U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., says Democrats on the so-called congressional "supercommittee" have "walked away from the table" when it comes working out a tax deal with Republicans, as he claims President Obama doesn't care about Americans' retirement accounts.
In an interview on radio host Sean Hannity's program this afternoon, Paul said, "I have news straight from sources close to the supercommittee that the Democrats have walked away from the table and they're refusing to talk with the Republicans about a deal. They will not counter any offers and that basically there's an impasse, and it's starting to look like they don't want any deal at all."
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Hannity responded by saying the move was telegraphed this week by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who suggested there would not be a deal.
"I don't think the supercommittee is going to succeed, because our Republican colleagues have said, 'No net revenues,'" Schumer had said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Schumer later softened his remarks somewhat, saying, "What I said was that it's very hard to see how anything is going to get done without net revenues. And so far, the other side isn't for net revenues."
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Hannity responded to Paul's remarks by suggesting Democrats "want to go out and say that because Republicans will not raise taxes that they're rigid, that we're not going to have any deal on the economy. I think the Democrats are just gonna be happy gutting the Defense Department, which is part of this deal."
Paul noted, "The truth is quite the opposite. The Republicans have offered tax reform that lowers tax rates and closes loopholes. The president talks about millionaires not paying their taxes, we are willing to close some loopholes, but we want it to be part of tax reform. We have offered a serious credible offer, but basically they've walked away from the table because I think the president's calculation is that it helps his campaign not to have a deal.
"So I don't think he cares at all what this will do to people's retirement accounts on Nov. 23rd ... The president doesn't care about your retirement account. He cares only about his election, and any deal will not be good for his election."
