Austria: Fiscal Cliff could hurt Miami Valley

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - As the nation nears the fiscal cliff, Rep. Steve Austria predicts a political stalemate would have a negative impact on the Miami Valley but, is still hopeful a compromise can be made.

Austria told 2 NEWS’s Pam Elliot he is “very concerned” about automatic cuts to military spending if the fiscal cliff is not resolved by the end of the year.

He sized up the situation in an interview saying he is hopeful both the House and Senate will agree on a resolution but says Senator Harry Reid needs to act on one of the House Bills or the Senate needs to come up with a bill of its own on which the House can vote.

Austria favors no tax increases because he says they have a negative impact on the economy. He wants to see more spending cuts.

"We haven't seen any specific cuts from the President. To say that we will make cuts down the road
then ask for the ability to raise a debt limit without approval of Congress that's not going to pass in the House of Representatives with this Congress.

Republican House members were told to be back in Washington by 6:30 p.m. Sunday  in order to be in place should they need to address any measures coming out of the Senate. The trip back, however, during the Holiday season, already plagued with weather-related travel delays, could be tricky.

Austria's office told 2 NEWS the Congressman will take a car if necessary.

Austria is due to leave office at the end of the day January 2. He said it's disappointing to leave Congress this way.

"Since I've been in Congress the last four years we've just seen continuing resolutions, just extensions, kick the can down the road which has created a tremendous amount of uncertainty in our business and financial markets and with our national defense," Austria remarked.