This Liberal and This Conservative Think the Ryan-Murray Budget Plan Is a Raw Deal for Americans

Rob Bluey / December 10, 2013

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle expressed skepticism about the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 as details emerged Tuesday night. Watch the clip to 0:45 to see what the liberal says and then stick around until 1:34 to hear from the conservative.

Appearing on CNN’s “Crossfire,” Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) criticized the agreement reached by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA).

“I’m skeptical about what I’ve heard so far,” Schiff said. “Where it looks like we’re going for revenues doesn’t make a lot of sense. Tacking on fees to airline tickets is a strange way to finance a government. I’d much rather see us do away with some of the farm subsidies to the major agribusinesses that don’t need them as well as closing other special interest tax loopholes.”

“Far too often,” Huelskamp added, “the question in Washington seems to be ‘Can we make a deal?’ I’d rather say, ‘Can we find a solution?’ This deal raises spending. There’s no way around it. It’s more spending for both sides. Most conservatives would agree that’s the problem in Washington. I don’t know how a deal is good for conservatives or America if the spending is going to go up.”

Huelskamp announced he would not support the budget deal, while Schiff warned that it’s unclear if it has enough votes to pass. “We’re going to lose a substantial number of Democrats,” he predicted.

>>> WATCH LIVE: Huelskamp at Wednesday’s Conversations with Conservatives