Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker is keeping up the media blitz for his plans to deal with the so-called fiscal cliff, despite a looming deadline. Congressional leaders and the President are trying to reach their own deal behind closed doors.
Over the last two months, Corker has made numerous appearances on TV news shows and written newspaper editorials. His push continued Friday with an interview on CBS This Morning, a conference call with reporters, and a Capitol Hill press conference. That’s where Corker admitted his bill hasn’t gone far, even though he’s shared his ideas with leaders on both sides of the aisle.
“I gave a copy of that bill to the White House, to Boehner, to Pelosi, to Reid, to McConnell…basically to say ‘look, here is a way in legislative language to solve this problem.’ I know there are going to be other ideas.”
Corker’s bill makes major changes to entitlement programs, including means testing for Medicare and raising the retirement age.
Appearing alongside Corker was fellow Tennessee Senator, Lamar Alexander. He praised Corker for what he called his ‘leadership’ on the fiscal cliff. Alexander said if President Obama showed the same resolve, the problem would be solved by now.