Toomey Says Politics Blocking Debt Deal
 Published : Monday, 11 Jul 2011

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey is a big player in the debt-ceiling negotiations in Washington, and on Monday he gave Fox 29 viewers a frank answer about politics delaying key talks in Congress.

Toomey Says Politics Blocking Debt Deal: MyFoxPHILLY.com

Toomey is among a group on GOP congress members talking with President Barack Obama and the Democrats about a deal to avoid an August 2nd default on the nation’s debt payments.

Toomey says the current administration has “moved the goal posts” in the debt-ceiling talks.

“What they have done is massively expanded the size of government by about 25 percent, relative to GDP, and now they come along and say, ‘you guys need to raise taxes to pay for this,’” Toomey said.

Toomey says he proposed a balanced budget pact as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling.

Toomey also disputed claims by the Democrats and Treasure Secretary Tim Geithner that the nation would default on its debt if talks go beyond August 2nd.

He says it won’t happen because of the amount of incoming revenue.

“That’s not going to happen. The administration wants to intimidate Republicans like me into voting and to continue business as usual,” Toomey said.

Toomey also disputed reports that Obama was moving closer to accepting some Medicare cuts that the GOP proposed recently.

Fox 29 also asked Toomey if than 20 percent of the problem in the current debate is about politics, and he had a frank response.

“It’s probably a lot more than that,” Toomey said.

“This is what maddening to me,” Toomey said. “I wrote my own budget.”

Toomey then said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid won’t introduce a budget on the Senate floor.

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