'We're all at blame': GOP rep. sidesteps question over Republican credibility on debt debate

A Republican congressman on Saturday avoided directly answering a question on the GOP's credibility when it comes to the debt ceiling.

Rep. Tim Burchett, of Tennessee, appeared on CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta, and was asked about issues surrounding the debt ceiling. While Burchett said the debt ceiling debate was plagued by "rumors" about what might be in the final deal, he noted that he does believe negotiators are "close" to reaching one.

"I feel like they're close to a deal but they're not quite there," he told Acosta. "I think a lot of the rumors going on are made to scare people. You have people in their 20s, basically, in the White House putting things out that aren't accurate, and just things that they would like to see in it. I think speaker McCarthy is keeping to his word in what he said in the things that he put in there and that he'd like to keep in there. I think those are still in there."

Burchett added that his side will "spin" the White House's demands to resonate with their constituents.

"The Democrats are really pushing -- their side is more IRS agents. That's how we'll spin it," he said. "More IRS agents, more regulation and, you know, more spending. So, I think they're -- I think Kevin McCarthy is in a very powerful position right now."

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But when Acosta asked Burchett about the credibility of the GOP on this discussion, reciting a quote from then-President Trump, who had promised to pay down the debt, Burchett was less than forthcoming.

"We're all at blame, Jim. You know, I voted against -- under Trump I voted against the budgets, actually, under him. I have a record -- a track record of that, you know?" he said. "Some people have the mentality of just paying the interest. I don't. We're Tennessee, we pay our debt. We're a balanced budget state. We balanced the budget every year. It's a reality that both parties are upping up and they call it one thing or the other."

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