A top House Republican insisted the
Obama administration's goal in the fiscal cliff talks was to get more
money for spending rather than deficit reduction.
Republican Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., contended the White House's
insistence on higher taxes for wealthy Americans was accompanied by
plans to actually increase government spending at a time when major cuts
were vital.
"We have spent all this time talking about revenue, but as we
watched, our government continued to spend more," McCarthy said Sunday
on NBC's "Meet the Press." "This is really about spending."
McCarthy accused Obama of ignoring constructive ideas from the
Republicans and banking on post-election campaigning in order to build
public support for his approach.
Sen. Dick Durbin,
D-Ill., countered the Democrats had already agreed to significant
spending cuts, and said U.S. voters indeed agreed with the president's
approach, particularly in terms of taxes for upper-income Americans.
"The American people spoke on this issue in the election. I'd say to
House Speaker (John) Boehner and Congressman McCarthy, listen to what
the American people said in the election."
