Blunt sees opportunity “to do hard things” in divided government

Senator Roy Blunt spoke about the budget, health care, and tensions in Egypt. (POLITICMO FIle Photo/Blake James)

– With a growing number of Democratic Senate colleagues worrying about their political futures, a Republican led House, and even a president willing to reach to the other side of the aisle, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt sees opportunity for bipartisanship.

“Divided government gives us the opportunity to do hard things, but both sides will have to be willing,” Blunt said Wednesday afternoon to a news conference with Missouri reporters. “If we’re going to get things done, it’s going to require bipartisan support.”

Spending

Blunt is a member of the Seanate Appropriations Committee, and said he anticipated bipartisan support on the issue of lowering the deficit.

“The big number on spending was that we spent $3.7 trillion and collected $2.2 trillion,” he said. “If you think about the difference, it is obviously both irresponsible and unsustainable.”

For instance, Blunt said Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), the state’s senior senator, had taken a good step with her plan to freeze federal spending, but reiterated there was more to be done.  “I’m going go let you talk to Senator McCaskill about her desire to do these things,” he said, but “Republicans are looking for any Democrat that will try to work with them to get solutions.”

However, Blunt said he would not support revenue increases to fix the deficit. “I don’t know anybody that seriously believes that it would be wise to even try to make that up on the collecting side,” he said. He suggested a balanced budget amendment and spending cuts.

On cuts, Blunt noted “military spending increased dramatically over the last decade” and said he would be open to cuts like the ones Secretary of Defense Robert Gates proposed last month. Gates’ proposal includes a plan to downsize personell, as well as cut wasteful programs like the $12 billion Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

He also suggested willingness to later look at Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Any changes, Blunt said, would “Make these programs work more effectively and more efficiently, and deliver an even better result.”

Health Care

Blunt said he was “not surprised” by the party line vote on a procedural amendment to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“I think we’re going to see the initial fights now occur with how quickly we want to rush toward more government control of health care,” Blunt said. “Lots of agencies need to be initiated … [and] that will be a major fight in the appropriations process.”

Egypt

Blunt said in Egypt, “the tide of democracy is strong.”

After meeting with ambassadors from the region, Blunt said there are three likely options for Egypt moving forward. Those include “continued authoritarianism,” “religious dominated Iran like,” or democracy. To achieve democracy, Blunt called for a “path to a September election.”

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