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Inhofe proposes plan to minimize damage of spending cuts

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    GOP senator seeks Pentagon flexibility

  • Duration 5:31
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After the wire -- you know on this whole sequester situations so the president has now invited the congressional leaders of the White House.

So they can chat about what they should deal about these automatic spending cuts that are gonna kick and in now about 24 hours at least the very beginning of that process of the top leaders from both sides of the aisle.

We'll get together at the White House that's gonna happen tomorrow on Friday as -- see pictured here will be in attendance in the meantime senator James in hop has an idea.

How about how to fix this situation.

He's the ranking member on the armed services committee and he joins me now senator welcome good to have you here this morning.

-- nicely with -- Martha let me correct something that's been said and this is not a new idea we actually put this together.

So it's been five weeks ago my feeling was this this president is already virtually devastated the military.

And it sequestration -- -- on top of that that would be a trillion dollars taken out in that ten year period so what I did five weeks ago.

Saying look if it's inevitable we're gonna have sequestration and those -- in the military.

Let's see if we instead -- kept the same amount that allow this service chiefs army navy air force Marines guard.

Make a determination within those tests as to what could be less painful it is still have the cuts they're all enthusiastic about it and that's oldest.

-- me that it's.

As seems like a pretty simple idea in -- in the president and Leon Panetta before.

He left the Department of Defense hat you know talked about how devastating -- -- -- we now.

That this is not a hammer that has to come down in the way that it has been designated as we know that the White House also has silly way to sort of make adjustments and and recommendations and to have these cuts are made.

-- stated that all of these different military branches are on board with with her own -- -- -- -- their -- red marker out and slash some things to make up for this money is that right.

Martha I am I asking two questions five weeks ago I said.

First of all if you could be selective and had the same top line would it be less devastating to that your branch of military they'll sit enthusiastically yes.

Interested can you do it for five weeks they said yes -- they've been working on this for four or five weeks and it should not be partisan.

This thing that bothers me we're gonna be voting on this today.

And it did this should not be a partisan -- it.

This is not a fix that is going to increase the amount of letting versed in the period of time it merely as you've you're gonna cut.

Cut where does that -- candidate.

That's gonna try to do and it can't get up and how to play tennis but that -- -- -- answer these people -- who say that this is an imperial presidency.

That's nothing could be further from the truth because.

We have a congressional rejection of this building to this.

We also say that the president has to do it for the services have to do it consistent with the bill that was passed.

By congress it is the national defense authorization act so.

I don't know whether you'd say that because there's -- point.

Well in the word is that this proposal can't pass in the senate.

That the democratic proposal.

Also it looks thinking it can't pass.

If that's on that and -- response from Harry Reid or from the White House to this idea that each branch -- can -- out the red pen and do this on their on.

Well that first vote did that kid happening if you see this does essentially.

That in terms of getting there -- in that and making it happen.

That if he feels strongly about that with arguments he's using I would say.

Harry Reid except this -- I'm sorry that this -- considered on the authorities to few minutes -- a couple of hours.

As a Republican alternative.

They shouldn't be a Republican alternative this is -- logical way to meet a crisis can minimize the damage to our military.

But what is and I'm forgive me if you've stated this but what was Harry reads the wrist has he responded to this specific idea what wouldn't you like about it.

We see I went to Harry Reid first -- looking over a month ago and in it in fact he referred me to Dick Durbin any city thinks it's a good idea.

But I think we're getting a little bit.

It's getting pars there and in -- I've talked to a number of Democrats who like our approach.

And by the way probably started they'll have Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania came in and -- -- and off to -- bill.

That it should be easy -- -- to be in several Democrats bill.

But that's one of the partisan problems we can't we'll have to wait and see what had them -- That -- look at this as of the day is not just a Republican bill does to me to -- there's no downside to do it there.

It's even last year and a lot of a lot of times there what what do you expect to indicate that ten hour what does this meeting at any light at the White House tomorrow.

But McConnell and policy and that Boehner are all in there with with the president went wait what's gonna happen -- Martha I can only judge from what the meetings have been before by the way have been spared those meetings I have -- it -- again.

That they are gonna get in there and -- each side is gonna say.

How can we do this the way that is on our part now look what the president's been doing he's been trying to tell -- -- -- sequestration.

It's been there in the talk of congress -- didn't necessarily say the Republicans and congress and I think this -- that sent some of the Democrats in congress so I think.

Coming from this is going to be an effort by the president to try to combat -- -- that's gonna make him look good in -- somehow.

Maybe.

He might have no idea I don't know about them that it's going to be -- and we know that.

We'll see senator thank you very much for -- -- us today have a good day of the season regular season.

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