-- for the balance of this hour we're talking about the talks in Washington. Between the White House and congress specifically President Obama. And house speaker John Boehner. They're looking at that debt ceiling they're looking at a way to possibly maybe come up with savings. And spending cuts that would allow an extension of the debt ceiling they all face not their second deadline on that debt ceiling deal. The Treasury Department has said they would have to start looking at what not to pay. And possibly -- into default if something isn't agreed by then. But the agreement is not easy coming. House Republican leaders had been negotiating over -- big comprehensive deal the White House wanted about four trillion dollars in savings. Yesterday last night house speaker Boehner abandoned that deal sank. The four trillion number is just not possible without tax increases and that he says is not something politically viable for him. So now they're falling back on possibly an earlier -- discussion between the vice president and congress may be a two trillion dollar. Deficit reduction reduction plan and cuts in spending there joining us on the line to talk about this for about twenty minutes now or so is -- -- open newly. Appointed. Elected congressperson for the 26 congressional district. Kathy I'm glad you're here we have had a chance to have -- on since since the big election. And eventually I wanna talk about other things but this set this whole spending issue is obviously. Priority number one today. How do you see it's taking out. Oprah -- -- I'm really honored to be on your show David McCord -- continue our conversation going forward. How like it's taking out in the without breaking well I have to tell you that it's been very discouraging my time to go over a month in Washington. That people that seem to really dig their heels then. And I really -- -- this in rolling up their sleeves and working together at a public solutions we need coming I I would tell you that I. Never we've heard from my commitment to the people the district and the promises I made when -- -- running for the office. And that is not to convert on Medicare and about a program. But I do feel that there are savings to be had and again this is an issue on the campaign trail I understand the need to rein in spending. And as I vote on multiple the appropriations bill that come before it you wouldn't believe the -- -- out there. And I have been already out there with my my -- cutting even six billion dollars in -- to cut spending. It briefly at third base so I think we can find ways to get spending under control. But I have to tell you that the people that I'm revisiting of them home on weekends increased -- Amber's. They don't want this to fundamentally change Medicare and that's something that that's -- I heard you say that I on the campaign trail I hear you say it now this morning. But it looks as things might have changed in that. Before it was just Paul Ryan and the Republicans wanting to to do those massive change to Medicare. Now it looks the President Obama has at least signaled he might be open to change. Does that disappoint your. But what do we spotlighted Kate I haven't seen any details on the table that allow me to analyze it. My commitment to the people that district is to not converted into a voucher program to not basically and the benefits they currently receive. But I am very open and it said that her for months now a very open to changing -- -- that the structure because we are spending way too much on health care alone. We could get the underlying cause they're pushing Medicare over the top of the health care costs in the control we can make some serious progress in reducing our deficit. But I don't see the out of the political will to take on for example the pharmaceuticals in Washington. I've identified ways that we -- -- substantial you know hundred billion dollars. -- be consolidated leverage the purchasing power all the Medicare beneficiaries. Into group purchasing for pharmaceuticals and that was rejected on Capitol Hill because no one interest and the big donors the big pharmaceutical companies I've got a problem that I think we can do it they do with the VA hospital. Where veterans are getting prescription drugs dramatically cheaper than our seniors because they have taken no steps to consolidate -- that this one small example. Well I think people are not looking at but light weight to cut the cost of Medicare the -- but it'll make -- stable for the long term future. Separate from the Ryan voucher plan which I know you you've talked about quite a bit. Do you see means testing in here anywhere is that something that would work for you. I've not seen means testing on the table yet as well and I and a little premature to just talk about bits and pieces of a proposal that don't even exist yet. I don't wanna do that but I I am open to. Conversations to that make sure that we of Medicare in the future people know I've drawn a line in the sand. I'm not touching beneficiaries. With what they -- now I heard that again. I just a couple of days ago at the Everett senior senator and people are very careful they think that in order to continue. They cut corporate tax breaks and loopholes for the wealthiest in this country. That they're gonna show under the bus and an editor really thick very real Specter what I am hearing here I get another lesson and I said this in Washington. My races not just. On these -- of Medicare protecting it it was also about the unfairness and our tax code and I can walk in any business. On main street from it's from -- to brought forward. Down to -- bill and if you if you that the -- of dollars. If they'd make it appear that there is fear that they're paying more in taxes. And some of the largest companies in America and achieved the -- the companies that ship jobs overseas they think it's wrong. And I agree with my small business owners so I've already you'll go to -- Washington women. Let's open up that tax -- let's close those pupils huge loopholes they're making an unfair -- guys to compete. And I -- not that they never accepted that the that is as well so I think the take away is that. There's a bit of people the families but it -- -- it in my district. And I think this is born on election understand that I'm willing to say we need to have the wealthiest in this country. Pay their fair share in order to help get this deficit under control and -- -- Going well we get our economy back rolling so we can look at making adjustments the right now our travel. Apple in trouble and I don't like governing by brinkmanship which -- always seems to have gotten there at the ready to put it down city. Beyond the eleventh hour and that's not good government. That's been bad decisions are made and I think we need a little more thoughtful about this so I've had a real eye opening experience -- it has that been there but. I I feel very strongly where I stand and then with people my district stands I had continued I will be looking everything very closely with an eye toward. When my people what might just -- what they do Washington. Do you really think it's brinkmanship or isn't just a matter of Republicans using the only -- they have on this really caring about spending and wanting to push it in whatever way they can't. I'm not -- I CIT a lot of Democrats who care about spending as well. I think -- I -- there are video there was an earlier continue resolution that was passed before I was selected. But there was. The peak was 38 billion dollars in cuts just for the rest of this year alone so there are people who have both sides the apple recognized spending is out of control and I and I got to count me as one of them. Like it said just a couple days ago we we voted for huge cuts. For example and I imagine that the campaign as well. Why are we giving the -- aid to Pakistan when they've proven time and again they're not our friend. And I voted to cut 2.4 billion from them on -- on Thursday and that -- pass that was not adopted by the majority of the congress. I also voted significant amounts I think about three billion in infrastructure that we are about to spend in Afghanistan rebuilding their country. Outside right now people in Genesee County Erie county in the growing. All over the district they would rather that money be spent right here so. I think there's no reason why we should have been looking at his earlier days ahead I think than do Republican to find that there are Democrats. Wanna cut. But will with a lot to. Is cut and -- programs that help our seniors the most -- society and we also think that when times are tough. That the wealthiest in this country should be paying their fair share and that's to prevent the population not a whole lot of living in my district for the average income -- 46000 dollars. And it's it's and the issue. Earlier this week the Associated Press wrote on some of the possibilities. The idea that that President Obama is at least willing to look at certain things and speaker Boehner is at least willing to look at certain things. And here's what it said there. Specifically regarding Medicare higher co payments -- one possibility that's quote from the Associated Press low income people on Medicaid may not be spared. And and it goes on sale of the deal ends up involving a tax overhaul workers and their families could face potential limits. I'm tax free status of job based health insurance. Any of those that you like any of those that you hate. I don't know why though -- necessary if we're gonna do the right thing. And closed the -- corporate loopholes and make sure that the wealthiest in this country paying their fair share. And continued to cut programs might be obscene amount we spend in foreign countries. How we can get this solved without haven't heard those families the vulnerable are small business in our seniors so I just hearing a different set of priorities. On there -- -- look like people are only have a technical without their own districts. Republicans ought to know that you know we want to read about this but they're Republicans independents and Democrats. And the 26 congressional district which I think it's fairly represented the country. -- they don't think that seniors should bear the pride that the that a question acted upon it. And again why -- the wealthiest paying what they -- paid a decade ago on taxes it's -- -- -- there is historically low levels. And again I don't like tax increases at all. But what you're saying that the -- that within just so difficult that we're gonna have to make somebody pay for it I can answer this I residents why. Middle class and seniors should bear the brunt of that when that people are saying that tax breaks for the wealthiest tax breaks for huge corporations. Our sacred cows that normal ever -- and just don't understand that. Why can't we all give someone on this and and again I'm willing to I'm down they're cutting every single day and that is bill before us. So I think I think that every -- being responsible. Recognize that we all have to give and take on behalf of our residents in and get this country on the right path. And that toy with financial Armageddon here why why would we let our financial markets. -- be affected by that mean everyone's got money in the stock market affects our pensions -- -- a lot at stake here. And I think that we -- is get it together and move onto other issues that are also significant don't have people don't talk about is that under President Bush. The debt ceiling was -- seven times without fanfare. There was you know this is that this went up then people realized -- there was something and it happened at the time with it and I at a it. I think it I would like it increased necessarily I wish they weren't at that point I wish we had under control. But -- extent we are now facing a deadline where it seems that. We really have to do that to be responsible and make sure that we don't fall into a financial collapse here. As having just survived. The 2008 Great Recession and being impacted head. When I was the county clerk. Where -- got people -- foreclosure people losing their houses people -- able to buy a car or house. I I thought it firsthand how bad it was not a wanna do anything. It's gonna spend as backwards so let's be smart look at your financial house in order and move on the other issues of the day. I hate to harp on Medicare especially in light of what you just said but it was such a big party or campaign I wanna close by just touching briefly on the politics here. It was seen at the end of the year campaign that this would sort of via a template Steve Israel that of their congressional campaign committee for the Democrats said. -- Medicare Medicare Medicare was what basically pushed you over the line. We can debate over I think there are a lot of other things that might have worked for is well. But if if this is such a political. Template if this is the way the campaigns are going to. Build themselves around the house elections. -- you anyway disappointed -- when President Obama kind of put Medicare on the table. On the one hand you have Democrats saying hey we're gonna campaign around this and on the top Democrats says -- Is that a conflict for you. I was I was surprised but I'm I don't understand that -- and every day there's a different dynamic is changing. But what I wanna see Democrats Republicans do is to address the cost of health care and that should. -- the president on down why are we talking about ways we can cut the cost of health care in a meaningful way. So we don't have to take money out of the pockets of seniors make them pay more per for Medicare and now we can't -- analogy I use. When times get difficult for a family you start making decisions you decide to take the bus system that the car. It packed a lunch instead of beating at the restaurants downtown new give up -- on vacation but the one thing you don't do. You don't start your grandmother you don't stop feeding grandma. When times are tough and I have I think got to get the same kind of per you can -- and we will continue to make the tough decisions and cut what we need to and again I'm happy to do that. But I think that we should not be making seniors and future seniors. Feel insecure we could turn back the clock and then the back in 1964. When 30% of seniors -- in poverty. Right now it's seven point 5% I don't think anybody wants to go back to that era where. People into the benefits are cut the lights that seniors now they'll could be India's security. But they deserve after paying a lifetime in a program that should be there for all of us when we reach a certain age that that's right although I was then again I'm willing to sit down and talk about. Cutting the cost of healthcare I've got a lot of ideas perhaps for another baby get to that but. I think it's important we just be responsible but that's. I Kathy thanks so much for your time this morning. By now.
