Blame game underway in the efforts to avoid 'fiscal cliff'

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The last ditch efforts to avoid the fiscal cliff the deadline hours away now.

If some kind of -- deal isn't hammered out by midnight tonight tax hikes that would impact every American plus massive spending cuts kick in.

The blame game already in full swing on both sides of the -- This is exactly the wrong time for us took over this Clough our membership businesses.

Frustrated as the American people were sworn to serve.

Because we understand and continue to.

Be befuddled.

Why we can't bring up proposals to put the country back to work.

Why we can't deal with a tax cut.

-- for the middle class.

We've done our work and we're still waiting for the president and Harry Reid engage on this -- -- concerned about the lack of urgency here.

And we all know we're running out of time -- Far too much at stake.

For political gamesmanship.

We need to protect the American family issue and businesses from this looming -- talk.

Joining us now to talk about all this Alexis McGill Johnson executive director of American values institute.

And Ron bond -- a guy who knows how things get handled in the House of Representatives he was former communications director to house speaker pastor.

Of that house Ron is saying look we've sent spending bills over to the senate and they have languished so -- -- their turn it.

Is that a workable strategy I mean -- are Americans gonna say OK the houses done its job.

Well here's here's I think that if we don't get a deal even a small -- I think that Americans are gonna blame Washington in general you know the president.

Try to blame Republicans and over the weekend.

You know on a Sunday talk show.

And I don't think that that's the -- voters -- and I think they're gonna say you know what Democrats Republicans you're not getting anything done.

This is you know we we elected and we reelect -- President Obama because.

We wanted him to go on a path forward but it's not happening and it you know and I think if the markets crash.

Edit it it it'll scare a lot of people and I think that in taxes will go up I think you're gonna point a -- -- big problem for -- Party Alexis Harry Truman had the famous buck stops here desk some sign on his desk who should President Obama and get that out of you know the Smithsonian or wherever it resides right now on.

And take the responsibility himself look I think the president has been have been showing a lot of leadership around -- and and I think that that where the American people are gonna do is they are going to look at this in the much larger contacts.

Since the president has been an office.

The the house Republicans in particular have been trying to.

-- economy in the budget deficit around the presidents snack and and and instead of trying to lead and figure out how to grow the economy and build.

Build a better opportunity for all Americans and -- I I think it it's not just about that that the buck stopping with the president of the president's been doing all he can to really push and -- the the senate met and the house Republicans you know in the right direction but I think it -- the really the bucks for firm the American voter is gonna stop with the with the house Republicans and and John Boehner and Eric Cantor in particular.

Well that's what we're talking about but but let me play for you what does senator Tom Harkin said just a bit ago we -- the senate session this hour.

With majority leader Harry Reid who basically said that we're still talking but no progress are no real progress to report didn't say much frankly.

And then senator Harkin took -- micron here's what he had this.

If we're gonna have some kind of a deal the deal must be one that really does favor the middle class the real world class boats that are Macon.

30506070000.

Dollars a year.

That's the real middle class -- And as I see this thing developing.

Quite frankly.

As I've said before no deal was better than a bad deal -- a -- like a very bad deal way to shape -- up.

This around what about that plan B bill that the house passed or or or were you know -- what was considering that and that there would have raised taxes on on those making a million dollars and up.

Well that's that's what's confusing me is that is that we want Republicans want to save taxpayers is many taxpayers is possibly wanna save them money.

At the same time we've been looking for entitlement cuts we've been looking for spending cuts.

To make sure that you know we can.

Paid for increasing -- -- and you know that's why we're having a focus on a small deal and I do think that there is a realistic small deal won't get.

Rule prevent taxes going up for those making -- for 2004000.

Dollars or last.

Democrats want to -- or less I think what we're trying to do is save more people money.

Who have small business it was -- employ people.

And you know what next year when we deal to sequester which we haven't yet in this deal which were unlikely to end when we have the -- let limit increase which we have to deal with.

Republicans are more leverage to demand spending cuts demand entitlement -- for right now we're focused on saving taxpayers' money Alexis.

You know you you mentioned that in in your view it says speaker Boehner Boehner and Republicans in congress -- get the blame but.

You know as one of those Republicans said this morning on Fox News Channel he was elected to reduce spending in Washington.

And there are hundreds of Republicans who who feel the same way so why should they be forced to go with the spending package that the president wants just because he's the president.

Well because the president was reelected as well -- and they all were that's my IPO I understand that I'm at bat but I think that that the presidents larger message around increasing taxes on wealthy Americans to help us.

Deal with some of our our debt challenges.

Is -- that -- this control.

Seen that that went through his entire election cycle and so.

It's either Republican how is in particular has been focused on trying to -- -- to prevent taxes from increasing in trying to protect.

Essentially 2% of Americans 2% of Americans and having their taxes go up.

When really it is as senator -- that it really is about.

Those people those teachers those firefighters those people who are actually supporting the American economy and in very real ways and in so until we can come to deal.

That doesn't include.

That the kinds of cuts to spending that would affect very lightly I mean I think that's what we're not talking in the spending.

Conversation and these entitlement cuts actually have a meaningful impact on their lives in -- that -- doesn't seem like during -- forward.

And as you know those you know -- the increase on the top 2% really isn't gonna do much to reduce the deficit if it seems to be the spending problem -- they're gonna have to attack but.

That's a discussion for another day Alexis McGill Johnson run -- thank you both.

Thanks so thanks so much.

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Blame game underway in the efforts to avoid 'fiscal cliff'

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