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What lies ahead for the 113th Congress?

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    Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich weighs in

  • Duration 11:08
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After a day of high drama on Capitol Hill congressman John Boehner of Ohio was reelected speaker of the house now.

-- just a few moments you gonna get directly from a man who previously held that job former speaker of the house Newt Gingrich.

But first today's result was announced following an afternoon that was marked by a series of very tense moments as nine fellow GOP members defected and voted for somebody.

Other than the embattled speaker -- that development nearly triggered a need for a second ballot.

Well while rumors have been circulating for days that Boehner might face a full on challenge from within his own party that ultimately proved not to be the case.

And in the end it was an emotional John Boehner who once again.

Was handed the gavel and asked to serve a second term.

As a speaker take a look.

Our government says build up too much debt.

Our economy is not producing enough jobs.

And these are not separate problems.

That's sixteen trillion dollars and rise in our national debt is draining free enterprise and we -- mean the ship of state.

Our hearts we know it's wrong to pass this debt onto our kids and our grandkids.

Now.

We have to be well it.

Truly -- and to make this problem right.

-- because reelection comes just a few short days after conservative members of the GOP caucus expressed frustration over his handling of the fiscal cliff deal however.

Top Boehner aides are now telling the hill newspaper.

That the days of one on one closed door negotiations with President Obama are over instead the speaker is now planning on quote.

Re committing himself and the house to what we have done which is working through regular order and letting the house work its well.

So John Boehner claims this is essentially his 2013 resolution and that this is the direction which he wants to take the GOP majority in the house.

Now everybody claims -- the Republicans they're the ones that are divided.

What about the Democrats are there even still any Democrats real Democrats in America.

Now it's about time the folks like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi well they've got to make -- choices while once a brawl or they European socialists or are they Democrats in other words are they gonna go along with the socialist president.

Who believes -- no spending cuts he spends like a drunken sailor.

-- they got an irresponsible Democrats who love their children grandchildren in the country.

Now it's very clear what the president is it's very clear how the president acts how the president treats called bipartisanship.

And how this president spend your money.

So will people on the other side of the aisle who call themselves Democrats are they gonna really act like Democrats or will they fall in line -- -- European socialist.

The -- will they follow or they gonna stand up what's in the best interest of America will they continue to spend any amount of money.

Damaged the country -- the future for your kids or they finally ready to stand up to President Obama do what's right and stop being puppets of this administration.

Now at some point very soon Democrats will have to decide if they are the party.

Of moderate Democrats Clinton Democrats or the party of Obama meeting radical socialist Democrats.

-- they need to decide what they wanna do to the want to restore America or transform America.

Now they have to decide if they want to avoid the fate of Greece or become like Greece.

So let's be clear if they cannot stop themselves then it's up to these Republicans to stand strong to stand strong for our kids for America.

To save America.

Joining me now with reaction is former speaker of the house former presidential candidate Newt Gingrich.

Mr.

speaker welcome back to -- It's good to do if you and a happy new year happy -- -- mistake all right so your thoughts on all that happened today a little drama.

On the house floor -- not unusual to you.

Now I -- through a election in -- Well we had eight members who voted present or refused to vote.

On the on the final vote I still have to be speakers Boehner did today.

But.

I think the last two days may turn out.

To be a very healthy turning point.

The fact that a 150 house Republicans.

Voted no.

Is a very good sign the fact that John Boehner.

Has indicated -- that he is going to revert to regular order go through the regular process.

Legislate out in the open has a very good sign.

And both of these give me some hope.

That we may well see the house Republicans begin to rediscover.

Their role in the constitutional process.

-- you point out this is not a parliamentary system they have no obligation.

To get into closed door negotiations with President Obama.

They can legislate on their -- they can appropriate on their own they can have hearings and do investigations on their own.

They're a position where if -- will do their job and then let the president respond to them.

They can shape the environment for the next two years dramatically more than the Washington press -- thinks.

You know it's interesting -- we're on the same trajectory I agree with you I think this could turn -- to be a good thing.

But -- I think what would speaker Boehner say no more one on one talks we're gonna go through the usual process.

I think he's signaling OK I hear you loud and clear and I think he understands now that that the country voted.

For them to stop Obama's spending.

I mean Obama won we know that but so today.

And maybe the -- now he realizes that -- do you get that impression.

The -- Boehner and President Obama -- well that the Republicans.

And speak a guy.

-- -- any Boehner understands the reality which is that by almost two to one his own conference repudiated the agreement.

That there is enormous anger over the way this has been going.

-- I find it very very bad.

To have the secret negotiations.

And then have the senate step in at the last second.

Pass a bill nobody's read send it to the house ram it through the house this is exactly the opposite of why people.

In 2010.

Return the house Republicans -- majority.

The American people want to see business done out in the open take the example of the a bill that is being passed as an emergency measure for new York and New Jersey I was told this afternoon.

That the senate bill.

64%.

Of it.

Does not get spent in the next two years not towards what happened was senators saw a train coming through called emergency relief.

They decided they had a whole bunch of additional cars called pork for back home and the train now -- two thirds pork 13 ruling believable.

Well the house Republicans ought to pass the relief part of that bill will leave out the non -- parts they would save literally.

Two thirds of the cost of the bill could you.

-- -- that was a Republican president went into New Jersey.

Braced by Chris Christie.

And yet insert the set -- word about this I know -- blaming speaker Boehner but the president hasn't moved on an either or let.

Let let me ask you this what the Republican Party going forward because the fiscal cliff is over the the big test.

For the country right now is whether we're gonna continue to borrow 46 cents of every dollar and rob from our children and grandchildren that to me.

Is a defining moment we didn't save America or going to be Greece it seems to me.

62% of Americans favor across the board spending cuts.

Would -- be in the party's best interest do you think to be the party that says we're gonna stop robbing from our kids and make that case.

-- think if Republican Party begin the party of our children our grandchildren.

If the Republican Party said.

Because after all appropriation start in the house.

You have to have if the house doesn't appropriated it doesn't exist -- -- -- example the spending bill.

I I symbolize -- governor Christie's frustration yesterday but I would also say what the house Republicans ought to say is.

Billions.

For new York and New Jersey for relief but not one penny for pork.

And I think you could divide that bill up -- all of the -- parts of that bill.

That would have total of legitimacy doing it save the taxpayers about 35 billion dollars.

And then put the pressure back on the senate to explain that they really aren't interested in relieve their -- -- pork.

I think the country is disgusted.

With -- politicians who are spending their children and grandchildren's money and I think you would affect could have a winning issue.

I don't think it's ever been this dysfunctional so -- let me ask you some specific procedural issues.

So as -- I have no doubt the president probably emboldened by the election emboldened by the fiscal -- deal.

Is probably gonna push this this debt limit to the very last second.

So watch what should the posture be what should the strategy be what tactic should be employed.

By the Republicans knowing what they're dealing with in the president.

Well I think there -- three things house Republicans ought to do immediately.

The first is.

They should form an alliance with the thirty Republican governors.

24 of whom have Republican legislatures pivotal role -- -- 315 electoral votes are being governed by Republican governors.

51%.

Of the country was -- states that have Republican governors and Republican legislatures.

They're doing Smart things they have Smart reforms they're working to save money.

They're balancing their budgets and they have lots of ideas.

There should be a real alliance between the Republican governors in the house second they ought to have a whole series of hearings on waste of the federal government so people get seconds.

By the way this government is throwing away our money and our children grandchildren money and third they ought to start passing common sense bills right now.

If we passed a bill to use the government's land.

For oil and gas and other natural resources.

The same way you would the private sector we could generate fifty -- sixty billion dollars a year additional revenue.

Without a single tax increase that's the kind of -- we wanna have for responsible development of a balanced budget over the next few years.

I salute the strategy would be that they should go forward with their agenda what the president let the senate deal whether it.

And at that point they either say -- -- -- yeah and -- don't negotiate.

To start doing the right thing start -- the right things start letting up -- up on the senate side.

Focus on communicating back home.

You've got some 230 members who can communicate in their districts and in their states work with a thirty governors who can also communicate.

And then what the president respond to the things you're doing don't -- Iran and closed room with him where he can dominate the media from the White House.

Would you also agree that they have to be willing to shut the government down the least.

They some functions of the government they hate -- otherwise it'll show weakness and they won't be a little strike a good deal.

Well I think that they should be pretty -- from right here on about things that they're not gonna appropriate and agencies about a plan to be closed because they will get no money.

Out of Republican congress at the end of this fiscal year all right mr.

speaker was good to see and of course has immediately.

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