Will we avoid the fiscal cliff or go over it?
When it comes to the sequester, I think we’ll find an alternative set of budget savings, whether that’s for a short period of time or a long period of time.
Meaning, what, specifically?
I don’t think we’ll just kick the can down the road. But I think we will find a replacement deficit reduction package.
You applauded John Boehner’s tone [suggesting potential compromise on higher tax revenues] but said you’re not sure it’s different than what Republicans have said before.
He sounded like he wanted to work with the president and Democrats to get things done. His words were interpreted differently by different groups, though.
Is there no chance you and the Democrats would go along with ‘dynamic scoring’ to reach agreement on long-term revenues?
We support the professional, non-partisan analysis by the Joint Tax Committee and the CBO. They’re the referees. Otherwise people just make up their own numbers.
Who has more leverage, the president or the GOP?
When they played politics with the debt ceiling in 2011, it backfired. Exit polls showed the country strongly supports shared responsibility to reduce the deficit and asking high-income earners to pay more.