Garrett talks healthcare, jobs, the GOP and DADT

by: Jason Springer

Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 12:00:00 PM EST

Garrett said lets just cut corporate taxes across the board and let them make decisions on what to do. Lehrer asked if Garrett was aware SEC allowed the 5 big investment banks to double their leverage ratios and take on increased risk because he was on the committee at the time in 2004. Garrett said he wasn't sure, but would check and that even if they knew, they were focused on other things.

On Don't ask don't tell, Garrett called it a side issue. He said it would not be one of his priorities and he wouldn't be signing onto a bill because it doesn't need to be addressed at this point. Even if the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Defense Secretary and Chairman of Marines say it can be done, he would probably still vote against it.

Finally, they got to the GOP retreat. Garrett bemoaned the fact that they are being called the party of no because he gave them proposals. He said they have had ideas, the President just thinks they are bad and that the exchange at the retreat was really just an acknowledgement that the GOP has ideas.