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WI lawmaker on why he voted against the 'fiscal cliff' deal

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    Rep. Sean Duffy speaks out

  • Duration 6:38
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Joining me now Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy Shaun welcome yeah.

You know I want to say thank you and I admire.

For having the courage to vote against a deal that you just didn't feel like was right why did you vote against the fiscal cliff.

Did the old thing good president vote yes and -- come to -- I'm kind of I think you're right on the governor right -- I'm unbalanced you may have some good things real the -- in our tax -- trying to bring certainty to those.

We avoided the dairy -- tells a good thing but on balance we didn't cut spending.

We extended unemployment.

Insurance and are gonna spend another thirty billion dollars in the next year.

We have to get serious -- spending reform and I think your point I mean.

-- -- the real victims of this policy.

It's not.

It is not anyone in this generation it -- -- that's a little kids it's -- preschoolers it's -- kindergartners -- second graders.

They're the ones that are gonna inherit a lower standard of living in from the fiscal irresponsibility of politicians today.

We have to get our act together.

We borrow.

-- 43 cents of every dollar that we spend in if you don't have politicians what will on the standard for the president who has no interest.

In reforming the way you -- -- -- his first proposal to us.

Was to borrow -- -- that the tax one point six trillion dollars.

And they -- not reduce the deficit but to add in another stimulus bill -- fifty billion dollars in 2013.

He's a classic tax and spend liberal.

We have to change our ways there was one.

Great hope left -- -- -- -- and we can do what we have to get our act together the precursor debt many have a seat -- this vote being.

It to the debt ceiling fight that still ahead.

Will that result.

In the house saying look we're not gonna continue to just let you borrow money if you have no intention of stopping the run away spending play.

Am I I'm just going from -- fresh from here to -- software have been for two years a lot of us.

Thought that that Barack Obama would behave like Bill Clinton once he lost big and that first.

Off election year -- 2010 -- become the center.

He didn't do that.

And so now you see our house conference that is I was just there yesterday.

They are more focused than ever think in gauge in this fight whether it's gonna be doing the debt limit debate that's gonna come in two months.

Or we have -- -- our debate which is the government is only funded through the end of march of this year -- to fund the government for the rest of the year.

World and have another opportunity for spending fight.

But Tom you have people.

That are now ready to engage in a way like never before to make sure we root -- we were -- spending and save this country.

John mentioned that one of the things he did sponsor was a piece of legislation that said you're gonna freeze the pay for members of congress and I think a lot of people America would say Bravo in fact if you don't.

How to -- got.

And get you did it's just such frustration that people -- watching congress.

People knew this was coming everyone in Washington knew that you had this deadline.

Nobody seemed to get serious about it until about midnight on the 31 of December -- two point Simpson Bowles had -- A -- had to admit recommendation that we should have a three year pay freeze for federal workers excluded military -- we did -- -- two -- to bill to extend -- for the third year.

It passed the house as usual the senate and pick it up in the president came forward and he.

By executive order had offered everyone a pay -- we dealt with that -- fiscal cliff.

What looking at the deal how is negotiated in the fiscal cliff.

It was done at 2 o'clock in the morning I knew -- received.

So -- half of America was sleeping on the other half was in the bag.

-- comment and no one knew what was happening and that's not the way good policy should work but I think because the president wasn't willing to negotiate with us honestly.

-- moving forward I think I think the speaker and a lot a lot of Americans are angry at him I think he's done a good job.

That the speaker understands that the house has to actually work as well you can't put 235.

Guys in a room and negotiate.

The house has to put forward legislation that we do suspending reform spending.

In -- the -- lemon and fixes the CI this coming up and if we do it and and allowed to work as well.

America can see how it works and what our plans are.

And and the senate must become a dozen the president does well great we'll resolve it but if not -- gonna have a another -- aren't.

Will there be -- possibility to shut down at least of -- of part of the government and nobody wants to see the entire government shut down I mean and that's not something that anyone desires.

But we don't want to continue to see this.

Just ignoring the reality of an economic disaster I don't want to predict that governor of -- ought to say that our conference is is more focused than ever.

We are more -- than ever to make sure we reduce spending and some believe that the president doesn't he isn't any interest in reform in it and if he doesn't come the table with us.

And negotiate with us that is a possibility.

But if you took him at face value the president says listen I wanna I wanna have a bipartisan approach.

That is balanced one where I get more revenue right and he got that in this deal and then he wants to reduce spending.

Let's hope that's just not words is gonna come the table with us and actually negotiate and a fair and honest way and if he does.

We can avoid any government shut down any more clips and we can put America on a trajectory of -- -- we save our next generation have to pay.

For this responsibility.

But -- -- look at the last two years I'm not gonna hold my breath governance.

It's going to be a challenge for if you did you'd be turning blue very -- not -- the other day when you were sworn in for your new term speaker Boehner was there to do it.

He has a beautiful family that lovely wife and six wonderful children.

And and I just got to show this this is the speaker after the swearing in he's trying so diligently.

To talk to -- what are your daughters who wants nothing to do with -- -- I wonder had she.

Had -- been talking to Nancy Pelosi or something.

Watch this she just says no I don't want any of this is just priceless its stock.

Drop and roll.

Get away from this guy.

We have six kids and we wanted to go in and taken a picture with them and if you have kids you know that never run away as -- That good to speak it was great he said listen I think you're one of my conference I'm I'm behind a lot of -- from a it was priceless and you know I think it's one of the things that that I love about you most is your dedication.

To your family.

And the reason that you wanted to go to congress because you realize it if you don't stand for their future they don't have one.

So I hope that you never lose that -- is quite frankly all the politics in the world isn't worth.

Losing a generation of Americans which I fear we're gonna do -- we don't get our spending that's -- Thank you tiger and John W.