Lamar Alexander: Callers to Congress are against Obama's debt plan
Congressional phone lines were overwhelmed on Tuesday as Americans followed President Obama's Monday night directive to "make your voice heard" on the debt limit stalemate in Congress. But according to Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., those callers weren't necessarily pushing Mr. Obama's views.
"The president asked for people to call and they're calling," said Alexander in an interview with CBS News congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes. "What he might not have expected, they're not supporting him. They're saying cut spending, support the balanced budget amendment and they are also saying get the job done."
"'The president asked us to call, but we don't agree with him,'" is how Alexander characterized the sentiment among callers. He said his office received around 200 calls this morning.
The Tennessee Republican went on to tout the plan put forth Monday by Republican congressional leadership.
"I hope the House will pass its plan," Alexander said. "All of us have our points of view. But what we need to do is, number one, reduce the debt. And number two, honor our obligations. We don't want to be a country that pays its bills selectively out of a cigar box. And we need to do both those things."
"The House of Representatives has a proposal before it that I think does those things," he continued. "I hope the Senate will pass it and I hope the president will sign it."
Watch the interview above.
