Testy Interview: Dem. Rep. Refuses to Say We Have a 'Spending Problem' -- We Have a 'Paying-For Problem

Rep. Stenny Hoyer (D-Md.) appeared on CNBC Tuesday to discuss the president's plan to "pivot" to jobs and the economy in tonight's State of the Union address.

However, instead of working his normal talking points about the need for increased “revenues” (taxes) and cuts to defense spending, CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera backed the congressman into a corner over Washington’s spending addiction.

“I’ve heard Democrat after Democrat today tell me how much the president reached out to me during that last speech, and now he’s going to do it again tonight,” said Caruso-Cabrera.

“I sat in meetings with the president sitting with Republican leadership in the Senate and the House, and trying to get to a compromise,” the congressman responded.

“We didn’t get there, but he spent a lot of time in doing so. And any fair analysis would indicate that he was prepared to go to places, particularly on entitlements, that would upset his base,” he added.

“Sir, does the country have a spending problem?” Caruso-Cabrera interjected.

“Does the country have a -- the country has a paying-for problem,” Rep. Hoyer answered. “We haven’t paid for what we’ve bought.”

“Are we promising too much?” she asked.

“Absolutely,” he agreed. “If we don’t pay, we shouldn’t buy.”

“How is that different from a spending problem?” She continued.

“We spent a lot of money when George Bush was President of the United States,” Hoyer replied.

“So, that’s eight years and now another eight years of a lot of spending, so we’re going on 16 years of a lot of spending now,” she replied.

“We need to stop it,” the congressman conceded, somewhat sheepishly.

“Any day,” she agreed.

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(H/T: Mediaite). Featured image Getty Images.