Why are revenue raisers vital to a debt ceiling deal?
We’ve already agreed to many painful cuts. If one side of the line is cuts and one side is revenues, we’ve agreed to some of each. They [the Republicans] haven’t agreed to a single revenue dollar. We have to be fair; we need shared sacrifice.
What revenue raisers will Democrats push for?
We’re not just looking at individuals. We’re looking at corporations, too. There’s talk of corporate tax reform to close loopholes. We’d like to get some money from the corporate sector a lot sooner and have it be in the deficit reduction bill.
Are you looking for a set level of tax increases?
We haven’t drawn a line in the sand. We don’t want to wreck economy. If you don’t raise the debt ceiling, you risk that. We’ll keep pushing hard, but we’re not talking specific numbers. We’re going to try to get as many good revenues as we can.
Your thoughts on GOP efforts to pass a balanced-budget amendment?
They feel they’re on weaker ground in budget negotiations; they want to change the topic. They need to step up to the plate. We recognize that revenues are part of the solution. If they want to change the topic, change it to jobs.
How will you shift the discussion to jobs?
By December, Americans should know Democrats feel jobs and growing the economy is the number-one issue. We’ll bring jobs measures to the Senate floor. The three P’s need to be aligned: policy, politics, press. We’ll also try to find things the business community agrees with us on.