Rep. Rokita talks fiscal cliff

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - House Republican Todd Rokita spoke with News 18 over the phone Monday afternoon about the impending fiscal cliff.

He said he doesn't have a line in the sand for income levels for tax cuts, whether it's $400,000, or any other number. He said what he's more interested in seeing is the things that are attached to that number, whether an extension of unemployment benefits or fixing Medicare payments for doctors.

He said the number of House Republican votes will depend on those numbers.
    
Even with Monday night's proposed agreement, he added, it doesn't really solve what he calls the real fiscal cliff - the impending financial issues with programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. But he's hopeful recent financial impasses over temporary fixes have made everyone realize that a permanent fix is needed.

"The more we have this discussion, and the more times we have this discussion, the more of America I think wakes up and says, 'Look, we are not doing this to our children and grandchildren anymore,'" Rokita said. "I've seen the momentum gained over the two years I've been in Congress."

The House is due back at noon Tuesday and will get the bill once the Senate passes it.