Yesterday President Obama signed an executive order appointing former Senator Alan Simpson to co chair a debt commission aimed at cutting costs and lowering the nation’s debt. As much as Republicans gripe about the national debt and Democrats can’t deny it, the commission has been doubly unpopular—and was even shot down as a Senate bill last month. Republicans opposed it for fear of higher takes and because they say it represents nothing more than political posturing; Democrats oppose it for fear of deep spending cuts to Social Security in an election year. Does this commission get the American people and career politicians any closer to talking about the elephant in the room? Patt talks to the co-chair of the committee.

Guests:

Sen. Alan Simpson, Retired Republican from Wyoming; Co-Chairman of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform