Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson said the Senate would agree to a deal if President Barack Obama ties tax increases on high earners to debt and deficit reduction in an interview Tuesday with CNBC:
MARIA BARTIROMO: If you get those cuts that you're looking for from those three biggies--and I know they're not going to touch Social Security, so let's just put that aside for a moment, because it doesn't seem very realistic, because you're just not hearing that conversation--
ISAKSON: Even though it's the easiest one to touch.
BARTIROMO: Okay. Medicare and Medicaid, let's say realistically you get those cuts. Are you willing to give in terms of raising taxes on the rich?
ISAKSON: As long as raising revenues--whether it's through deductions like you talked about or whether it's through rates--as long as it's tied to debt and deficit reduction, then you have the framework under which the American Senate can make a deal.
Full interview below: