Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford, has indicated he might be willing to break a pledge not to raise taxes in order to avoid the coming "fiscal cliff."
In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," King said, "I think everything should be on the table," to avoid the tax increases and hevy spending cuts that will start to kick in at the beginning of 2013, if Congressional leaders don't come to a deficit deal before then.
King is one of hundreds of lawmakers who have signed a pledge put together by the organization Americans for Tax Reform," vowing not to raise taxes.
But while he says he still opposes increases, King agreed with Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., who said last week that such pledges could become outdated.
"A pledge you signed 20 years ago, 18 years ago, is for that Congress," King said. "For instance, if I were in Congress in 1941, I would have signed the declaration of war against Japan. I'm not going to attack Japan today. The world has changed. The economic situation is different."
King said he wants to give House leaders a chance to negotiate a deal before he weighs in on it.
"The fact is that the speaker and the majority leader and the president are going to be in a room, trying to find the best package," he said. "I’m not going to prejudge it. And I’m just saying we should not be taking ironclad positions. I have faith in John Boehner. They can put together a good package."
But the man behind the pledge, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist fires back at King telling CNN Monday he knew he was signing a long term pledge.
"Congressman Peter King of New York knows full well that the pledge that he signed and others have, is for while you’re in Congress," Norquist said. "It’s not for a two year period.”
