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BOTHERE.
BUT FIRST OUR SPEAKER, JOHN
BOEHNER.
IN WATCHING WHAT IS GOING ON
IN TERMS OF THESE TALKS SHOULD
THE AMERICAN PEOE WORRY THAT
MATTERS HAVE HIT THE SKIDS
WITH THE TALKS OR IS THIS A
POLITICAL DANCE AND BOTH SIDES
Y INSULTING THINGS AND IT
GETS RESOLVED?
>> WE WANT IT RESOLVEED BEFORE
AUGUST 2nd.
E NEED IS FOR THE
WHITE HOUSE TO GET SERIOUS
ABOUT CUTTINGPENDING.
I'VE BEEN WARNING THE
WHITE HOUSE FOR MONTHS WE NEED
TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.
YET, THEY SAY ALL THE RIGHT
THINGS.
WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING THE
REAL CUTS ON THE TABLE THEY'VE
BEEN UNWILLING.
>> GRETA: IS THE PRESIDENT NOT
TELLING YOU WHAT HE WANTS TO
CUT OR IS WILLING TO CUT?
IS HE SAYING HERE THE NUMBER
BUT I'M IN THE GOING TO TELL
YOU WT IT IS?
>> WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A
NUMBER.
AS I SAID YESRDAY, IT IS
LIKE DEALING WITH YELLOW.
IT KEEPING WOBBLING HE HAVE --
IT IS LKE DEALING WITH JELLO.
IT KEEPING WOBBLING
EVERYWHERE.
THE PRESIDENT WANT TO
INCREASE TAXES.
HE WOULD NEVER GET SERIOUS
ABOUT WHAT HE WAS WILLING TO
CUT AND HOW FAR HE WAS WILLING
TO GO.
>> GRETA: U DON'T WANT TO GO
TO CAMP DAVID THIS WEEKENDOU
WANT TO STAY IN TOWN AT THE
WHITE HOUSE AND SO DOES LEADER
PELOSI, CORRECT?
YOU BOTH SAID NO TO THE OFFER?
>> TRE WAS NO OFFER.
THERE WAS JUST SOME RUMOR
FLOATING AROUND.
I MADE CLEAR I DIDN'T THINK
THAT WAS GOING TO BE
PRODUCTIVE.
>> GRETA: THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
MADE IT PLAIN WHAT THEIR
POSITION IS, NO HIGHERAXES,
RIGHT?
>> THE CUTS HAVE TO EXCEED THE
INCREA IN THE DEBT LIMIT.
NO TAX INCREASES.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE REAL
CONTROLS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE
THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
SOMETHING LUKE A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDME.
>> GRETA: I THINK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, IF I MAY BE SO BOLD, A
LITTLE BORED WITH PATCHES AND
WOULD LIKE A SOLUTION,
WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
>> A REAL SOLUTION.
>> GRETA: ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT SENATOR McCONNELL
SUGGESTED A THREE PART PROCESS
DIFFERENT STAGES.
ARE YOU OPSED TO THAT?
DOES THAT SOLVE IT OR DOES
THATUSH IT OFF?
>> SENATOR McCONNELL DESCRID
THIS AS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT.
NO ONE NTS THE FEDERAL
GORNMENT TO DEFAULT.
AS MITCHcCONNELL SAID HIS
PROPOSAL WAS A LAST-DITCH
EFFORT IF WE COULDN'T COME TO
AGREEMENT.
IT IS NOT MY PREFERED OPTION.
I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
SOLVE OUR SHORT TERM AND LONG
TE DEBT ISSUE.
THAT MEANS, THE BIG DEAL.
THIS IS THE MOMENTF
OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS THE WINDOW THAT PEOPLE
VE BEEN WAITI FOR, FOR
SOMETIME.
WHERE BOTH PARTIESAN SIT
DOWN AND RESOLVE THISEM,
CE AND FOR ALL.
WE KNOW AT THE PROBLEMS ARE.
WE SPEND TOO MUCH.
THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT GET
SERIOUS ABOUT CUTTING
SPENNG.
>> GRETA: THERE'S BEEN E-MAILS
BACK AND FORTH, YESTERDAY
MONEY THE MEDIA THAT THE
PRESIDENT T UP AND MARCHED
OFF AND SENATOR HARRY REID ON
THE FLOOR REFERS TO LEADER
CANTOR AS CHILDISH.
IS THAT WHAT HAS DETERIORATED
TO A BIT OF NAM CALLING?
>> I THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS
FRUSTRATED YESTERDAY.
EVERYONE OF US AROUN THE TAKE
ARE FRUSTRATED.
THE PRESIDENT GOT FRUSTRATED
AND LEFT ABRUPTLY.
>> GRETA: APPROPRIATELY OR
INAPPROPRIATELY?
>> I THINK IT WAS FINE.
I THINK HE DECIDED THE MEETING
WAS OVER AND GO UP AND LEFT.
>> GRETA: WAS THERE ANY
INDICATION THE MEET SOMETHING
OVER, WE'LL TALK TOMORROW OR
WAS IT JUST I'M OUT OF HERE?
>> WE HAD ALREADY DISCUSSED
MEETING TODAY.
THE PRESIDENT IS FRUSTRATED.
MY GOODNESS, THE REST OF US
ARE FRUSTRATED TOO.
I'VE BEEN PUSHG THE
PRESIDENT ALL YEAR TO ADDRESS
THIS IN A BIG WAY.
I DON'T WANT TO DO SOME HALF
HEARTED THING, SOME HALF BAKED
GIMMICK.
WE'VE GOT A PROEM.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SENT US
HERE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
WHY N'T WE DO WHAT WE ARE
SUPPOSED TO DO, THE PROBLEM.
>> GRETA: WHEN YOU IN THE ROOM
MEETING AND THE REPUBLICANS
HAVE LAID OUT WHAT WANT.
AND YOU HAVE TOLD ME WHAT THAT
IS.
THE PRESIDENT, DOES HE SAID,
OKAY I'M WILLING TO DO THIS
AND THEN DOESN'T TELL YOU WHAT
-- I TAKE IT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE IN SOME WAY TO BOTH
PARTIES WHAT CUTS ARE MADE IN
WHAT AREAS.
>> WHATEVER SUGGESTED, IT GETS
DEBATETO NO END.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE, THE ROOM IS
TOO BIG.
TOO MANY PEOPLERYING TO
NEGOTIATE WHAT IS A VERY
DIFFICULT, AND WILL BE A
DIFFICULT AGREEMENT.
THERE'S TOO MA PEOPLE IN
THERE POURING COLD WATER ON
EVERY EA THAT GETS THROWN ON
THE TABLE.
>> GRETA: I SUECT ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS THAT YOU HAVE, WHILE
YOU PERSONALLY MAY LIKE
SOMETHING OR NOT, YOU HAVE TO
COME BACK AND SELL IT TO THE
USE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
IT ISN'T QUITE AS EASY AS WHAT
YOU MIGHT WANT AND WHAT THE
PRESIDENT MIGHT WANT.
>> IF WE ARE GOING TO COME TO
AGREENT THERE'S GOING TO BE
PLENTY OF DIFFICULTY ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE.
BUT, I THINK IT IS TIME TO DO
AS MUCH CUTTING AS WE CAN.
OTHERWISE, OUR DEBT IS GOING
TO CONSUME OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY.
IT IS NOT GOOD.
>> GRETA: HAS THE PRESIDENT
GIVEN YOU A SPECIFIC NUMBER?
>> NO, HE HAS NOT.
>> GTA: WHAT DOEHE SAID
WHEN YOU WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER?
>> IT DEPENDS
I'VE EN ASKING THE PRESIDENT
FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS,
MR. PRESIDENT, PUT YOUR PLAN
ON THE TAKE.
>> GRETA: AND HE SAYS?
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
NO, MR. PRESIDENT LET'S PUT
YOUR WHOLE PLAN.
WHAT DO YOU WAN US TO DO?
HE WON'T TELL US.
>> GRETA: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF
THAT?
YOU BOTH NEED TO KNOWEACH
OTHER'S POSITION, BARGAINING
POSITION.
YOU NEED SOMETHING TOEGIN
WORKING FROM.
>> THAT'S THE DIFFICULTY.
THAT'S WHY W ARE WHERE WE ARE
NOW.
>> GRETA: BACK TO MY QUESTION,
SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE HIT THE
SKIDS.
THIS IS LIKE COME AUGUST 2nd,
WE ARE GOING INTO A WHERE WE
PASS THE DEBT CEILING.
>> NO ONE WANTS TO GO THERE.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE
AS A COUNTRY.
WE ARE NOT SURE WAS AFTER
AUGUST 2nd.
ANKLY, THERE IS NO REASON TO
GET TO AUGUST 2nd, WITHOUT AN
AGREEMENT.
ALL IT IS GOING TO TAKE IS
COURAGE.
COURAGE FROMEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS.
AND REAL COURAGE FROM THE
PRESIDT.
>> GRETA: THE CONGRESSWOMAN
BACHMANN TALKED TO ME LAST
NIGHT ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.
THE PRESIDENT SAID COME AUGUST
2nd, MAYBE THE CHECKS WON'T GO
OUT.
DOES THE MONEY FROM THE SOCIAL
SECURITY COME FROM A DIFFERENT
ACCOUNT, ESSENTIALLY?
SO THAT EVEN I WE DO HIT THE
DEBT CEILING AND THERE'S SOME
GOVERNME SHUTDOWN, THOSE
CHECKS STILL GO OUT BECAUSE
THE REVENUE FROM THEM IS FROM
PEOPLE WKING?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
THE OTHER DAY IT -- AT THE END
OF THE DAY IT ALL COMES OUT OF
THE GENERAL FUND.
THE GENERAL FUND IS EXPECTED
TO BE OUT OF CASH, COME AUGUST
3rd OR AUGUST 4th.
THEN THE TREASURY SECRETARY
WOULD HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS
ABOUT WHAT TOPAY AND WHATNOT
TO PAY.
>> GRETA: IS THERE ANY
DISCUSSION WHEN YOU MEET WITH
THE PRESIDENT ABOUT WASTE,
FRAUD AND OVERPAVEMENT?
THE GAO DID A HUGE REPORT IN
MARCH, RIGHT HERE, OUTLINING
ALL THE PROBLEMS, INCREDIBLE
WASTE THAT IS GOINGN IN THE
GOVERNMENT.
INCLUDIN EVEN SOMETHING THAT
MAY SEEM LIKE CHUMP CHANGE IN
2009,9 MILLION DOLLARS PAID
IN INAPPROPRIATE REFUNDS TO
PRISONS AND BILLIONS OUTLINEED
IN SAVINGS.
IS THERE ANY SORT OF
DISCUSSION THERE?
ASSESS WAG WE NEED -- WE KNOW
THE PROBE -- ASSESSING WHAT WE
NEED.
WE KNO THE PROBLEMS.
>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME
AGREEMEN, THAT WOULD SAVE 30
TO 40 BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE
NEXT 10 YEARS, INVOLVES HIRING
MORE INSPECTORS.
MORE PEOE TO CHECK ON THESE
PROGRAMS.
MORE PEOPLE TO CHECK ON THE
STATES WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO
PAY BACK MISTAKES THAT THEY
MAKE WHEN THEY PROVIDE
BENEFITS TO PEOPLE.
>> GRETA: IT IS INCREDIBLE THE
AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT WASTE
TH EVEN THE GAO HAS
IDENTIFIED.
AND THE OVERLAP.
SO THE AMERICANS SIT BACK AND
WATCH, I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE
NUMBER FOR THE DEBT CEILING.
I THINK A LOT OF AMERICANS ARE
THINKING WHAT AUT THE WASTE
AND FRAUD?
MAYBE IF WE CLEANED UP SOME OF
THAT WE WOULDN'T NEED TO RAISE
IT AS HIGH.
>> IT CERTAINLY IS PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
LET'S NOTID OURSELV.
THE PROBLEM IS FAR LARGER
TODAY THERE ARE 10,000ABY
BOOMERS RETIRING EVERYDAY.
THAT'S 10,000 MORE PEOPLE ON
SOCIAL SECURITY.
MOST THAT MANY SIGNING UP
FOR MEDICARE.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE
PROGRAMS.
NOT TAKING ADNTAGE, THEY'VE
EARNED THESE BENEFITS.
BUT IT IS DINING THE
GOVERNMENT OF REVENUE FASTER
THAN IT IS COMING IN.
WE'VE BEEN ON THIS SPENDING
BINGE SINCE PRESIDENT OBAMA
TOOK OFFICE.
INCREASED DOMESTIC
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING BY 24%.
>> GRETA: DO YOU SAY THAT TO
HIM IN THESE MEETINGS?
>> OH YEAH.
>> GRETA: WHAT DOES HE SAID?
>> WAS RESCUING THE COUNTRY.
>> GRETA: NOW WHAT.
WRITE IN YOUR POSITI, I
WOULD SAY NOW WHAT?
>> IT HADN' WORKED.
AND IT IS TIME TO CONTROL THE
SPENDING.
GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL.
>> GRETA: AND HE SAYS?
>> IN THE BIG PICTURE, Y IT
IS TIME TO GET IN UNDER
CONTROL.
WH WE GET INTO T SPECIFICS,
WE CAN'T DO THIS AND WE CAN'T
DID THAT.
OH NO WE HAV TO SPEND MORE
HERE AND MORE HERE.
WE NEVER GET TO A REAL BOTTOM
LINE.
>> GRETA: SO N WHAT?
>> MORE DISCUSSIONS TOD.
>> GRETA: WE'VE HAD THESE.
IT IS NOT LIKE AUGUST 2n IS
A BIG VICE WE NEW IN MARCH IT
WAS GOING TO COME.
>> WE KNEW IT IN JANUARY.
>> GRETA: WE'VE KNOWN IT A
LONG TIME.
DO I UNDERSTD YOUR POSITION,
IF THE PRESIDENT GAVE YOU A
MBER, THAT WOULD BE SORT OF
ENABLE US TO MOVE TO THE NEXT
STAGE IN DISCUSSION?
>> I THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS
MORE FORTHCOMING ABOUT WHAT HE
WAS WILLING TO DO.
HOW FAR HE WAS WILLING TO GO.
I MADE IT CLEAR HOW FAR I'M
WILLING TO GO IN TERMS OF
GETTING THESE PROGRAMS UNDER
CONTROL.
TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE US IS --
SUSTAINABLE FOR THE LONG TERM.
THES ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS ARE
IMPORTANT FOR TENS OF MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS.
YET, WE KNOW THEYRE NOT
SUSTAINABL
WE KNOW IF WE DON'T DO
ANYTHING WE HAVE TO CUT
BENEFITS.
THE AMICAN PEOPLE DON'T WANT
THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY OR
MEDICARE BENEFITSEDUCED.
THAT'S WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO
TACKLE THIS PROBLEM AND TACKLE
IT NOW.
>> GRETA: ARE YOU OPPOSED TO
KICKING IT DONE THE ROAD -- I
SHOULDN'T U THAT PHRASE.
TO HAVE -- IT DOWN THE ROAD --
I SHOULDN'T USE THATHRASE.
TO HAVE A THREE-PHRASE --
THREE-PHASE PROCESS.
>> I'VE SAID THIS IS THE TIME
TO DEAL WITH IT.
I THINK THERE IS WAY TO DEAL
WITH IT.
AND IF THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE
LE.
>> GRETA: I KNOW IS INSULTING
PEOPLE WORK HARD TO SERVE OUR
COUNTRY.
WHERE DOES POLITICS PLAY INTO
THIS?
I SEE ALL OF YOU WORK HARD.
THERE IS POOH -- PELE WONDER
IF THERE IS -- THERE IS-
PEOPLE WONDER IF THERE IS SOME
POLITICAL ELEMENT TO TH.
>> I DON'T KNOW IT I
POLITICAL.
THERS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
I SIT IN THIS ROOM OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, FRANKLY
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
IT IS LIKE TWO GROUPS OF
PEOPLE FROM TWOIFFERENT
PLANETS.
WHO BARELY UNDERSTAND THE
LANGUAGE OF THE OTHER ONE.
THE TWOEMARKABLY DIFFERENT
VISIONS FOR WHAT THE
APPROPRIATE ROLE OF THE
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE IN OUR
SOCIETY.
WHAT -- H OUR COUNTRY
OPERATES, IT'S STARK AND IT
WOULD SHOCK MOST AMERICANS.
>> GRETA: SO HOW DO WE GET A
COMPROMISE?
IF THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR
IDEOLOGY AND T DEMOCRATS
HAVE THEIR IDEOLOGY.
AND THEY'VE DRAWN A LINE
THE ND?
>> IT IS A MATTER OF FINDING
ENOUGH COMMON GROUND THAT'S
WHAT ALL OF THESE AGREES BO
DOWN TO.
WHERE IS THE COMMON GROUND?
IT NOT EASY TO FIND
SOMETIMES.
I DO THINK WHERE THERE'S A
WILL, THERE'S A WAY.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND
THAT ROOM FROM BOTH PARTIES