TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas congressman Mike Pompeo is pessimistic about the ability of Congress and President Barack Obama to reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.
The conservative Wichita Republican told reporters on a Thursday telephone conference call that he’s disturbed by comments from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner that the administration will let the country go over the cliff if Republicans won’t allow taxes to increase on the wealthiest Americans.
Pompeo opposes such a tax increase and said the administration is “fixated” on the idea. He said the right path is lower taxes and smaller government.
Without a deal by year’s end, tax increases and spending cuts are to be imposed automatically. Officials and economists worry the economy will suffer.
Pompeo said he wants even larger spending cuts than the looming reductions.
