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Can Democrats and Republicans achieve a budget agreement?

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    Sen. Ben Cardin weighs in on spending vs. debt

  • Duration 4:50
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We should not have to move a third bill before the senate gets off their -- can be used to do so.

Your beta with a message -- senate Democrats from yesterday the White House now saying.

While the present albeit with four top congressional leaders on Friday but by then we will be officially in -- sequester -- Maryland democratic senator Ben -- on the finance committee back -- is here.

On America users and I do when senator and good morning.

Felt good to be with -- what what would you say the house speaker on that.

While personal bill that the senate will be voting on balance proposal today to substitute for sequestration.

Sequestration is bad for our country's -- for our economy it should be avoided.

-- we will have a balanced approach to deal with that that includes not only our revenues were also spending cuts in a way that achieves the deficit.

In a way that's rational rather than these irrational -- -- but you know has the -- the way it is right now comedies these cuts are gonna happen -- guess the initiation for the cuts will begin.

-- what what is your expectation in the month of march.

How -- we even know that the cuts are in effect.

What's a good question that does not really a -- it's more of a slow.

But I think you'll see it that there's already been an effect on that was small business leaders from Maryland.

On Monday and they told me they're not letting contracts are not hiring people they're not doing what they would normally do.

It's an -- you're gonna see a slowdown in our economy and national -- services that'll be delayed.

Whether it's calling to find out that your Social Security check or.

Whether it is standing -- -- longer line as you go through the airports you'll feel it but the most important impact will be on our economy and this is avoidable.

What we need is Democrats or Republicans -- and am working on an agreement that's what we should be doing.

Com what we're gonna technology that we're gonna notice that the month of march and in April there is no further deal as to whether or not that that that is the case -- and you'll be watching to.

Would you agree we have a spending problem.

Oh absolutely there's us.

We have a deficit problem and that deficit needs to be solved.

By reducing spending we've already done this on the discretionary side I agree with -- our Republican friends we need to take a look at mandatory spending need to take a look at health care.

Absolutely okay and evaluated let's -- -- -- -- a problem -- in the -- -- problem to right -- we're in agreement -- -- that.

Yes -- why then would it be that folks are trying to save two cents on the dollar.

-- which is pretty much what this sequester announced.

With two cents on the dollar of the overall budget but on the Bill -- Part of the budget is exempt from many of these cuts so it's concentrated on a very small part of our budget.

Which is already gone through significant.

Reduction you know you have to you're right about that but you know within even your own budget you know for the senate office that you run there in Washington.

You know how you can figure out a way to cut.

And I here's CEO's saying you know of our -- of our board came to us and said they need to save 2% the next calendar year baby kick in their heels up.

-- there -- 2% we could do that that's easy.

Again to 2% float along less than half of the budget but that we've already done those cuts.

If we -- we need to do is get our mandatory spending under control -- there's some sensible cuts that we can make.

In spending we need to do it we need to do it in a rational way not an irrational crossed the work -- That exempts most of government spending from the reduction strategy do you think it's acceptable senator for the Democrats.

On that side of the hill.

To not produce a budget for more than four years but your view on.

Well we we had.

The effect of a budget because of the agreement we reached.

On the debt ceiling increase but we should have a budget I agree with you and I think you're gonna find.

That in the next couple weeks we will be voting on a budget for the United States -- I've certainly -- our leadership to bring up a budget I think we -- What what explains why it hasn't happened.

I think as a as a pragmatic answer to that is that because we had the summit agreement.

On that the scope of how much we could -- we've imposed spending caps that acted as instructions to the Appropriations Committee.

But I agree I think we should do regular buddies you don't know what a lot of people think a lot of people think you were just hide your cards are not -- your hand.

Because at a funeral politics is there truth to that.

I'll tell ya I got elected descent to make decisions I'm ready to vote I think we should have a budget -- -- -- take up issues.

We should -- senate do what it normally does free and open debate senator I I appreciate you coming on today don't care we're gonna keep the same touch -- -- officer right.

Then go party with you that Democrats at a Maryland -- but -- others think like you.

By golly -- could be many more deals in the in the near future.

But Washington is the way it is at the moment thank you senator we'll talk again then --

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