Rep. Grijalva: GOP should realize need for give and take

>>> congress returns to work today for its lame-duck is session. on top of to-do list, work to avert a fiscal crisis. the president is set to sit down with congressional leaders on friday to work on a compromise. the automatic tax increases and budget cuts are set to kick in at the end of the year. congressman, good morning.

>> thank you. good to hear from you.

>> tell me your path, how does this deal get done?

>> i think that the president outlined it perfectly well. that there has to be revenue generation, we have to look at those top income brackets. and they have to pay their fair share . without revenue generation, no one wants those automatic cuts and number two, it's a question of fairness. you can talk about loopholes. it's not going to generate the revenue need to soften the potential cuts and also, let us invest and i think one of the investment areas is going to have to be job creation. i think the president outlined it. we hope he sticks to that and i think the republicans in the house have got to be the ones that come to the table with the understanding they're indeed negotiations with give and take, and you know, this is what we're going to do and you have to go along with it. that was the strategy for two years. the american people have spoke. . our president is reelected.

>> well, i don't need to tell you what their argument is, congressman, to raise taxes on the wealthy, small business owners, where is this fight you think going to be centering on? people who make $250,000 to $1 million. where is the room for negotiations.

>> it's on looking at issues of tax rates . looking at issues of deductions. but, i think there has to be a firmness on part of democrats in the senate and the administration, that top 1% needs to pay its fair share , they have to be part of the solution, and to say that -- to say that we continue the bush tax cuts forever without the exception of the middle-class tax cut , i think this is destined to keep us in this quagmire that we are economically in this country.

>> your colleague said when to work on a bipartisan basis is right after the election. t you have gained seats in the house and gained in the senate. how does the president capitalize on that?

>> well, i think, we need to reflect on what the american people voted on. exit polls said that 60%-plus feel that top 2% -- that tax cut has to go away and they have to contribute their fair share toward the economy. that's a consistent point. i think we need to stick to our guns on that.

>> the other side of equation and this from newt gingrich this morning, some advice for republicans.

>> no house republican should be bamboozled into this idea that the only person who has a mandate is barack obama . the house republicans have a mandate. it's fundamentally different than the president's mandate. instead, to say, paul ryan is going forth a solution, we'll gather votes for it. i guarantee you'll get the democratic substitute.

>> what do you think about that congressman?

>> i think the house is republican controlled, a consequence of redistricting. and it was the superpacs that were very engtive in some house races. the fact of the matter is, we gained and there still six out there to be decided. we could gain more. i think at the house level, for the house to continue the role its played for two years is bad advice. the issue the famous statement, what i mean by compromise, i think cantor said, we have to agree with us. that's gone now. the president has a pull pit that he can take to the public on these issues and increase pressure on congress.

>> lot of other issues on the docket. whether it's in the lame duck or coming up in the new session of congress, gingrich also talked about the need for the republican party to come to grips with immigration after mitt romney 's poor performance among latino voters. he got less than 30%. do you think republicans will be more open to passing immigration reform now?

>> if it's not because of the good bs of their heart, it's an issue that needs to dealt with, it has to be political consideration and the convenience. the loss in the asian community and latino community, for the republican party is huge. this issue is driving that movement toward the democratic party . i would suggest that this is an issue for the new congress. it's doable. we can pass the dream act . we can look at comprehensive immigration reform and stop talking about self-deportation. stop talking about enforcement-only and deal with the reality. i think that the american people want us to do that. it behooves them to listen and come to the table with an open mind anding work on a package that will be both good and just for this country.

>> always good to see you, thank you.

>> thank you.