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Looming defense cuts raise national security concerns

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    Sen. Roy Blunt weighs in on spending problem

  • Duration 4:01
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In the meantime here's the big -- the Pentagon facing sweeping budget cuts which Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says would be a major blow to our national security those cuts would take effect at the beginning of march unless congress acts and Senator John McCain saying it's time for all sides to work something -- before -- it is too late.

Obviously I don't wanna see Texas increased.

But what I would like to see is the president call the leaders over two.

To the White House and say look we gotta solve this problem.

Sector Panetta outgoing secretary defenses when almost -- widely respected men.

Our person in Washington DC and he has been saying this will devastate our national security we are.

Republicans and Democrats are responsible for this new cliff and I'll take responsibility for for our other Republicans but we've got -- avoid we've got to stop it.

A lot more to say to and that's what does this -- Republican senator Roy Blunt from Missouri sir good morning -- morning -- that you're gonna hold a hearing tomorrow on the -- cuts what is your best solution.

-- my best solution at this point is I believe the cuts are gonna happen the president's insistent on tax increases or cuts and I think that means he gets.

Spending cuts about half of them are in the military.

I think the best solution is to now let.

The Defense Department target those cuts rather -- take across the board cuts.

And we're gonna have have we're gonna have those cuts I think they're gonna happen I'm not going to be for tax increases.

And I suspect.

There will be no tax was suggested be cleared this sequestration will happen that.

The Defense Department really hit with 500.

Million dollars in cuts well I think cuts will happen the president needs to decide now he wants these cuts to happen.

If he's willing to make some cuts in the out years on.

The entitlement programs so -- Social Security Medicaid Medicare last for another generation.

That's the kind of a compromise he could make if he wanted to.

I certainly agree with the Senator McCain that he ought to call the leaders down.

To the White House and figure out what needs to happen here so that we do the right thing in the right right way rather than the -- right thing in the wrong way.

Everybody knows we've got to reduce spending.

And we have to decide what spending we're gonna reduce.

At this point the spending there's going to be across the word in defense and non defense discretionary.

That's not the best way to take cuts but frankly.

If that's the only choice it's better than not getting the spending under control what Nancy Pelosi says it's a false argument say we have a spending problem.

I don't the president said something similar apparently the speaker Boehner that we don't have a spending problem we got a health care cost problem.

Of course Williams -- up front he's federal government now says that 24% of GDP.

He argues that Republicans walked away from a deal speaker Boehner has been on the opposite side of that for a couple years now saying that the president got cold feet.

When it came to be any a big deal and not force into sequestration.

Well I think the president had a great opportunity in November early December would get a lot of these things out of the way and he chose not to him it is time for.

The president to lead.

It was time for the president to lead late last year and we wouldn't be going now from.

One crisis to another you know when you when he refused to -- you allow yourself to be defined.

By crisis and when people think of the Obama administration that's what they're thinking about why is that we are constantly lurching.

From one crisis to another instead of solving these problems.

I think we should solve them last year I'm ready to solve them now.

But we did increase taxes last year.

On the group that the president said was the solution to solving the revenue problem.

I said million issued a civilian.

You get lost in these -- these days but it's a big issue to -- watching hearing tomorrow right Senator McCain suggested for every three retirees and federal government.

Just replace one -- that solves everything.

We'll see whether or not that idea gets traction in time senator thank you for your time on the hill today --

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