Sen. Paul: Both sides need to give in
Washington (CNN) - To reach a deal in Congress over the national debt, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said both political parties need to make concessions, excluding higher tax rates.
“The compromise is for conservatives to admit that the military budget’s going to have to be cut,” Paul said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “Liberals will have to compromise and will have to cut domestic welfare.”
“The compromise is where we cut, not where we raise taxes,” he added.
But Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner stressed the importance of not extending tax cuts on upper wage earners.
“The most important thing is what the president said this week, which is those tax cuts won’t be continued,” the New Yorker said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
When asked about the debt limit, the next major battle in Congress, Paul reiterated his stance that he would only vote for an increase in the $14.3 trillion limit if the legislation is passed with a balanced budget amendment and “say from here on out this is the last time we’re doing it.”
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has warned the ceiling, or legal limit the United States is allowed to borrow, will be reached by May 16.
But the Tea Party favorite said he was undecided over whether to use the congressional tactic known as a filibuster to delay the vote.
“I think that’s yet to be determined,” Paul told CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley. “I think we haven’t yet determined what our strategy will be, but I can tell you that the people of Kentucky elected me to shake things up; they didn’t elect me to raise the debt ceiling.”
Weiner said there are conditions that must be met to reach a deal over the debt limit.
“I think the debt ceiling should be passed as clean as possible. I know debt limits frequently have things attached, I understand that,” Weiner said. “But I have to tell you, if they (Republicans) wind up holding up Medicare, Social Security … it’s a non-starter. Democrats won’t vote for it.”
Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.
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no dummy, the people of KY elected you because they were probably drinking too much sunshine and theyobviously could care less about abusing women by your thugs.
I bet they saw the name paul on the ballot and thought it was your daddy.
Lots of talk for somebody who "really isn't a doctor", right?
He says that Congress needs to compromise, but that they won't touch the tax breaks to the wealthy. So when they say compromise they really mean only the Democrats have to give and not the Republicans? That's not compromising that's blackmail.
With out raising tax try to balance the budget or reduce deficit will be disaster. We can’t depend only on cutting.
We are working two jobs because only cuts not balancing our budget consider the gas price, insurances, groceries every thing going up except our salaries
Tax the rich. Tax the rich. Tax the rich.
Senator Paul's version is no compromise at all. Excluding higher taxes on the top income earners as one of the revenue generator options is unfair and unrealistic. Forcing senior citizens to pay more for their Medicare coverage and reducing Medicaid coverage for the most vulnerable members of society is unfair and morally wrong.
Saying "both sides need to compromise" then saying "except for these things" is not compromise.
Raud Paul you say both party need to Compromise and you turn right around and say you are not going to do away with the BUSH tax Cuts. You call that Compromise , WELL I DON"T. You want to take from the Middle Class ,the POOR and the OLD and give It to the RICH, Now how can you say that you Republican And Tea Party are Compromise. If you ask me All American People should have to go back and pay the Tax they was paying be for the BUSH tax cuts and that mean the RICH too. That Is all you TEA PARTY AND REPUBLICAN are all about Is take from the lower three class of people and than help the RICH and BIG BUSINESS to get RICHER. You TEA party and Republican have too go In 2012 ,because the American people are trier of your crap. And Quit calling the Rich people that Back the TEA PARTY the American people, It only count for about 20% and Dropping. The TEA PARTY lost a lot of people when these GOV back by the TEA PARTY took people right away. And now you want to take from the POOR AND THE OLD and give to the RICH. This CRAP won't fly.
45% of people pay no taxes in this country. Top 5% pay 44% of all taxes. Look it up. I saw a report where Obama is said to have taken $500,000 in tax deductions this past year. His buddy GE paid 0 in taxes last year. And all the liberals want to take up for Obama and the democrats while talking trash about the republicans. It looks to me like the democrats are misleading people as well as the republicans. We need to vote them all out and start over starting with the WH down. Stop raising taxes to spend more. This out of controll spending has got to stop. This country is broke and neither party will face up to it.
Obvioously not a business man, Paul does not know a simple principle of business- Price cuts are done just before you close your doors.
Our tax base is at its second lowest level in history- both times Great Depressions/Recessions have taken place.
Yes we need to cut spending, but if you cut the main ingredience out of a recipe, all you have is ingredience. We are a melting pot and the needs vary by individual. Make cuts AND raise prices ( taxes) – that is sound business.
He took Medicare payhments but hates any other social program that is not a direct benefit to him and his back pocket. He thinks business should be able to refuse service to race or ethnic groups they do not like. Seems like he represents the TEA Party nuts that are against anything except what they do not receive direct benefits and are dening their racism.
Why do we pay any attention to this Rand Paul fool or the billionaire owned and operated TEA party groups, less than 20% of population, and individuals? Idiots – one and all!
The argument of keeping the tax cuts for the rich MIGHT make sense, if it hadn't already proved to be an abject failure. During the Bush Administration,with the tax cuts, we lost 8 million jobs. Under Mr. Clinton, when the rates were what Obama wants to see them return to, we created 22 million jobs. The idea of continuing corporate welfare, when the top 25% of the corporations in this country already effectively pay no federal income tax – and keeping the handouts to the rich, who simply don't need them – would be ridiculous in itself, but the Republican idea of letting seniors and the poor pay for those handouts is despicable.
Rand Paul, we call what you have explained "choices" and not compromise! The choice of excluding higher tax rates is what the other side doesn't like!
Yes, Mr Paul! But the right has refused and seems to know only one word, "NO!" What ever happened to negotiate and compromise? I also, will fight if you plan to end Social Security as you have stated in the past! The teabuggers and the right wing extremists of the GOP are animals!
The Senator from Kentucky, Rand Paul, conveniently forgot about cutting corporate welfare, entitlements (Bush tax cuts) and Congress's wages, pensions and health benefits. Raising the cap on social security wage deductions is also very viable, but it really takes guts to do all of these and I doubt that this Republican has that attribute.
Why not freeze spending as is today and raise taxes ,problem solve. r educe the debt and keep all program in place as is.It do not take a Nuclear physicist to figure that out. .
["...both political parties need to make concessions, excluding higher tax rates..."]
And MOST Americans will agree to concessions but NOT excluding higher tax rates for the RICH!!! We will also NOT agree with killing the poor and seniors!!!
To the real Lib.
Today's report says that the top %% saw a cut in their overall taxes to only 17% of their income. Last time I looked I was paying 23% on my modest middle income!
"We must compromise. Except raising taxes." Just destroyed yourself man.
Fraud Paul and that Ryan GOD think they own this country.
Compromise doesn't cut it anymore....absolutes do.
What about corparate welfare and people welfare....republicans seen to be for corp. welfare but not for the welfare of under payed americans who cant pay their bills while some look at that returns from out sourceing....and laugh at the American way of life no wonder some dont want what we have....I SAY WHAT WRONG WITH STARTING THE DEBATE ABOUT CUTTING SPENDING WE CANT AFFORD WITH A GET THIS ....AN OUT SOURCEING TAX! If the forture 500 choice to pay others a dollar aday instead of paying there own people a fair wage lets tax them !
Senator Paul is stuck somewhere in the parent world – (i'm ok-you are not ok" ) of the Tea Party not adulthood.- Nad I am most diussappointment with Crowley's "so called" interview with the Donald- this was , in effect, a campaign commercal for Trump- why continue to give this fake politician – who revels in disrepeceting the President of the United States and therefore our Country, a platform when he really has nothing to say. Moreover Candy did not ask him one single probing question to challenge his outright vicious lies and slander – he is a disgrace and it is disgraceful for CNN to give him a platforn without challenge.
What he actually means is that "We want to get our shopping list of Socialist programs to kill cleaned out as fast as possible because we know that we're not going to get re-elected any time soon. Stop arguing with us!"
We will not GIVE IN Rand, You need to BACK OFF, NOW.
I saw this dude on candy crowly, this guy is not at all impressive to me...he talked no sense...i pity for n this idiot...