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Former governors offer ideas to balance Washington book

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    How did state leaders solve problems in their states?

  • Duration 4:27
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A point six former governors three Democrats three Republicans.

Guys who are no longer in office cities of the state or federal level.

Give them two hours and lunch and then had this figured out before they even get to the fried pies for dessert I promise you that each of these guys.

Has had to trim more than two and a half percent from a budget before.

OK so I invited three of -- who have balanced budgets and who have worked with legislatures.

Republican Frank Keating of Oklahoma Democrat Bob Wise of West Virginia.

And Republican Michael Leavitt of Utah law.

Great to have all.

You guys here I pulled.

I'm.

All right -- -- again I'm out I'll start frank with you because as you worked with a legislative body.

We just saw for the first time this week the president.

Actually sitting down with some of the Republicans to start talking about specifics.

Were you surprised that he took him this long to realize that you have to build relationships.

And talk to people in order to bring a solution.

Yeah I really was and Mike because as you well know.

You're -- -- Oklahoma when I was governor both houses of the legislature -- Democrat.

And yet I met every week Monday morning for breakfast with the democratic and the Republican leadership.

And -- -- them what we wanted to do pass right to work make children take -- and of course is in school get rid of welfare trend of these sales of the trial bar.

Build out the infrastructure and that required a dialogue in a debate and resolution.

Sort of -- Intel the the barrel is gone over the -- so to speak is to wait too long this is really surprise me the president -- an early on.

Months ago shut the door sat down it at that table with these individuals debated discussed and resolved very surprised.

And Bob Wise you worked with a lot of Republicans in your state has a democratic governor of West Virginia.

You know my guess is that you also had to sit down and have tedious.

Sometimes frustrating meetings.

With the Republicans of your state but you've still did that and -- to get things done.

To talk about the process and and how it.

Is not going out making speeches but it's about.

Building those relationships with people that you may not even like.

Well actually Mike Levitt gave me some of the best advice -- the new governor school that he hosted he said.

Even if the legislature is the same party as you -- just remember you're gonna have to work with them.

As a separate entity in that's true.

Look what I learned during the last recession and all four of us on the show served at the same time during the last recession.

What I learned was when the -- is in the ditch everybody has to jump in to get it out.

It's -- what I found was that people -- willing.

When approach -- willing to stretch and do things that otherwise perhaps philosophically ideologically that -- not been willing to do before.

But a lot got accomplished and we got my first acted it actually the day I was sworn -- I had to issue a 3% across the board executive cut.

And I might add that that 3% exactly 6% because it was six months into the budget year.

But it bit.

But -- you have to bring people together I think sequestration my hope is that since both parties the Republicans Democrats president congress said it's not gonna happen.

It did happen and now I think everyone recognizes it's time to work together.

Michael Leavitt you work not only as a governor review -- you worked.

Heading to federal agencies the EPA's administrator.

And then -- health and human services as its secretary.

I've -- could you find 2.4 percent.

Budget cuts in agencies like EPA and health and human services.

Without having to close the White House for two wars and other things such as that.

-- there's no question.

Mike that could be done.

They're really two problems here one is that there -- approaching the problem as politics as opposed to a collaborative problem solving.

I I think actually that the the president was offered by the Republicans.

The flexibility to be able to move budgets within or remove line items within the budget which means they can move the money around and he.

Apparently didn't want that that's that that's that a major -- the president was was offered but apparently didn't want.

All of you guys worked with budget you balance your budget because the loss that he had to and so you did it he work with different legislatures.

When we come back -- talk to each of view about the impact of obamacare.

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