The nation is barreling towards sequestration thanks to President Barack Obama’s refusal to negotiate a budget compromise with Congress, according to New Jersey Rep. Scott Garrett.
“The Republicans have come to the conclusion that the president is not willing to work with us. The president is not willing to put anything at all specific on the table,’’ Garrett told Steve Malzberg on Newsmax TV’s “The Steve Malzberg Show.’’
“Republicans are willing to work, ready to compromise, trying to meet the middle ground — but you can’t reach that middle ground if there’s nobody on the other side of the bargaining table.’’
Garrett said the president has failed to come up with a workable budget or address the issue of limiting spending since he assumed office.
“So the thing that really, unfortunately for him, points right at the source is the failure of leadership,’’ said Garrett, who represents the Garden State’s 5th Congressional District.
“The Republicans in the House have done their job repeatedly. The Senate, as you know, has failed.’’
Garrett agreed with Malzberg that it could be difficult for Republicans to convince Americans that a sequestration is not their fault.
“Certainly it’s going to be hard as always, because as you point out, the media is never on our side,’’ Garreett said.
“Historically, the facts are they don’t point out where the president has failed, but they like to always say that it’s the Republicans in the House.
“We are willing to try to address the issue of revenue. No, not by higher taxes, and this is the one area where the public is on our side.’’
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.