term the math.

To coin a phrase that was all about the democratic -- -- at convention.

The math doesn't work unless you address those in high -- burdens on the on the on the budget.

And so unless you do that -- serious thoughtful way.

This discussion is all about simply raising taxes on a small a small percentage of people and by the way does not help.

In in a long -- not enough money to make a dent.

It's it's like speeding in the ocean Jonathan -- so we've got to deal with the spending issue revenues to the government had increased.

Spending has not as spending has increased -- exponentially around that around that revenue drive so as -- All all I hear Democrats saying and is that we need to raise taxes -- my truck the campaign -- and it worked.

The campaign much -- we need to raise taxes.

On those people who were doing a -- -- -- those bad people they were successful and earn money we have to take we have every tax on OK let's raise taxes on them.

But in the meantime let's address the real issue and the real issue is getting -- and spending under control.

And putting in place a sustainable plan so that Medicare Medicaid and Social Security can serve.

-- Jim who is is the the president's current plan.

That he that you say he's put on the table is that responsible and sustainable as Ed says we need to have.

It absolutely is and more importantly it's the balance.

What we're not hearing from the Republicans is any sort of balance.

When you look at the Fox News the most recent Fox News poll it's very clear.

But the American people can see up half way forward in a much more clear way than Republicans -- It is going to take increasing tax rates and it also is going to have to be combined with spending cuts that's exactly the plan the president has put on the table.

That's the responsible plan.

Especially as -- -- the economy has gotten slightly stronger but we're nowhere near where we need to be.

And the types of spending cuts that.

I'd been hearing Ed kind of indoors and that he and speaker Boehner seems to be stuck on dislike of record on repeat those would hurt our.

You know economy in the state -- -- and right now so we we can't go overboard and in -- -- go over another clip.

And destroying.

The great progress that has been made so.

We do have to have.

A balance we have to have an increase -- tax rates for the top 2% and -- no one in the Democratic Party has called them bad no one has said it's.

Bad that they made money they just sit there.

We need to make sure that the wealthiest who have benefited from income inequality that his growing 300%.

In the last thirty years that.

Days are paying their fair share all right let me let me point out a couple of things to -- -- was here first of all a couple of their comments coming in at.

Big midi 323 says always Talking Heads meeting you -- I know exactly what's claim that happens -- -- Washington.

Always the last to know it does kind of remind me a bit.

I've guise of the did the you know that the Israeli Palestinian conflict everybody knows what -- outlines of the deal have to be but nobody can quite bring themselves to get that.

And then Brian judge -- right -- Jonathan the president has no intention of cutting spending in any meaningful Mac.

If you give him everything he wants will still go over a cliff just a little late and probably a high clip.

So -- -- giving him sole authority to increase the national debt issue lunacy I also want to show obvious before I come back to add and some figures from the recent Fox News polls festival we Austin you'll feelings on how the federal.

Government is working and take a look at these figures.

For those who say it's looking pretty well just seven.

Percent those who say just OK 26% 65%.

Of Americans apparently think the federal government is.

-- and then another -- we have on costs should the government -- programs like social security and Medicare now major cuts now 46%.

Of people say yes.

Keeping the funding as it is the possibility that 40% say we should do that -- fourteen to say you can see the difference.

Between Democrats in -- and Republicans -- -- whether we should -- on the debt future generations that.

All right other.

-- going back to that -- all of 65%.

Feeling that the government is broken.

The -- majority of those as well it appeared that the Republicans if I -- to think that it's Republicans in congress.

Who law most responsible for that broken is President Obama certainly we need to win it -- at the battle for public opinion.

Sure I -- admit that this is an opportunity for the president.

To have the what I would could call a Nixon goes to China moment it took.

A hard line anti can Communist to go to China open open the door in this case I think it's gonna take President Obama.

And I challenged -- White House to take this take the Nixon goes to China my truck and say it's it's him.

Who has the lead on entitlement reform and truly getting the federal budget under control.

Along with congress what.

That the Q is from the president in this case you cannot keep piling on.

Additional spending you cannot keep piling on.

But additional debt.

And didn't look at the president overwhelm what we want young -- voters and and I would say he should use that political capital.

And say the younger voters very simple.

That I'm here to protect you I want social security and Medicare to survive can be sustainable had a -- you -- benefit hold that thought and I'll let.

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