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'Fiscal cliff' game of chicken continues

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    Obama, Boehner bluffing in negotiations?

  • Duration 4:32
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If Republicans voting on plan B today that is house speaker John Boehner -- alternative plan to avoid the fiscal cliff.

The series of painful spending cuts and tax increases that will go into effect touching virtually every American on January 1 if no deal is reached by then.

Now his plan B calls for allowing a tax increase but only on those Americans making more than a million dollars a year.

The White House already promises to veto it.

Joining us now Joseph Trippi the former Howard Dean campaign manager and a Fox News contributor.

Joseph I can't tell you how many times I've heard the president say that millionaires and billionaires ought to pay a little bit more than their fair share.

So if you're earning a million dollars a year -- clearly in that category the house speaker says let's let's raise taxes.

On those folks why would president not go along with that.

Well I think every two things first salami Harry Harry Reid majority leader of the senate says it won't be can't pass the sanity won't won't have the votes -- -- why that's that's her life.

What lived -- -- -- to look I think you've got problems on both sides here I mean that it that -- you have Democrats who don't want it.

Move on Medicare and -- security and cost of living increases in those kinds of things the president's moved on that.

Signaled that he's retreated to go to change CPI change the way we do cost of living increases.

Too much to the chagrin of the Democratic Party and on -- other side you've got.

Boehner here.

I think you know that it would still not clear how many Republicans are gonna vote for the million for the tax increases on those who make over a million.

I thought what was gonna happen was that the president would.

You know offer 400000.

Boehner would do a million they compromise -- 750000.

Or 500000 that there'd be.

Split you know split it half -- half way.

I just don't think that's gonna happen I think both sides mean I think it's not gonna go go get passed the senate and I think the president means and he will veto it.

And I think part of that John -- he has said over he he -- he's run out twice.

Saying he would raise taxes on those making over 250000.

Or more and you know he seems to them I think.

He he he thinks I've won the election.

I promise that was the promise in a minute and that's where I'm gonna draw the wind he -- he's moved above that I don't think it's gonna go to a million not not where John Mayer's.

Joseph you well know there are a lot of folks in say suburban New York out on Long Island where you known people who are decidedly not in white collar jobs.

Two income couples earn a quarter million dollars a year they are not in the millionaire and billionaire category and they certainly don't feel themselves.

Even wealthy by any stretch of the imagination so how does -- president's sell all a tax increase on that group.

But that you're you're exactly right John that's where Chuck Schumer who represents New York.

Has made that case he he he is he said a while ago he'd be more comfortable -- a million.

Like I said I thought what would happen is we'd be compromising somewhere.

Around the half a million markets the caught off on on the the increase in rates.

But I don't know they've both sides seem to be pretty in transient the president now 400000.

As as level he would increase -- whether there have been questions as to whether John Boehner has enough votes even in the house to get his plan B through but he's scheduled the vote as I understand it's over so he must think he's going to win on that score.

You're saying that the president would rather Vito.

-- tax increase on our map highest million and -- income level American.

Rather.

He'd rather do that.

And let us go off the cliff and and see everybody's taxes go up.

I I you know you don't get this point of the game you just don't know whether people are -- and it's a huge game of chicken.

And I am on played by both sides right now and -- as you said I'm not even sure what we'll see.

But it's not clear that Boehner has the votes do I think most people thought.

That on a compromise.

You could you does is Boehner loses forty or fifty votes it's the president who's got liver that anymore on the democratic side it would take the two of them.

To put a majority to gather.

And get past all these concerns.

On the on you know within different factions of both parties but it's not clear that.

They're going to be able find common ground to do that.

Well I guess we still have a little bit of time not much.

Joseph Trippi thanks for watching it with -- states.

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