is really just standing up with those people in those districts that support these ideas. and grover norquist makes a lot of noise about how for 20 years, republicans have stood with that pledge. but i would just remind him and others who support this pledge that republicans have not received a majority of the american public in five of the last six elections. so i think if the republican party wants to break out of the strangle hold, look like it s standing up for america, they will come to the table with the president. and one thing that i do think i don t know if norquist deserves credit, but i m struck when i step back and look at where the tax debate is today. both democrats and republicans agree that we should keep 80% of the bush tax rates. bush tax cuts, i m sorry. it s just the top percent that should change.
that support these ideas. and grover norquist makes a lot of noise about how for 20 years, republicans have stood with that pledge. but i would just remind him and others who support this pledge that republicans have not received a majority of the american public in five of the last six elections. so i think if the republican party wants to break out of the strangle hold, look like it s standing up for america, they will come to the table with the president. and one thing that i do think i don t know if norquist deserves credit, but i m struck when i step back and look at where the tax debate is today. both democrats and republicans agree that we should keep 80% of the bush tax rates. bush tax cuts, i m sorry. it s just the top percent that should change. even democrats today are closer
to avoid the automatic spending cuts and tax increases. he said going over the fiscal cliff would pose a substantial risk to the economy. according to a new study the fiscal cliff could give 90% of americans new tax bills when the bush tax rates and some by president obama would both end. the working poor would be among the hardest hit. a tax policy center analysis showed a married couple making about $30,000 a year would on average go from receiving a $15 tax credit to owing $1400. wow. yeah. that s probably a reason to try and get something done? maybe we will. maybe we will. you would think. yeah. or maybe we can just talk about 2016. we could do that as well. how are you doing, willie? i m doing well. good. just two weeks after the longest thanks for stopping by. doing well. you know, just two weeks after the longest, most
not going to want it. so i don t know. i hate to say it, but i think we re going to have at least two more years of a very similar kind of situation. you re not being a wet blanket, but you re being damp. but let me follow up on that idea of rifle-shot legislation about very narrowly targeted stuff. that doesn t in a comprehensive way take on any of our big, complicated problems, but does pry off some of the stuff that we can get people to agree on. on the very big issue of the bush tax cuts, president obama wants those expiring tax rates broken into two parts. extend the bush tax rates for income under quarter million dollars and hold a separate debate, break it off, in terms of what happens on income higher than that. could that happen? it actually could. there s been an interesting thing going on within the republican party in the house the last couple days, particularly the last week since the election. there are a lot of members that are now saying, you know, we may be open to
raising revenue he s willing to do that if it only comes in the form of tax reform, not raising tax rates, but actually lore erring tax rates, closing loopholes, broadening the base and you will get more money coming into the treasury. the other part of the equation that is so important which has not been part of the public conversation is cutting spending, not just slowing the rate of growth but actually cutting spending to try to get this deficit under control. i know the republicans don t control the narrative on this but i want to hear more from them on that side of the equation. jon: julie our nodding your head you must agree. i think both sides need to come to the table. enough already with these sort of, you know, showmanship, game man ship, these are people s lives that are at stake in this economy. monica is right in that the president does control the upper hand at this point. if nothing is done all the bush tax rates will expire. you have exit polling coming out of the rec