Fox News Channel "Your World" - Transcript
Interview
Fox News Channel "Your World" Interview With Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va)
Interviewer: Neil Cavuto
Subject: GOP Proposed Cuts In Government Spending; Speaker Pelosi's Refusal To Answer Questions On Cia Briefings
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MR. CAVUTO: Well, the president asked for it, and today he got it. House GOP leaders John Boehner, Eric Cantor taking president President Obama up on his challenge to find new ways to cut spending. They just sent the president a letter outlining 375 billion bucks in savings. Joining me now, House Minority Whip himself Eric Cantor.
Congressman, always good to have you.
REP. CANTOR: Neil, good to be here.
MR. CAVUTO: What did you come up with on the cutting block?
REP. CANTOR: Well, listen, I think the first place we've got to look at is the best way to save money is not spend it at all. And the president did issue this challenge, and we said, look, there are plenty of places that we can look to save some money. We could save some money when you have the banks that are making the repayments to the TARP program, let's not spend that money. Let's put that money toward deficit reduction.
We also proposed some commonsense reduction in spending. You know, we've got a situation now even the president admits that we don't have the money to spend. And what doesn't make sense is when you see bills that are being proposed right now, like $108 billion to go to the International Monetary Fund. This is for a global bailout, essentially. And what we've got is a situation where we're going to go and borrow that money from the Chinese to then go and make our commitment to a global bailout? Now, that doesn't make sense when the administration has sent its officials out across the globe to talk to creditor nations.
MR. CAVUTO: Well, let me ask you this. I know the president is traveling and all, but have he or any of his people gotten back to you, anyone at Treasury, anyone?
REP. CANTOR: Well, no, Neil, and we just sent the letter over this morning. I'm very hopeful that upon the president's return that we can sit down and talk to him. He did tell us, he told John Boehner and me, he wants to work with us. We put forward some proposals that are very reasonable and doable.
MR. CAVUTO: Nancy Pelosi was questioned about this whole CIA thing. This was from earlier today, Congressman.
(Begin videotaped segment.)
Q Are you still receiving intelligence briefings? And if so --
SPEAKER PELOSI: I've said what I'm going to say on that subject.
Q Well, so --
SPEAKER PELOSI: Yes, I am. Yes, I am.
(End videotaped segment.)
MR. CAVUTO: Slapped down! What did you make of that?
REP. CANTOR: Well, listen, I think, obviously, the speaker is now finding herself in quite a box. She's made some pretty serious allegations, indicating that she feels that the CIA has had a pattern of not telling the truth to Congress. We feel that the American people deserve a full hearing on all of this. If that is the allegation and the position of an individual who not only is the second in line to the president but constitutionally the presiding officer of the U.S. House of Representatives, I think the American people need to know exactly what's going on. Frankly, you know, those are serious allegations. So we're looking to see an investigation take place on that.
MR. CAVUTO: Congressman, thank you. We'll watch it very, very closely. Thank you, as always.
REP. CANTOR: Thank you.
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