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Poll: Americans less optimistic about 'fiscal cliff' deal

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    Will lawmakers reach an agreement?

  • Duration 5:43
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Well one Washington resident having no trouble getting back to the nation's capital to continue those fiscal cliff talks.

The president of course it helps when you have your own airplane.

The president arrived at Andrews Air Force Base just moments ago on route to the White House.

This as a new poll out shows Americans are growing less optimistic.

That our leaders are going to reach some kind of deal to avoid a fiscal cliff.

Take a look at this new Gallup poll finds that half of Americans believe lawmakers will come to some agreement that's down from 58%.

From just a few weeks ago.

Amos Snead is former Press Secretary for our former house Republican whip re -- -- torn -- former communications director for congressman Chris van -- and they're gonna give -- our fair and balanced debate today I -- and essentially John Boehner has said look we try to get something we got part.

A deal out of the House of Representatives it's now -- to the democratically led senate.

And the democratic president.

To come up with some kind of plan we can all vote on.

What are you -- so how do you respond to that.

I mean I think that's kind of ridiculous everyone knows that if the president came in made -- deal with Harry Reid.

It wouldn't go anywhere in the house I mean John Boehner couldn't even pass his plan in the house.

And that was something that was worked up by him in in Eric Cantor and others so the real.

Test here and I think the challenge is the president and John Boehner sitting down again over the next three or four days I think we actually have a few more days we -- over the cliff on the first but.

The new congress -- in sworn until January 3.

So you know and I think that if they can work out maybe it's just a small deal now maybe some down payments on cuts.

Maybe it's protecting certainly protecting the tax cuts for the middle class and small businesses and doing you know a few things to Medicare.

And then that gets us into next year where he can do bigger stuff like corporate tax reform and larger reforms to the tax code.

-- what do you think about that proposal.

Well I think -- that proposal if it the whole situation is telling -- we didn't have to be here we all saw this coming for months we knew it was coming.

And in -- -- house Republicans did act they act to stop the defense cuts and stop the tax hikes what's happened since then city Democrats have done nothing -- there and I think.

President Obama senator Reid they have to bear some responsibility here that they haven't moved any of this house passed legislation and it's time for President Obama and senator -- to act.

Well John actually just one thing -- -- -- -- Actually -- senate did pass a bill which protected.

The -- protected folks making 250 in last and small businesses from a tax increase that is collecting dust in the house right now.

Well -- -- -- let me throw back catcher because this is the same senate that hasn't passed a budget in three years.

Even the president's budget got no votes in the senate the last time around how can they lay all of the blame at the feet of the House of Representatives.

I would say look I think everyone has their shares in the blame what's going on here and and but what but I do think that.

-- -- seeing on the -- this it is -- almost a reluctance to take yes for an answer I mean the president has put forward a plan.

Which would result in about two trillion dollars in total spending cuts.

Protecting tax cuts for the middle class and small business it's 98%.

Of individuals 97% of small businesses.

He's talked about doing some entitlement reform.

I if I was a Republican I would say you know what that's good that's perfect I'll take it that some stuff that they've been working on for years and they have weren't able to accomplish -- under George Bush.

I just feel like the president has -- He has worked and tried to compromise -- John Boehner and John Boehner I think has to as well but he's got 8090 house Republicans who are just unwilling to do anything on.

Tax rates for the rich.

Bahrain -- how how do you how do you respond or how should John Boehner respond.

I really do like -- but I think he.

If you -- -- seems a little bit ridiculous you know house Republicans -- backed it and there's a reason for them to bring everybody back to DC right now.

Because -- still legislation pending in the senate they can't be brought up.

So I think the next few days what we should really be watching for some leadership from President Obama some leadership from Harry Reid in the senate and then I think we could maybe work until -- But I I do agree with -- that ever everyone shares a little bit of the blame here.

But I think right now we should be paid attention to the senate.

Is seen -- senate Democrats actually -- Doug -- you an interest in turn of phrase in your last answer you said the president has talked about doing some entitlement reforms.

Doesn't everybody in Washington acknowledge that entitlement program Social Security Medicare so for.

Are the big drivers of our nation's debt problem and and are going to have to be.

Tackled seriously what.

While Republicans ran millions and millions of dollars of ads against Democrats when we actually did reform Medicare as part of the Affordable Care Act we saved about 715 billion dollars.

And that was a talking point for Republicans over the last election so.

Getting lectures from Republicans on doing something on Medicare is kind of ridiculous when the only thing that they've done on Medicare is actually.

Broaden a prescription drug plan over the last ten years and made it bigger.

All right -- -- what's your response.

But I would think would -- the best to happen for the senate Democrats actually ask and then we could spend -- thirteen talking about corporate tax reform.

Increased government efficiency lower government spending but instead.

We've waited for Harry Reid the Democrats to act and now -- -- this last minute situation that I think have been totally avoided.

Aren't open but -- I think in this you know we who we weren't waiting on Harry Reid we're waiting on John Boehner who was trying to push this gimmick plan B plan for itself.

I think that that should be acknowledged there all right we're gonna have to leave the discussion there -- the fiscal cliff grows ever closer are we -- over we'll see.

Doug Darnell and Amos Snead thank you both for being one of the other nowadays thanks.

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